Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Grand Cherokee wasn’t so much redesigned for ’11 as reinvented.

After years of being a typical American SUV with low-rent cabin materials, patchy reliability, wobbly build quality, and a considerable thirst for gasoline, this generation (the fourth) immediately became a major player in its class.

Jeep’s midsize SUV leans toward the luxurious. It’s certainly more refined than its predecessor, with a much stiffer structure that brings benefits in noise, vibration, harshness, and occupant protection. The way this Grand Cherokee drives is so much more composed than the version it replaced.

Standard equipment includes dual-zone air conditioning, satellite radio, power-adjustable driver seat, and 17-inch alloy wheels. And because it’s a Jeep, the all-wheel-drive hardware that’s available is comprehensive and exceptionally capable. A powered tailgate and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof are optional.

The Grand Cherokee’s off-road talents can be enhanced by an air suspension that raises the ride height and ground clearance by up to 4.2 inches. Little wonder, then, that the Grand Cherokee has received a whole trophy case full of awards, including Best Buy, Truck of the Year, Four Wheeler of the Year, and Safest SUV by various publications, plus the accolade of Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).