2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Posted on 05 February 2011 by Scott

The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is said to be more refined, focused and sportier than the model it replaces and packaged in classic Grand Cherokee styling with athletic styling queues.

The front retains the classic seven-slot grille, round headlamps and trapezoidal wheel arches. From the side, the Jeep Grand Cherokee looks more muscular then before, with black B-pillars adding to a more modern look. Chromed mirrors and door handles add to the profile and complement the full-chromed window surround on all models. The rear is characterised by tail-lights that wrap from the rear quarter panel to the back of the vehicle, complementing the front-end design. The new vehicle’s 2 915 mm wheelbase is 135 mm longer than the model it replaces. This longer wheelbase gives passengers an additional 102 mm of rear-seat knee and leg room. The vehicle also is 76 mm wider for improved handling and packaging.

A new interior is the product of Jeep’s ‘Advanced Interior Design Studio’, which promises attention to detail and use of finer materials. A new ‘CommandView’ dual-pane sun roof (standard on Overland) provides twice as much glass surface than a standard sun-roof and extends from the windshield to the rear of the vehicle. The front panel may be opened rearward, providing additional light and fresh air to first-row passengers. The rear panel, which is fixed, allows light and open viewing for second-row passengers and comes standard with an electrically operated sun shade. Improved practicality comes from the rear seat backs that are adjustable by up to 18 degrees front to back. Cargo volume behind the rear seats offers 994-litres of cargo space (159-litres more than previous). The cargo area also includes a storage unit with removable/rechargeable flashlight and grocery-bag hooks on both sides. The spare tyre compartment includes removable dual storage bins for secure storage of muddy gear or other items. A new electronically operated tailgate is available for added convenience.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available initially with two engine options, while a diesel variant is expected to follow in late 2011. The smaller powerplant is the new 3.6-litre Pentastar V6. The new engine features double overhead camshafts (DOHC) and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a 60-degree configuration. Equipped with Variable-valve Timing (VVT), it delivers 210 kW and 347 Nm of torque at 4 800 r/min. Fuel economy is 11 percent better than the previous V6 engine and Jeep claim it’s capable of around 800 km on a single tank. The V6 is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V6 Grand Cherokee has a towing capacity of 2.2 tonnes.

Also available is the legendary 5.7-litre Multi-displacement System (MDS) V8 engine that delivers 259 kW and 520 Nm of torque at 4 250 r/min. The V8 also features VVT and the MDS system that seamlessly alternates between fuel-economy in 4-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V8 mode when more power is needed. The result is a combination of V8 power, but improved fuel economy when simply cruising. The 5.7-liter Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes.

Off-road capability on the new Grand Cherokee is provided by the company’s Quadra-Trac II, or Quadra-Drive II, Selec-Terrain and Quadra-lift air suspension.

Quadra-Trac II’s two-speed transfer case uses input from a variety of sensors in order to determine tyre slip at the earliest possible moment and take corrective action. Quadra-Drive II, with a rear Electronic Limited-slip Differential (ELSD), instantly detects tyre slip and smoothly distributes engine torque to the tyres with the best traction. In some cases, the vehicle will anticipate low traction and adjust in order to proactively limit or eliminate slip. In addition, the new Selec-Terrain system allows the driver to choose from a number of pre-defined 4×4 modes to match driving conditions: Auto, Sand/Mud, Sport, Snow and Rock. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system features five height settings: Normal Ride Height, Off-road 1, Off-road 2, Park Mode, Aero Mode. In total, the Grand Cherokee has a 104 mm range in ride height.

Building on Jeep’s legendary off-road capability, the 2011 Grand Cherokee adds on-road performance to the package. This is achieved through increased torsional stiffness – 146 percent stiffer than the previous Grand Cherokee – for improved durability and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

Standard safety features on the new SUV include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM), four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with rough-road detection, four-wheel Brake Traction Control System (BTCS), Keyless Enter-N-Go, Remote keyless entry, express up/down windows for driver and front-seat passenger, seat-belt pretensioners, Trailer-sway Control and Remote start, which is standard on Limited and Overland models. Other standard safety features include full-length side-curtain air bags which extend protection to front and rear outboard passengers, seat-mounted side thorax air bags that enhance protection for the driver and front passenger, and active head restraints which deploy in the event of a rear collision.