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When you’re No. 1 and don’t try harder, you eventually become No. 2.

In the sport-utility market, Chrysler is No. 1 with its Jeep Grand Cherokee, the model the competition is trying to unseat.

To keep its top standing, Chrysler made some revisions for the 1996 model year, nearly all of them for the better.

For starters, the Grand Cherokee Laredo we tested comes with dual air bags as standard. (The Chevrolet Blazer doesn’t offer dual bags, the Ford Explorer does.)

Chrysler also reacted to complaints from Grand Cherokee owners and revised the rear liftgate for 1996 so the rear window opens separately from the lid. In past years, the glass was fixed, and when hauling items such as 2x4s or a ladder, you had to slip the cargo on to the rear floor and tie the lid down. Now you can slip the lumber through the window and leave the lid closed.

It also means that when you want to store luggage or groceries or clothes from the cleaners, you can pop open the window and not have to fool with opening the lid. Nice touch, but the flip-open window is a $90 option and not standard.

The interior also has been redone for 1996for what Chrysler calls ergonomically correct placement of switches and controls. Simply, you see the controls and reach them without struggling.

In redoing the instrument panel to handle dual bags, Chrysler stiffened the panel and added a new steering column. A minor change, but one that means more rigid construction so that less noise filters back into the cabin and less vibration into the wheel for a more pleasant ride. It’s one of those improvements you can’t see but will appreciate.

Grand Cherokee also features some exterior changes for 1996: different, somewhat larger plastic body cladding along the rockers and side panels, fog lamps integrated into the front facia rather than the bumpers, a larger grille for more air intake, and on the Limited models, the availability of 16-inch tires for the first time.

The 4-liter, 185-horsepower, 6-cylinder base engine is unchanged. If you travel with a full load, you may feel the engine is a bit under powered. A 5.2-liter V-8 is optional, but what you gain in pulling power, you’ll lose in fuel economy, and mileage is one of the Grand Cherokee’s drawbacks. With the 4-liter and 4-speed automatic, the vehicle is rated at15 m.p.g. city/20 m.p.g. highway. The fuel gauge travels at a pace that makes the rating seem generous.

The Laredo came with four-wheel-drive, an added insurance policy when the roads are covered with snow, rain, slime or goo or when the road ends and all you have is dirt, sand, gravel and steep hills. Four-wheel-drive won’t make the mileage reading any better, but as we’ve often said, when the driving conditions are poor, traction is much more important than fuel economy.

Ride is smooth and limo-like. Grand Cherokee is very comfortable and spacious. Handling as a rule is good, but our test vehicle came with oversized p245/70R15 all-terrain radials that look and act more aggressive than the standard p215/75R15 all-season tires. As is the case with oversized tires, you feel top heavy at times, typically at speed in a corner.

Our test vehicle also came with “upcountry” suspension, which raises vehicle height by one inch more than usual for off-road clearance. But that inch seems like a foot when trying to enter or exit the vehicle with dignity. When slipping out of the back seat, you may find yourself sliding against the door sill as you exit.

Goodies include dual cupholders; a power plug in the lower dash for add-on accessories; a deep center console storage bin; very good cargo room in back, though with a full-size spare you lose some capacity; an overhead console to store glasses and garage-door opener, though we’d opt for the $760 power sunroof and slip the glasses and garage-door opener in th center console.

A luggage rack is provided, though we probably haven’t seen any luggage on a Grand Cherokee rack in years, and the hood is spring-held, not a prop job, to make servicing easier. Rear-seat bottoms slide forward and rear-seatbacks fold down to increase carrying capacity.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $26,571. Standard features include dual outside heated power mirrors, AM/FM stereo with clock, air conditioning, rear-seat floor-heating ducts, speed-sensitive wipers, rear-door child-protection locks, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, tilt-steering column, rear-window wiper/defroster, power windows and door locks, rear compartment storage net, keyless entry with a panic button on your key fob and side-door guard beams.

The Laredo package adds $2,475. In addition to Laredo lettering on the body panels, you get power seats, p225/75R15 all-season tires (which are upgraded to the p245/70R15 all-terrain tires with the upcountry suspension), the overhead console, tinted glass, self-dimming rearview mirror and automatic on/off headlamps.

It is easy to top $30,000–even before you fill the gas tank.

>> 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Wheelbase: 105.9 inches Length: 177.1 inches Engine: 4-liter, 185-h.p., 6-cylinder Transmission: 4-speed automatic EPA mileage: 15 m.p.g. city/20 m.p.g. highway Base price: $26,571 Price as tested: $29,994. Add $2,475 for Laredo group including all-season tires, overhead console, tinted glass, power seats, vehicle information center, automatic on/off headlamps, self-dimming rearview mirror; $578 for “upcountry” suspension group with oversized p245/70R15 all-season tires, skid plates, tow hooks, full-size spare, high-pressure shocks, springs adjusted for one-inch higher ride; $90 for rear glass flip-open window; and $280 for AM/FM stereo with cassette and compact-disc player. Freight runs $500. Pluses: Dual air bags now standard along with four-wheel ABS. Four-wheel-drive Snow Belt security. Limo like ride. Rear window now opens separate from hatchback lid for hauling items without leaving hatchlid open. Minuses: Mileage nothing to write home about, unless it’s for more gas money. The one-inch added height feels like a small hill when having to climb in or out of the cabin. The 4-liter will feel under powered for those who carry or pull a full load or need to merge in a hurry. >>