Is 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Still Relevant?
Big, Capable, Smooth, and Sweet Looking. Is That Enough to Keep the Aging Grand Cherokee Relevant in Today’s Market?
The Grand Cherokee is a staple of the Jeep lineup. Comfortable, good looking, and hugely capable — there are few things not to love about this proper SUV. But without major changes since 2011, the family-friendly Jeep enters its sixth year looking the same, more-or-less. Also, it can carry a hefty price tag. That made me wonder, is the Jeep Grand Cherokee still relevant?
SUVs and crossovers rule the roads. They exist in all sizes and prices, and all of them pretend to be good at more than one thing. Besides conveniently carrying people and stuff, certain SUVs and crossovers pretend to be sports cars, luxury cars, off-roaders, and more. As a result, there’s something for everyone, and prices are very competitive.
I recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4×4. It came in Granite Crystal Metallic, and featured black leather interior. A 3.6-liter V6 engine sat under the hood, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. More importantly, it came with a hefty $47,900 price tag. With most fully-loaded foreign SUVs coming in at $44,000 to $46,000, this Jeep was slightly more expensive. I had to find out, why?
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Despite having driven the entire Jeep lineup, the Grand Cherokee is the one I’d driven the least. As a result, I was in for a surprise. Immediately after hopping on the driver’s seat, I was rewarded with a solid and hefty feeling at the wheel. The kind of feeling that inspires confidence and security while driving down the road. The 24-valve engine felt plenty powerful, and delivered smooth and progressive acceleration. Compared to other V6 engines found in the likes of the Honda Pilot or Ford Explorer, the Jeep’s felt much livelier. It was willing to please.
Inside, the Uconnect 8.4 is a system I’ve grown quite accustomed to, as it’s found across the Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge range of vehicles. It’s easy-to-use, intuitive, and perhaps one of the friendliest systems for “non-techy” people. During a 400-mile trip to Michigan, managing the Uconnect, the adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam system proved to be rather simple. Also, it’s worth noting the Jeep’s bi-xenon HID headlamps are worth every penny.
The backseat, too, is spacious and comfortable. It features reclining seat backs, and due to the “Limited” trim, heated seats for added comfort. The trunk spans 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and features metal sliding rails, to keep alive the Jeep theme. All-in-all, it was starting to look like a very well-rounded SUV.
The Verdict
Oftentimes during my test of the Grand Cherokee, I couldn’t help but ask myself the following question: Why choose this over other SUVs? By the end of it, I was able to answer that question. See, the Grand Cherokee is the actual definition of SUV. It’s not lightweight, it’s not small, and it’s certainly not that fuel-efficient. Despite its high-tech gizmos, it delivered 16 mpg city and 21 highway during our test. That’s short of the 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway stated by the EPA.
Regardless, I loved my time with the Jeep. The Grand Cherokee proves that being big and bulky pays off. That skipping fashionable 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires delivers excellent ride quality. Lastly, it proves that if something isn’t wrong, it certainly doesn’t need to be fixed.
Would you agree?
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