2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[tacomadave]

Thats a cool commercial.

 

[Jeff H]

thats a cool commercial.

x2!

 

[winkosmosis]

My experience is limited to the XK, but:

1) It feels significantly weaker than a front axle (bumps, crawling, etc.)
2) It doesn't like to be lifted over 2" unless you drop the front cradle, which I'm not a fan of.
3) When you do lift it, EVERYTHING is out of whack, and you need offset upper balljoints to fix the camber. Tires like this: \\ // (front view)
3) No flex.
4) The little bit of flex you do get (w/o swaybar) allows the spindle to come into contact with the strut when unloaded (due to short A-arms).
5) In general, harder to modify and more crap to go wrong or get loose, and it's more expensive.

I hate IFS.

BUT, I absolutely love my XK and consider the IFS the only main gripe I have. The flexless front end is somewhat compensated for with QuadraDrive II.

Hmm... Does any vehicle have a good IFS? Toyota?

 

[haven]

How about the IFS on the Ford Raptor pickup? 11 inches of wheel travel.

It's true that you don't see IFS on rock-hopping buggies because they need maximum articulation. For the rest of us, IFS works fine.

 

[JeffRRC]

That commercial - WOW, I just hope the Grand is half as good as the commercial. If it is, Jeep has a new hit.

 

[mountainsoul]

Was that a leather dash on the Overland model?

 

[Desert Dan]

I hope you can put 16" rims and a tire with some sidewall on the new Grand.

Those low profile street tires are a hinderance off the pavement.

Maybe the Overland Package has something in store?

 

[Root Moose]

Hmm... Does any vehicle have a good IFS? Toyota?

You need to define good before you can answer that.

IMO, any SLA front suspension is decent. The rest is a function of the strnegth of the CV shafts.

 

[jingram]

GREAT Ad!! Hopefully Jeep sticks with that ad firm and theme for some time, it will certainly serve them well.

 

[mikeg1713]

So I haven't read the thread in full. I got to drive 12 of the 2011's 2 weeks ago. Sorry I can't post photos or my videos. I signed a form that I could be fined or fired. This new grand is bad ***! I've been a jeep owner since 1995 and have owned, driven, & wheeled every jeep from 1945 to now. I did everything I could and almost got removed when I tried to roll a larado,....lol. I wasn't sure what to think before I got to test them. But after I spent some time in them I was very happy what I saw. We did a off road coarse, high speed, and high speed manuvering such as Lane change and 60mph cone dodgeing.......lol that's where I tried to roll it. All I can say is give it a chance I did and I'd gladly buy one!

Ok so I'm a moron.... I forgot that I already posted on this site and I had photos up. I had to delete them.

 

[haven]

Looks like Chrysler raised its embargo on road tests of the new Grand Cherokee (GC). Lots of online sources now have impressions, most gained at a recent test day sponsored by Jeep at the Hollister Hills off-highway vehicle park in northern California.

Here's a list of new reviews I saw this morning.

Edmunds Inside Line
http://www.insideline.com/jeep/gran...rand-cherokee-limited-4x4-v6-first-drive.html

Autoblog
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/20/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-first-drive/

Car and Driver
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q2/2011_jeep_grand_cherokee_-first_drive_review

Motor Trend
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1008_2011_jeep_grand_cherokee_drive/index.html

Road & Track
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/impressions/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee

Autoweek
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100620/CARREVIEWS/100619858

Automobile Magazine not yet

A few notes from the reviews:
-- The GC is available only with a 5 speed automatic. Chrysler will start building the ZF 8 speed auto soon. /Inside Line
-- "The new V6 isn't up to the task of moving the 5000 lb GC when passing on a two lane road." /Autoblog
-- "once you experience the Quadra-Lift air suspension, you'll never be content with coil springs again." /Inside Line
-- "Even while losing the [solid rear] axle, Jeep calls this 'the most capable Grand Cherokee ever.' " /Car and Driver
-- "Most impressive? The new interior." /Car and Driver
--"It was impossible not to be impressed with the GC's [off-road] capabilities." /Road &Track

 

[winkosmosis]

Bah! Those are all car magazines that are so small minded that they think it's better for a truck to drive like a car. They'll criticize the Wrangler for not having "road manners" or whatever.

 

[haven]

Remember that most Grand Cherokee owners don't take their $40,000 vehicles on anything more challenging than a fire road. Jeep makes the Wrangler for the trails that start where the fire road ends.

I think Jeep has done a good job with the new GC. On the low end, it can compete with the unibody SUVs like the new Ford Explorer and Chevy Equinox. On the high end, the GC compares well with the Land Rover LR4, Mercedes ML350, VW Touareg and BMW X5. The GC Limited and Overland models are priced at least a couple of thousand dollars cheaper than the Euro SUVs.

Hey, Overland Journal staff! Please set up these side-by-side comparisons: Wrangler vs 4Runner, and Grand Cherokee vs LR4.

 

[Root Moose]

I agree. The new Grand is properly poised to compete with other vehicles in its segment. Things are looking good for Jeep. Seems like Jeep is always the brand to save Chrysler from certain doom in recent history.

Of the competition the only vehicle I would consider cross shopping is the Touareg. The X5 and ML are completely uninspiring as they are purely road vehicles. I wouldn't trust the LR4 any farther out than the suburbs which is a real shame.

IMNSHO of course.

 

[mountainsoul]

Drove one yesterday. Very briefly on pavement. Noticeable improvements were the interior ergonomics, overall fit and finish, rear leg room, extra power from the V6, smoothness and overall refinement. Didn't have chance to play in the dirt or with the adaptable terrain modes. Need more time behind the wheel before I can make any solid judgements but it seems to be a big step forward for the GC.