Instrumented Test
TESTED
The essence of Jeep-ness, carefully cultivated and nurtured over the decades, is a rugged persona and utterly fearless off-road ability. With abundant ground clearance (8.7 inches standard, up to 11.3 with the available Quadra-Lift air suspension) and the latest Quadra Drive II four-wheel-drive system (two-speed transfer case with low range and five operating modes), the current Grand Cherokee certainly has the off-road ability covered.
But for all its chassis solidity—this Jeep’s structure could double as a bridge girder—“rugged” isn’t the description that comes to mind from behind the wheel. How about “luxury sedan”? The Grand Cherokee offers a quiet, creamy ride that isolates occupants from the occasionally harsh realities of the road. Of course, the numb power steering contributes to the sense of isolation, but at least it’s accurate.
Freshening the Franchise Player
A major player in Chrysler’s latest return from the brink of doom, the Grand Cherokee received a freshening for 2014 that includes revised front and rear fascias with LED lighting and interior updates that bring an available 8.4-inch touch screen and the latest version of Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system. But the most significant updates for 2014 concern the powertrains. The Jeep product planners exploited Chrysler’s Fiat connection to add a robust VM Motori 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel to the Grand Cherokee’s engine options, expanding on a lineup that includes the carry-over standard 3.6-liter V-6 and the familiar 5.7-liter V-8 tested here.
All engines now are paired with the ubiquitous ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission, a gearbox found in everything from Audis to Jags that Chrysler has previously installed in the 300, Charger, and refreshed 2013 Ram 1500 pickup. It also transmits power in the potent Grand Cherokee SRT, and it’s a sweetheart—seamless in ordinary automatic mode and responsive when the pilot feels frisky and employs the paddle shifters.
Fitted with the 5.7-liter Hemi, the Grand Cherokee has enough power to deliver respectable acceleration. But let’s not confuse respectable—0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds—with thrilling. If you want the latter, you should check out the SRT and its 470-hp 6.4-liter, which cuts the 0-to-60 sprint to 4.6 ticks. Upgrade to the SRT, and you’ll get an aural reminder of V-8 might, the mellow baritone rumble unique to big ol’ American pushrod eights that is unfortunately absent here.
Although most V-8 buyers likely won’t list fuel economy as the prime reason for purchase, the Hemi V-8 is fitted with an unobtrusive cylinder-deactivation program to help curb thirst. Even so, the eight-pot Grand Cherokee’s EPA estimates come in at a modest 14 mpg city and 20 highway, which are a significant 3 and 4 mpg lower than the V-6’s. In the real world, however, the gap narrows considerably. We logged 16 with the V-8 versus 17 with the V-6. Chalk it up to the fact that the V-6 must work much harder to move two-and-a-half tons of Jeep.
