2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Road Test and Review

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee exterior angle by Ryan ZumMallen ・ Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

The world has changed a lot in the past 25 years. At least one thing has remained constant, though: you know exactly what to expect from the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The titan of off-road performance, rugged capability, and upscale design has stayed true to its roots despite changing trends that have swept through the SUV segment—and customers are rewarding Jeep for it. Grand Cherokee sales are on the rise lately, even pulling alongside its smaller Cherokee brother that was expected to be the volume model. There’s just something about the Grand Cherokee that resonates with buyers. Maybe it’s the standard all-wheel drive, or the fact that it looks so good when covered in mud. Sure, it doesn’t fit the current ultra-luxe crossover mold. Maybe that’s exactly what some people want.

What Makes It Different?

There are plenty of different trims, styles, and engines to choose from in the Grand Cherokee family. The heart of every Grand Cherokee, however, is its standard all-wheel drive and 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, which provides a strong performance baseline both on-road and off-road. The combination of civility and capability is a prevailing theme throughout the Grand Cherokee. Jeep utilizes a unit-body chassis, rather than the body-on-frame design traditionally favored by pickup truck and large suvs, that makes the Grand Cherokee lighter and more carlike. The unit-body allows the Grand Cherokee to satisfy commuters and families while also being rugged and capable enough to satisfy adventure-minded buyers.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Exterior Design

Although it’s now softer around the edges, and more upscale, the Grand Cherokee still sports a classic and familiar silhouette that is among the most easily recognizable across the SUV segment. At the front, seven vertical bars line the wide grille, punctuated by headlamps that shine like jewels. The long flat roof and squared-off wheel wells lend a throwback outdoorsy look to the side profile. At its core, the 2017 Grand Cherokee still has some of the military influence that launched the Jeep brand. That will likely never go away. While the 2017 Grand Cherokee is a modern adaptation, it is inherently linked to those influences. My tester even came in a Recon Green paint that harkened directly back to the front lines.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Interior

While the entire Jeep Grand Cherokee package famously brings civility to off-roading, it accomplishes this goal best of all inside the cabin. The interior of the Grand Cherokee is generously appointed with pleasing layout, attractive color palettes, and modern upscale touches like a leather shift knob, piano black dash trim, and illuminating accent lighting that add doses of charisma and personality. In the Limited trim the seats come standard with leather, and they’re graciously plush, certainly among the most comfortable and supportive in the class. Even with a substantial amount of plastic, the interior feels suited for tuxedos and ballgowns as well as soccer jerseys and hunting gear. Chalk that up to the Grand Cherokee's seemingly airtight NVH, which helps highlight the optional 9-speaker and subwoofer sound system.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Power and Efficiency

Under the hood of the Grand Cherokee you’ll find the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine that Fiat Chrysler automobiles (FCA) spreads liberally across its lineup. Serious changes came to the Pentastar in the Grand Cherokee that haven’t trickled across the brand yet, from a slight bump in horsepower—from 290 to 293—to more low-end torque and quicker Electronic Start/Stop reaction. Supposedly there’s improvement to fuel economy; I certainly didn’t see it. Over hundreds of miles of driving, I averaged 20.2 MPG. Even Eco mode didn't help, and eventually I decided to leave the GC in Sport mode full-time. The Grand Cherokee is more than willing to blast off from the line, and acceleration levels off as the power curve grows more linear. This makes it a touch sluggish at speed, but perfect for low-gear off-roading.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Performance

When you leave the pavement, the Grand Cherokee is at home. The Off-Road Adventure II package ($1795) came with Quadra-Lift air suspension that provided firm but giving ground clearance for all the bumps and ruts along the trail. Updated electric-assist power steering was direct and forceful at low speed. A center console knob offers Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock driving modes: Sand laughed at the gravel I tested it in; Mud could have cared less about the post-rain hillsides I found. By the end of the day, the paint was covered in brown spatter, my face hurt from smiling, and the Grand Cherokee had barely broken a sweat. I was less enamored with Quadra-Lift on the road, where it seemed to accentuate the Grand Cherokee’s high center of gravity.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Technology and Infotainment

Armed with one of the highest-rated entertainment systems in the entire industry, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers easy and helpful functionality. All models come with the UConnect interface that packages information in simple and clear use. A 5.0-inch touchscreen is standard, while the 8.4-inch unit comes with the Jeep 75th Anniversary Package ($3610). Graphics are impressive, and it's easy to operate functions like audio, climate control, and mobile setup. Jeep tried to reduce physical buttons to make the console less cluttered, but  I found myself wishing for a mouse or dial of some kind to keep my eyes on the road while I toggled. The display screen between the instrument gauges is another strong point with helpful vehicle status reports, fuel economy info, and more.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Jeep Grand Cherokee a 5-star overall rating, with top marks in frontal crash and side crash, and 4/5 stars for rollover. Strong marks also came from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though not quite as high. The Grand Cherokee scored “Good” in all crash tests except a “Moderate” score—third best out of four—in the small overlap front test. It’s also been criticized for placement of its LATCH child seat anchors, which don’t make it easy for central positioning with a rear-facing seat. Electronics-wise, the Grand Cherokee comes standard with a backup camera and ParkSense parking assist, while the Advanced Technology Group ($1495) added adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist, and collision warning.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Cargo and Capability

Five people will fit very comfortably inside the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Jeep doesn’t make a third row available, and opted to spend that extra space on the second row rather than cargo area. The result is plenty of leg room for your friends and family, but less trunk space than some competitors. There is 36.3 cu. ft. of space behind the second row, which can fold down to reveal 68.3 total cu. ft. Fine for most any job, but vehicles like the Honda Pilot and Toyota 4Runner are nearing the 90 cu. ft. mark. Max trailering capacity is rated up to 3,500 lbs. The 75th Anniversary Package came with front tow hooks — because why not? — and the Off-Road Adventure II bundle boasted a Class IV hitch and Trailer Tow option.

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Trims and Pricing

There’s a Grand Cherokee for almost any budget. Looking to move up the ladder, though? That will cost you. The Grand Cherokee Laredo starts from $30,395 with an extra $2300 for 4x4. The Limited model that I tested starts from $37,995 for 4x2, while the 4x4 base price rang to $39,565. All told, with the extra packages and destination charge, it hit $50,010—to quote Ron Burgundy: “That escalated quickly.” An off-road special Trailhawk version runs $43,095. Overland and Summit models start from $44,795 and $50,495, respectively, and buyers can add a 5.7-liter V8 or 3.0-liter EcoDiesel to the upscale trims. The SRT 4x4 and its 475-horsepower 6.4-liter V8 are available when you need to beat a mountain range into submission.

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The Competition

While most of the midsize SUV segment has shifted in the direction of three-row economical crossovers, the Jeep Grand Cherokee proves there’s still a place for an exciting yet compromised SUV that finds its legs when it leaves the road. Many people are flocking to the Grand Cherokee because there’s simply nothing like it anymore. If you’re interested in nothing more than an SUV with room, vehicles like the Pilot and Nissan Murano offer a lot of bang for the buck—especially for families. The Kia Sorento is a great value, while the Ford Edge is legitimate fun, and the Buick Enclave is very well executed. Of course, none of them can hold a candle to the Grand Cherokee’s rugged credentials. Looking good when you’re covered in mud still means something. Thank goodness.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen