BY TONY QUIROGA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY
July 2011
Date: July 2011
Months in Fleet: 5 months
Current Mileage: 16,652 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 18 mpg
Average Range: 443 miles
Service: $164
Normal Wear: $0
Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $449
Jeep overhauled its Grand Cherokee for 2011, redesigning it from the contact patches to the roof and transferring it to the same platform that hosts the Mercedes-Benz M-class. The Benz-derived structure is solid, but it also adds about 200 pounds versus the previous Grand Cherokee. Still, our first impressions were positive—we awarded the Jeep first place in a four-truck comparison test—so we ordered one up for our long-term fleet.
Despite the weight increase, we decided to forgo the 360-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 and opted for Jeep’s new 290-hp, 3.6-liter V-6. With the six, four-wheel-drive Grand Cherokees start at $33,040. The $4000 Laredo 26X trim package added power-adjustable heated leather seats, remote start, Bluetooth connectivity, painted 18-inch wheels, and a 6.5-inch touch screen with a 30-gig hard drive. Since some of us might actually venture off-road, we went with the $2125 Off-Road Adventure II package, which adds the adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension, skid plates, a full-size spare, hill-descent control, off-road tires, tow hooks, and the all important “Trail Rated” badge. Inferno Red paint ($225) and navigation ($395) brought the total to $39,785.
Huffing and Puffing
Many of Chrysler’s new and refreshed products get the 3.6-liter V-6, but few are heavier than the Grand Cherokee. Our Grand Cherokee Laredo with four-wheel drive weighed in at 5005 pounds. In initial testing, we recorded a 0–60 time of 8.2 seconds. Not surprisingly, many staffers have complained about a lack of acceleration, especially from a standstill. “The Grand Cherokee leaves stoplights with almost no authority; could definitely use more torque,” wrote one editor. Since the new V-6 makes its peak torque at 4800 rpm, this engine requires revs to move the Grand Cherokee’s mass around in any meaningful way. One major upside to the new V-6 is its fuel economy. According to the EPA, you should expect 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Last year, a comparably equipped Grand Cherokee with a 210-hp 3.7-liter V-6 managed 15 city and 20 highway in the EPA cycle. The Hemi-powered version, which slightly improves 0-60 acceleration to 7.5 seconds, returns less impressive numbers of 13 city and 19 highway. In 16,652 miles, we’ve managed 18 mpg, a number that translates to a 443-mile range.
Although the V-6 is new, the five-speed transmission carries over from the previous generation. A few more gears would definitely be welcome and Jeep should be installing a new ZF-designed eight-speed automatic in the near future. A lower first gear would certainly help the V-6 move the Jeep off the line and the additional gears would likely help keep the engine from falling well below its 4800-rpm torque peak.
A Clunk: Who’da Thunk?
We’ve already logged plenty of complaints about the five-speed transmissions paired with this engine, but the unit in our Grand Cherokee introduced us to a new issue: It slams down into first gear when coasting to a stop. Hard. With just 2700 miles on the clock, we took the Jeep to our dealership and discovered that Jeep had issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) for the problem. The dealer reflashed the powertrain control module and the problem went away for a little while, but 500 miles later we were back for another reflash. This time, the dealer ordered a new control module, but it still didn’t fix the problem. Now, 13,000 miles after the new module was installed, we’re just living with the intermittent clunk. We’re also awaiting a software update for the entertainment system that will remedy our recurring problems using the iPod and Bluetooth connectivity. For the most part, they simply don’t work. Our dealer told us an update was forthcoming, but that was four months ago. Thankfully, we’ve finally learned the recently revised station lineup on Sirius.
With all of the aforementioned covered under warranty, our cost to keep the Jeep on the road has been low. It asks for oil changes when it wants them, and services are otherwise performed every 8000 miles. Our first oil change took place at 3793 miles and set us back $33, and the next coincided with the 8000-mile service. That visit, for an oil change, tire rotation, and general inspection, cost $51. At 16,000 miles, a tire rotation, cabin-air filter replacement, and inspection cost $81. The dealer didn’t perform an oil change at that time because the vehicle wasn’t asking for one yet. They did, however, replace the window in our right rear door, which was broken in Chicago to liberate a laptop from the Jeep. The window replacement cost $449; our laptop remains at large.
On the Bright Side
Despite the annoying transmission, there has been plenty of praise for the refined feel of the Grand Cherokee. “Even though the engine is working hard, the Jeep remains serene,” wrote one staffer. Interior comfort and the tasteful dashboard design have been universally praised, with a pleased road tripper noting, “A smooth highway ride and a big gas tank make for easy 600-mile days.”
The Jeep has been such a pleasure on-road that we’ve covered almost 17,000 miles so far and we’ve yet to test its off-road chops. Stay tuned. We’re certain that an off-road adventure in Montana will happen sooner rather than later.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED: $39,785 (base price: $33,040)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 220 cu in, 3604 cc
Power (SAE net): 290 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 114.8 in Length: 189.8 in
Width: 76.5 in Height: 69.3 in
Curb weight: 5005 lb
PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 8.2 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 23.1 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 29.7 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 9.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.4 sec @ 87 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 113 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 177 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.74 g
*Stability-control-inhibited
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 16/22 mpg
C/D observed: 18 mpg
Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt
WARRANTY:
3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;
5 years/100,000 miles powertrain;
3 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;
5 years/100,000 miles roadside assistance
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