2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

Prices:
$27,300 - $35,095
Likes:
Roomy. Fast. Carlike. Handy garageable size. Refined. New five-speed automatic transmission.
Dislikes:
Side-to-side rocking on bad roads. Small radio controls. Rather narrow front seats.

The roomy, fun-to-drive Jeep Grand Cherokee once was regarded as the type of fast, good-handling sport-utility vehicle BMW would offer if it had a sport-ute.
BMW finally introduced its costlier X5 sport-ute for the 2000 model year. It's similar to the Grand Cherokee in some respects but mainly is an all-weather on-road vehicle. In contrast, the Grand Cherokee deftly splits the difference between being a smooth on-road sport-ute and rugged off-road vehicle.

The handsome Grand Cherokee was introduced as a 1993 model. It got a $2.65 billlion redesign for 1999, so the current model is essentially unchanged.
There's a special package for the base Laredo with items including special body cladding, leather seats and 17-inch spoked wheels. There's also a new, ultraresponsive five-speed automatic transmission and "Euro-style" leather seats for the top-line Limited, but they're rather narrow and should provide more side support.

We're close to the 2002 model year, so some may want to that the upcoming Grand Cherokee will offer adjustable pedals, a higher-line model and an available 260-horsepower V-8. The current Grand Cherokee comes as the $27,300-to-$29,270 Laredo and higher-line $32,665-$35,095 Limited. They're offered with rear or four-wheel drive.

The new automatic transmission is mated to the optional ($1,070-$1,165) V-8 and provides a second overdrive gear for better initial acceleration, improved highway fuel economy and lower engine noise above 65 mph. The transmission lets the engine to loaf at 2,500 rpm at 75 mph, which makes for relaxed highway cruising. The standard 4-liter, 195-horsepower inline six-cylinder engine is a rugged pushrod unit mated to a four-speed automatic. It's decent but is becoming dated.

The fairly new 4.7-liter, 235-horsepower overhead-camshaft V-8 is quieter and smoother--and provides much faster acceleration. It has an innovative new hydraulically driven engine cooling fan that replaces the electric and mechanical fans for reduced vibration and slightly improved fuel economy. The fan also allows better air conditioning performance at idle if you're stuck in traffic or at a railroad crossing.

Fuel economy is an issue with some buyers of mid-size sport-utes such as the Grand Cherokee, and this Jeep is average in that regard: The six provides an estimated 16 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway with rear-drive, while the V-8 delivers 15 and 21. Add four-wheel drive and fuel economy drops by a few miles per gallon. At least a new quarter-turn fuel filler cap will help get you on your way faster from filling stations.

The Grand Cherokee's Selec-Trac, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra Drive are among the best four-wheel-drive systems. All allow four-wheel drive to be engaged on dry roads at highway speeds. Their low-range gearing helps give the Grand Cherokee exceptional off-road prowess, especially for such a carlike sport-utility.
My test Grand Cherokee four-wheel-drive Limited didn't call for constant small steering corrections that I found with the 1999 model. The power steering is somewhat heavy but precise. The ride is good, although some rough roads cause side-to-side rocking. Braking is strong, with good pedal feel.

This is one of few sport-utes in its class not to use a pickup-truck chassis. Its unibody design allows a roomier interior and easier entry. Huge outside door handles facilitate quickly reaching the quiet interior, where there's plenty of space for four tall adults. However, back door openings are narrow and rear windows don't zip all the way down.

Gauges are stylish on the Limited and well-placed controls work smoothly. However, sound system controls are too small for easy driver operation. There are nicely located dual front cupholders and small storage pockets in front doors. Rear occupants can use two pull-out cupholders located near the floor at the back of the roomy front center console. Vision is somewhat limited to the rear, which calls for more use of the big outside mirrors. The tailgate has a convenient pop-up upper glass area and is easy to close. It raises smoothly on struts--as does the hood. There's no cost-cutting with manual hinges here.
The cargo area has a wide opening that is moderately high. The entire rear seat folds forward to signficantly increase the cargo area, although rear seatbacks are harder to flip forward than in many sport-utes.