The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: A Versatile and Capable SUV

Hi, I'm Kim Betfennell, and I'm Nick Newell, and you're watching Autotrader's new car review of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While crossovers are all the rage these days, this Grand Cherokee makes an aggressive SUV stance while adding a softer edge to the overall design. The new Grand Cherokee has the brawny good look of a luxury SUV, nose-to-nose with the Land Rover LR4 or the Toyota 4Runner Limited, two of its closest competitors.

With this all-new interior, you get a lot for your money. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and everything is wrapped in leather. Other nice touches include Jeep's Uconnect phone navigation and entertainment package, and a huge Command View dual-panel sunroof. This is one nicely equipped SUV, but nothing beats putting it through its paces.

The base engine for the 2011 Grand Cherokee is Chrysler's all-new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6. It gets 290 horsepower, which is okay for getting up to speed on the highway and cruising around town. However, it's probably not ideal for towing. If you don't mind paying a little bit more at the pump, the real mover is the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, like the one we're testing. It gets 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, which will help haul a boat with ease. Both engines are mated to a five-speed automatic with a manual shift option.

You can get either engine with just rear-wheel drive, but if you're planning on going off the beaten path, you'll need all four wheels working for you. Jeep has two setups: Quadratrac 1 is a full-time all-wheel drive system, but it doesn't have a low range or hill descent control for rock climbing. For that, you'll need Quadratrac 2, a true 4-wheel drive system, which features electronic limited slip differential and Jeep's impressive Quadra Lift air suspension. With it, you can raise the ride height up to nearly 11 inches of ground clearance.

Since trails come in all shapes and sizes, another important option is Select Terrain. The dial in the center console lets us choose between Sand, Snow, Rock Sport, and Auto, which automatically adjusts to the given terrain. I love all the power that comes with the big Hemi V8, but for the best fuel economy, you'll want the V6 and rear-wheel drive. It gets 16 miles per gallon city and 23 highway. The Hemi with four-wheel drive only gets 13 miles per gallon city and 19 highway.

If you're on a limited budget, the base Laredo V6 with rear-wheel drive starts at $21,215. The nicely equipped four-wheel-drive Limited starts at $40,000. Whether you want a sharp-looking premium luxury SUV with solid road manners or proven off-road capability for those ventures into the wild, the new Grand Cherokee can deliver both.

So, there you have it, folks. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a versatile and capable SUV that's sure to please even the most discerning drivers. With its impressive power options, luxurious interior, and rugged exterior, it's no wonder this SUV has become a favorite among adventure-seekers and families alike. Thanks for watching Autotrader's new car review, and we'll see you next time!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe 2011 jeep grand cherokee has a smooth road-going setup but with available four-wheel drive and chassis raising select terrain it's built to take on the toughest off-road challenges on the planet hi i'm kim betfennell and i'm nick newell and you're watching autotrader's new car review of the 2011 jeep grand cherokee now while crossovers are all the rage these days this grand cherokee makes an aggressive suv stance while adding a softer edge to the overall design the new grand cherokee has the brawny good luxago nose to nose with the land rover lr4 or the toyota 4runner limited two of its closest competitors and you get a lot for your money with this all new interior heated and ventilated front seats a heated steering wheel and everything is wrapped in leather other nice tekken convenience options include jeep's uconnect phone navigation and entertainment package and a huge command view dual panel sunroof this is one nicely equipped suv but nothing beats putting it through its paces the base engine for the 2011 grand cherokee is chrysler's all-new pentastar 3.6 liter v6 it gets 290 horsepower now that's okay for getting up to speed on the highway and cruising around town but it's probably not ideal for towing now if you don't mind paying a little bit more at the pump the real mover is the 5.7 liter hemi v8 like the one that we're testing it gets 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque it's that low-level torque that will help haul a boat with ease both engines are mated to a five-speed automatic with a manual shift option now you can get either engine with just rear-wheel drive but if you're planning on going off the beaten path you'll need all four wheels working for you jeep has two setups quadratrac 1 is a full-time all-wheel drive system but it doesn't have a low range or hill descent control for rock climbing for that you're going to need quadratrac 2 a true 4 wheel drive system it features electronic limited slip differential and jeep's impressive quadra lift air suspension with it you can raise the ride height up to nearly 11 inches of ground clearance and since trails come in all shapes and sizes another important option is select terrain that's right the dial in the center console lets us choose between sand snow rock sport and auto which automatically adjusts to the given terrain i love all the power that comes with the big hemi v8 but for the best fuel economy you'll want the v6 and rear wheel drive it gets 16 miles per gallon city 23 highway the hemi with four wheel drive only gets 13 miles per gallon city 19 highway now if you're on a limited budget the base laredo v6 with rear wheel drive starts at thousand two fifteen the nicely equipped four wheel drive limited starts at forty thousand whether you want a sharp looking premium luxury suv with solid road manners or proven off-road capability for those ventures into the wild the new grand cherokee can deliver both for autotrader i'm kimbep fennell and i'm nick newell and thanks for watching autotrader's new car review for the 2011 jeep grand cherokee right here on autotrader the ultimate automotive marketplacethe 2011 jeep grand cherokee has a smooth road-going setup but with available four-wheel drive and chassis raising select terrain it's built to take on the toughest off-road challenges on the planet hi i'm kim betfennell and i'm nick newell and you're watching autotrader's new car review of the 2011 jeep grand cherokee now while crossovers are all the rage these days this grand cherokee makes an aggressive suv stance while adding a softer edge to the overall design the new grand cherokee has the brawny good luxago nose to nose with the land rover lr4 or the toyota 4runner limited two of its closest competitors and you get a lot for your money with this all new interior heated and ventilated front seats a heated steering wheel and everything is wrapped in leather other nice tekken convenience options include jeep's uconnect phone navigation and entertainment package and a huge command view dual panel sunroof this is one nicely equipped suv but nothing beats putting it through its paces the base engine for the 2011 grand cherokee is chrysler's all-new pentastar 3.6 liter v6 it gets 290 horsepower now that's okay for getting up to speed on the highway and cruising around town but it's probably not ideal for towing now if you don't mind paying a little bit more at the pump the real mover is the 5.7 liter hemi v8 like the one that we're testing it gets 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque it's that low-level torque that will help haul a boat with ease both engines are mated to a five-speed automatic with a manual shift option now you can get either engine with just rear-wheel drive but if you're planning on going off the beaten path you'll need all four wheels working for you jeep has two setups quadratrac 1 is a full-time all-wheel drive system but it doesn't have a low range or hill descent control for rock climbing for that you're going to need quadratrac 2 a true 4 wheel drive system it features electronic limited slip differential and jeep's impressive quadra lift air suspension with it you can raise the ride height up to nearly 11 inches of ground clearance and since trails come in all shapes and sizes another important option is select terrain that's right the dial in the center console lets us choose between sand snow rock sport and auto which automatically adjusts to the given terrain i love all the power that comes with the big hemi v8 but for the best fuel economy you'll want the v6 and rear wheel drive it gets 16 miles per gallon city 23 highway the hemi with four wheel drive only gets 13 miles per gallon city 19 highway now if you're on a limited budget the base laredo v6 with rear wheel drive starts at thousand two fifteen the nicely equipped four wheel drive limited starts at forty thousand whether you want a sharp looking premium luxury suv with solid road manners or proven off-road capability for those ventures into the wild the new grand cherokee can deliver both for autotrader i'm kimbep fennell and i'm nick newell and thanks for watching autotrader's new car review for the 2011 jeep grand cherokee right here on autotrader the ultimate automotive marketplace\n"