JPFreek Review of 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[ox4mag]

This was published on Friday, July 2 on the new JPFreek website and is the featured cover story for the new issue of JPFreek which is due out by 7/6/10:

http://online.jpfreek.com/2010/06/27/a-legend-reborn-jeeps-all-new-2011-grand-cherokee/

 

[modelbuilder]

No mention of the loss of the front Eaton ELSD in Quadra Drive II?

 

[winkosmosis]

This is more of a press release than a review. I want to know how the new suspension works offroad, and I really want to see some cutaways showing the hardware like Hummer used to release. I guess until enthusiasts start modifying them, every offroad report will be usual car/consumer magazine style "This vehicle does really really really well on dirt roads that a Subaru can handle! AAA+++"

 

[DirtyViking]

I don't have very high hopes of it being particularly capable offroad unless someone does major modifications to it. It's been a trend for a while now that the Grand Cherokee is getting more and more posh, and less and less Jeep, which is a shame. The capability is there, it just needs to be unlocked.

 

[modelbuilder]

I don't have very high hopes of it being particularly capable offroad unless someone does major modifications to it. It's been a trend for a while now that the Grand Cherokee is getting more and more posh, and less and less Jeep, which is a shame. The capability is there, it just needs to be unlocked.

Agreed, even with select-terrain and the lift system without the EATON front ELSD (which locks as if its a real locker) I really don't see how this will be more capable than the 09-10 (With the new Hemi Engine) Quadra Drive II system.



.

 

[ox4mag]

I can say that after having driven the vehicle extensively (on-road and off-highway), it is equally as capable, and even more so, than its 09-10 predecessors. Also, I currently drive an 07 with the 3.0L CRD (4x4 Limited with electronic rear slip) and this version blows the 07 out of the water. Selec-Terrain makes up for any changes in the previous Quadra-Drive II and the Quadra-Lift air suspension compensates for the very poor approach/departure angles that plagued the previous versions.

I definitely stand by the review as being far more than just a "press release" and recommend the new GC for folks who want a highly capable on-road and off-highway rig as well as all the bells and whistles that the JK doesn't have, respectively.

 

[modelbuilder]

Well you wrote a very nice article but you didn't really test it on anything that would prove that it's more capable than the previous QDII system. The front EATON ELSD is responsible for the video below (mute it when you watch it...annoying background music.)

Also I was not aware that the CRD only has the rear ELSD...or did you put that in yourself. As of now I'm only aware of the Quadra Trac I, II and Quadra Drive II System (which got rid of the vari-lock and updated to the EATONS).

The QT I system has the BTCS without the low range.

The QT II system uses the brakes to act as pseudo locker with no ELSD in the front or back. It also has 4-low.

The QD II system has EATONS in the front and back. I also checked the JEEP website and it says nothing about the CRD only have the EATON in the rear. Also read reviews of the 07 CRD and it mentions the QDII system with the front and rears.

If you don't have any of the above systems what's yours called? Not trying to be a jerk just wondering for my own info. Just seems that if your own system is missing the front ELSD and the WK2 is missing the front ELSD how can you compare it to the Quadra Drive II system with the front and rear Eatons.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlaHUN8j_dM"]YouTube- GSW 2008 - The Pickle - Part 4[/ame]

 

[ox4mag]

No worries, I certainly didn't interpret your remarks as being anything bad. Quite the contrary.

As for the ELSD, it is in the front and rear of the 07 with the QD-II setup so that is correct. Regarding the new setup in the 2011 version, from what I could tell the vehicle did quite nicely using the Selec-Terrain in lieu of front ELSD. But we'll see. I'm going to be taking delivery of one of these vehicles soon for long-term use and will let y'all know what we find as we plan to take it out to the same place we tested the 2008 version for more extensive testing. Stay tuned and thanks for the questions/comments. Keep them comin'!

 

[winkosmosis]

It was me who said it's more of a press release. I'm not blaming you, it's not like you could do anything you want with the vehicle.

I know when the car magazines like C&D start testing them, they'll be doing nothing but softroading, and raving about how great it is offroad-- just like they do for all the car based SUVs out there.

When you get one for testing can you post some info on the suspension hardware? Like how long are the control arms? Is the age of the competent IRS finally upon us? Could you guys take pics for of the hardware those of us who love looking at that stuff?

 

[ox4mag]

It was me who said it's more of a press release. I'm not blaming you, it's not like you could do anything you want with the vehicle.

I know when the car magazines like C&D start testing them, they'll be doing nothing but softroading, and raving about how great it is offroad-- just like they do for all the car based SUVs out there.

When you get one for testing can you post some info on the suspension hardware? Like how long are the control arms? Is the age of the competent IRS finally upon us? Could you guys take pics for of the hardware those of us who love looking at that stuff?

Absolutely! As a matter of fact the more technical features of the IFS/IRS and everything that makes this vehicle a capable rig will be the focus so stay tuned. We should have something more thorough on that front later in the year.

 

[modelbuilder]

And if you could get us info on how much it will cost to repair the lift system if an air bag blows or something.

 

[mountainsoul]

Absolutely! As a matter of fact the more technical features of the IFS/IRS and everything that makes this vehicle a capable rig will be the focus so stay tuned. We should have something more thorough on that front later in the year.

I too look forward to hearing your opinions after you have spent more time with it, putting it through it's paces off road. After hearing many conflicting arguments I'm interested to see how the new GC really performs in the rough.

I drove one recently and it's on-road manners were exceptional. Ergonomics, fit and finish, interior capacities, and comfort were all greatly improved. But I still have some lingering doubts about it's off road abilities. Hopefully they will become unfounded because I like it overall.

 

[nwoods]

Oops, double post

 

[nwoods]

For those wondering about the adequacy of the traction control system in liue of tradional lockers, look to the Land Rover LR3. I am fairly certain that the company that makes the TC system for LR is the same company that Jeep tapped for the new Grand. The air suspension system looks awefully similar also, and those bags have held up magnificantly for the past 6 years with tens of thousands of LR3's well over 100,000 miles and going strong.

I think the right questions to be asking about the new Grand are:
1. Max tire size that will fit and that the drivetrain can handle?

2. Availability of aftermarket armor (bumpers, skids, sliders, etc...)

3. Durabilty of the CV's

4. Durabilty of the electronics, sensors, connectors, engine and transmission control modules, and compressor for the suspension.

5. CRD availabilty? (I think no, correct?)

6. Availabilty/Compatibility with standard OBDII or III programers to reset faults on the trail (something NOT readily available for the LR3).

 

[SMD]

A Note Before Impressions of Brand Rivalry
(This will look like LR guys coming over to gang up, but that really isn't the case. Got my JPFreek notification via email, read it, wanted to post questions... And I'm a former TJ owner who occasionally lusts for LJs. )

Just a couple of quick questions:
What makes the Selec-Terrain "first within the SUV market" that sets it apart and different from Land Rover's Terrain Response which first appeared 6 years ago? I lost track of Jeep Quadra-This and Quadra-That several years ago after selling the TJ so maybe I'm missing something? Seems Ford is also going down this road with the new Explorer which will have a pseudo-Terrain Response system. Is the answer in the first few posts of this thread related to the ELSDs?

Ditto for the claim of "another Jeep first which is an air suspension system that raises the vehicle..."? The article left a lot of detail out for what I would assume are understandable reasons of limited space and limited ability to disect the vehicle, so is there something else in the system radically different from the various air suspension systems used on LRs since around 1994?
EDIT: Looking at the article again, the second bullet is in reference to this being a first for Jeep, not the SUV market so that makes sense.