Introduction

One of the most recognized brand names in the world, Jeep comes in three flavors--the classic Wrangler, the Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee, luxury version of the Jeep brand and the most popular member of its tribe. The Grand Cherokee outsells all sport-utilities but the Ford Explorer in the U.S. market--about 280,000 sales in 1996, a healthy 12% increase over 1995. The Grand Cherokee itself comes in several interesting levels--Laredo, Limited and the Orvis Edition, named for the outdoor gear company and similar in character to the Explorer Eddie Bauer models. Until last year, when both the Explorer V8 and Mercury Mountaineer made their debuts, the Grand Cherokee was the only compact sport-utility to offer a V8 engine option, but that market exclusive is history now, and the Grand Cherokee will have to go on its other merits. One of its best merits, we think, is the sharp-edge body design, a design scheme that was accepted immediately when this truck showed up four years ago, and stands out in the crowd now because most of the other sport utes in this size/price class look like gigantic scoops of melting ice cream, with compound curves on all the corners. For 1997, there is a small group of minor improvements to this six-year-old SUV: the base radio is upgraded, the carpeting is upgraded, the rear seat heat duct is extended, the tilt steering column is modified for improved function, the ABS system is improved and all models get a full-body anti-chip paint treatment. There are also eight new colors to choose from.

Walkaround

The Grand Cherokee starts with a Laredo two-wheel drive four-door with a 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. It builds from there to the 5.2-liter V8 Limited and Orvis models. Along the way, the Grand Cherokee offers more drivetrain variations than any other sport-utility on the market. While no manual transmission is available, there are two drive systems available for either the six or the V8. Once you opt for four-wheel drive, you must then choose among the systems. These include Selec-Trac, with a fixed torque split between front and rear, and Quadra-Trac, which normally puts all the torque to the rear axle but can automatically vary torque fore and aft at any proportion between zero and 100%, assuring that the power always goes to the tires that have the traction. And, for those who want the power and the space without the complexity of a heavy 4WD system, in 1997 the basic 2WD model is available for the first time with the 5.2-liter V8 engine option. The Grand Cherokee Limited comes with a large load of standard equipment--as well it should for a starting price of $31,885--including air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power mirrors, power locks, 10-way power seats with power recline and lumbar systems, tinted glass, a remote locking/security system, leather trim, tilt steering, cruise control, aluminum wheels, premium AM/FM/cassette audio, fog lamps, a roof rack, and a pair of consoles, one overhead, one between the front seats. The Limited package ($1290) adds heated seats, a power sunroof, and an upgraded sound system with three-band graphic equalizer. Our tester also had the trailer towing group ($242), the Up Country suspension ($390)--which raises the ride one full inch and comes with tow hooks, skid plates, stiffer springs and shocks, P225/70R-16 tires and a conventional spare. The optional 5.2-liter V8 engine was an additional $877 (though you can get a Limited with a six-cylinder engine), and the traction-lock rear differential added $285.

Interior Features

From the left front seat, the Grand Cherokee Limited V8 is easy to figure out and easy to deal with, though the instrument panel seems to be running out of space to put the various switches and controls for all the power options it packs. The typical Jeep white-on-black instruments, with color accents, are easy to scan and very good at night. The leather seats are very comfortable for long rides, and have a wide range of power adjustments, with a two-driver memory feature for the seats, radio stations and mirrors. The clear instrument covers and some of the plastic elements used inside are a bit too shiny for our tastes, shiny equating with, less than grand, appearance in this context. If the Grand Cherokee has a handicap it is lack of interior space for people and cargo compared to most of its direct competition. While the interior is nicely done, the Grand Cherokee is built on a narrow Jeep unitbody platform and that narrowness dictates and governs how much space there is for shoulders, hips, heads and legs, and, behind the second seat, how much cubic capacity awaits the family-size cargo loads. The other compact sport-utilities that have come into the market after the Grand Cherokee have pretty much exploited this weakness with larger interior layouts and more useable cubic capacity in the cargo area. Having said that, the Grand Cherokee, which is done up in soft cushy leather and simulated woodgrain, offers quite a pleasant environment for four people and their collective stuff, or two adults and three kids. We wouldn't stretch it to five adults, at least not for any long rides. The interior simply isn't roomy enough for five real people. But the ride is quiet and comfortable, more comfortable than any other Jeep, as well as most of its competitors. There's extra sound insulation built in to keep noise down, and the materials used on the Limited version are very posh indeed.