Nov 20, 2018, 00:00 AM by Paul Immediato

Many SUVs are soft-road capable and carlike on the road. Jeep Grand Cherokee is off-road capable and still pampers well on the highway and around town. An annual favorite of award-giving groups and organizations, Jeep calls Grand Cherokee “the most-awarded SUV ever.” In keeping with that theme, Jeep Grand Cherokee was named AutoPacific’s Ideal Vehicle Award for the Mid-Size SUV segment for the eighth consecutive year. The award recognizes the changes owners desire in their vehicles based on 58,000 responses from a national survey by the automotive research and consulting firm. And one again, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 has earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA -- the highest single rating in NHTSA’s vehicle-evaluation program.

Awards often translate into sales and so far this year, that is the case here, as Grand Cherokee is ranked in the Top-20 in all vehicles sold in America this year and is the seventh top-selling SUV/Crossover,

The four-door sport-utility-vehicle is built at the Jefferson Avenue North Assembly Plant, Detroit, with steel uniframe construction, and is offered in either rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. New for 2018 are three new models: a new 707-horsepower, 645 lb-ft. of torque Trackhawk trim; the Grand Cherokee Sterling Edition debuts, available on Limited models, marking Grand Cherokee’s 25th anniversary and features Platinum Chrome badging and lots of cosmetics; and Grand Cherokee High Altitude Edition returns for the 2018 model year, available on Overland models, with Low Gloss Granite Crystal badging, grille bezels, step pad, tail lamps, and 20-inch wheels.

Among the 2018 tweaks and augmentations are Jeep’s replacing its old 5-inch info screen with a larger 7-inch one, and the optional 8.4-inch touchscreen receives Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility to make integrating a Smartphone easier. And there are numerous trim-specific tweaks and additions. Linewide, Active Noise Cancellation is now standard with the available nine-speaker Alpine audio system.

Grand Cherokee continues on its theme as a Premium SUV with a rounded, elegant exterior design — complete with its signature seven-slot grille, key exterior features include front and rear LED lighting, and bi-xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps that are outlined with signature LED running lamps. The front and rear feature unique lower fascias for every trim level and a large, aerodynamic rear spoiler.

I tested the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, which weighed in at 4746 lbs. (curbweight with the 3.6-liter engine), and measured 189.8 inches in length, 84.8 inches in width at the mirrors (body width is 76.5 inches), and 69.3 inches in height at the roof rails, on a 114.7-inch wheelbase, with a load floor height of 32.4 inches, sill step-in height of 20.5 inches and a minimum ground clearance of 8.6 inches.

Grand Cherokee offers five engine choices this year, including HEMIs, an Eco-Diesel and a 707-hp supercharged V-8. Standard on the Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland and Summit trims is the economical 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that provides 295 hp and 260 lbs.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating of 18mpg/city and 25mpg/highway in 4WD. My week of testing in the 3.6-powered Limited trim included some off-road, trackwork, town and highway driving, and averaged 20.9mpg.

A 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 is also available with 360 hp and 390 lbs.-ft. of torque is optional, ass is a 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V-6 with 240 hp and 420 lbs.-ft., and the SRT model comes standard with a 6.4-liter V-8 that powers up with 475 hp and 470 lbs.-ft. Also onboard this year for the Trackhawk model is a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 that explodes out 707 horses and 645 lbs.-ft.

All of Jeep Grand Cherokee’s engines are mated to the ZF automatic eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers quick acceleration and precise, smooth shifting. While the engine noise that filled the cabin was greater than expected, acceleration was steady on the highway and toque provided good off-road power when called upon. At the track, a dash from zero-to-60mph was accomplished in 7.7 seconds during a 15.9-second (hand-timed) quarter-mile.

The cabin seats five and is well-crafted, technically enhanced and comfortable. Interior accommodations provide 39.9 inches of front headroom and 39.2 in row two; first row legroom is 40.3 inches with 38.6 in the second row with 4.3 inches of knee clearance, and shoulder room is 58.7 inches in front with 58 inches in row two.

Packed with tech, environment controls and infotainment, Grand Cherokee also includes more than 70 safety and security features as well as an array of advanced user-friendly technology

The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee is offered in a dozen trim styles in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations, beginning with the base Laredo 4x2 at $27,390 and moving through various models all the way up to the 707-hp Trackhawk at $86,200. My test ride in Limited trim is the fifth up the line-up and starts at $34,490 in 2WD. Four-wheel-drive starts at $36,490, and my 4WD Limited came with a standard 3.6-liter engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, and added Uconnect® 4C NAV with 8.4-Inch Display for $1395., a remote CD player for $495, a power sunroof for $1195, and Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection for $595. With Destination charges of $1495, my vehicle stickered at $41,665, but discounts of up to $1000 may be available in your area.


> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been
writing professionally for about 30 years.
options.