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.
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.