In the world of two-row SUVs, no one has a grander reputation for dirt and trail capability than the Jeep Grand Cherokee. We'll take a look at the elements that might make the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee your next ride, or not.
Transcript
(engine revving) In the world of two row SUVs, no one has a greater reputation for dirt and trail capability that the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The question is, is that really what I need in my next SUV? We'll take a look at the elements that might make the Cherokee your next ride, or not. Here's what we liked about it. First, we really like how the Grand Cherokee drives. It's got a very comfortable ride, with not a lot of noise and it dampens bumps really well. On top of that, the interior quality is relatively high and well-designed. The V6 engine pairs great with the eight speed transmission, with the loss of power from a stop. And it's responsive, which is getting harder to find these days as automakers hunt for elusive fuel economy goals. Finally, it's Uconnect entertainment system is one of the easiest to use, easiest to pair your phone with, and the large screen makes seeing what you need a breeze. Of course, as the great Pee-wee Herman once said, everyone I know has a big butt. So what would keep the Grand Cherokee off of your list? Well, first it's heavy, like really heavy. It's on an older platform, and it has that robust four wheel drive system, both of which add to its weight issues. All of that translates into fuel economy that was the worst in our midsize SUV challenge. In fact, the Grand Cherokee weighed as much as 1,000 pounds more than some of its competitors there. It is tight. So we've got a wide variety of experts here at cars.com, male, female, from very small to very large. And almost uniformly, they find the interior very confining. Some might even say claustrophobic. From the dash and the center console and the way that they sort of impinge on your personal space. Practically speaking, that translates into less storage and fewer cubbyholes to stash your stuff in. Stop already with the stop start function. The system is quite intrusive. In fact, it unnerved us at times when waiting to merge into oncoming traffic from a stop. There's a moment's hesitation when you move your foot off the brake and onto the throttle. Our choice, keep it turned off. So there you have it. If your needs really do include going off road, and you're not really worried about a fuel economy penalty, then maybe the Grand Cherokee is the SUV for you. But if you need it to get to work, you're going to school, the occasional trip to the grocery store, well, there are other choices out there that are more fuel efficient and roomier, and those are the ones that should be on your shopping list.
