New Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland UK Version 2011

All are available with rear-wheel drive or different versions of Jeep's all wheel drive systems, as well as V6 or There are three versions of the Grand Cherokee: Laredo, Limited and Overland. Standard equipment includes 20-inch wheels; the 18-inchers are more suited to off road duty. To make your Grand Cherokee "trail rated," you simply check the box for the adventure package, a $1,000 option that includes off-road tires on 18-inch wheels, underbody skid plates, tow hooks and a full service spare wheel and tire.

It is available both as a crossover that likely is more capable in adverse conditions than most competitors, with unit body construction and all wheel drive, and as an all out "trail rated" sport utility vehicle that can handle just about any terrain accessible to motor vehicles. That approach now also is carried over to the flagship Grand Cherokee. The latter now fit into the burgeoning crossover strain, characterized by all weather all wheel drive but modest capabilities away from the pavement. What remains is a bifurcated lineup, with "trail rated" models fully capable of legendary Jeep off road prowess, and the remainder less so.

It was an acknowledgement that not everybody needed boulder crawling capabilities but still wanted four wheel drive and, perhaps, the cachet of owning a Jeep. But in recent years, to broaden its appeal, Jeep removed muscle from some of its models. Ever since its debut in World War II, Jeep has nurtured its reputation as the planet's popular priced go anywhere conveyance. So the Grand Cherokee might better be described as a mixed breed that was as programmed as a test tube baby.

But a mutant, by definition, is unplanned. If the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee were organic, it would be a mutant, part crossover and part sport utility vehicle.

2011 Interior Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

But despite the lowered highway height, the V8 is Even with its near-5,000 pound weight, the Grand Cherokee Overland model had plenty of punch off the line. It also automatically lowers the ride height slightly at highway speeds for better fuel economy. In the boondocks it can increase the ground clearance to nearly 11 inches.

It automatically levels the Grand Cherokee at all four corners and can be manually adjusted to raise and lower the ride height by as much as 4.1 inches. Also part of the package is an air suspension system, which Jeep calls Quadra Lift. Surprisingly, the sport mode also delivers a supple ride, not creamy by any definition but comfortable enough for all-day cruising on rutted roads. The last is performance oriented for on road driving; it tightens the suspension system and recalibrates shift points for a sporting rear drive handling feel.

Included in the Quadra Drive all wheel drive system is Jeep's Selec Terrain system, which enables the driver to choose among five modes for different conditions: automatic, mud/sand, rock, snow and sport. It is linked to a five speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode, which works well enough but gives up bragging rights to competitors, most of which now have six-speed automatics. The V8 engine is the famed "hemi," pioneered by Chrysler Corp., but the name no longer is used on Jeeps; it is reserved for Dodge and Chrysler models. Before World War I it became one of the country's biggest car companies and later was one of the manufacturers that built Jeeps in World War II.

The company started building cars in 1903 and later was taken over by Willys to form Willys Overland. The Overland model designation resurrects a famous name from the past.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Torsional rigidity has been increased 146%. Variablerate rear springs improve on oad handling and comfort, and the spare tire is stored inside as opposed to underneath. [Allpar was first to report this.] The independent front and rear suspensions have isolated cradles.

It would "have to be a completely different application," but would still be an SUV. The Dodge Durango is an extended-wheelbase version; and, during a Novmeber 8 call, Sergio Marchionne said that the architecture would probably be adapted by Alfa or Maserati. Thanks to the Hemi option, the V6 has a large engine bay, with around five inches in front of the serpentine belt. The Hemi is optional across the board, and Europeans have a new VM Motori 3-liter V6 diesel; all use the W5A580 five-speed transmission. The standard engine is the 290 horsepower Pentastar V6, which gets just 1 mile per gallon less than the diesel powered Mercedes ML350, and is smoother than competitors’ engines.