Refined Grand Cherokee now in Trailhawk trim
The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee combines comfort, performance and serious off- road chops. The base price of admission — $ 30,395 — makes it a stunner for the tech- savvy sophistication and overall value you get inside.
Exterior elegance may be a stretch when describing the Grand Cherokee, but it certainly holds its own with capable mid- size competitors; considering its off- road excellence, it’s beautiful. There is definitely a refinement present that had been missing in previous designs. Jeep’s signature grille and headlamp treatment provides attitude, but it’s the confident stance and chiseled side panels running from the A to C pillars that give it a distinction and recognizability for all the right reasons.
The new 2017 Trailhawk trim greatly expands the Grand Cherokee’s off- road capabilities. The lineup has seven trims: Laredo, Laredo E, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit and SRT. Rear- wheel drive is standard, but depending on the trim level and about $ 2,000, four- wheel drive can be added. Four- wheel drive is standard in Trailhawk and SRT models.
One of the best things about the Grand Cherokee, once you get past the amazing offroad capability, is that it has one of the most refined cabins in the class. I found the general soft- touch materials to be upscale, something that was lacking just a few years ago. The seating is plentiful and comfortable. My tester featured soft leather that was stitched with extra attention to a rugged feel.
The dash is laid out in intuitive and minimal fashion. High- visibility gauges and easyaccess switches and button in the center stack make things a breeze to operate while driving. An excellent infotainment system is a plus, as well as standard rear- view camera and parking sensors that take much of the anxiety out of reversing and parking. My tester featured an optional 8.4- inch screen with laser- sharp graphics. The Grand Cherokee maxes out at 68.3 cubic feet of cargo room, which is a bit shy of competitors, but you seem to get that room in the front reaches.
Under the hood, the Grand Cherokee comes standard with a 300- horsepower V- 6 engine, which is the most powerful base engine in the class. It’s mated to an eight- speed automatic transmission ( all models); the pairing provides snap acceleration and plenty of powerful shifts. An optional V- 8 engine delivers 360 horsepower, while a six- cylinder diesel has 240 horsepower but delivers top- of- the- segment towing at 7,400 pounds. The SRT trim offers a brash 6.4- liter V- 8 engine that puts out 475 horsepower. The base Grand Cherokee gets an EPA- rated 19 mpg city/ 26 mpg highway.
The 2017 Grand Cherokee has four unique 4x4 drivetrain systems, including full- time and part- time systems. Amazing off- road features like an adjustable air suspension and terrain selection help the Grand Cherokee reach an approach angle of up to 36.1 degrees and a departure angle of 27.1 degrees.
In my tester Trailhawk configuration, high ground clearance ( max 10.8 inches) helps make the Grand Cherokee one of the most capable off- roading vehicles. New Trailhawk models feature the standard Quadra- Drive II 4x4 system with rear electronic limited- slip differential, a Quadra- Lift air suspension with improved articulation and total suspension travel, as well as speed control with hill- ascent and hill- descent control. Skid plates are also standard.
Testing the new Trailhawk trim was a pleasure both on and off the pavement. Even at a high water mark of $ 42,995, the value in the overall quality and features packages is impossible to beat.