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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Des Moines

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is all-new for 2011. The Grand Cherokee is available in either a two- or four-wheel drive configuration with three trims levels: Laredo, Limited, and Overland. An all-new 280-hp 3.6-liter V6 and 5-speed automatic transmission are standard for all trims. Three four-wheel drive systems are available. The optional QuadraLift air suspention features full time four corner load leveling and improved off-road performance by increasing ground clearance. The available Selec-Terrain system's five modes provide ideal four-wheel drive performance for any condition. The Jeep Grand Cherokee retains Jeep's legendary off-road prowess while providing many luxurious and technical amenities. For 2011, the Grand Cherokee has been completely redesigned and offers a new stiffer body structure, a new V6 engine, new front and rear independent suspension systems, a new traction control system and other advanced technology features. Standard safety features include dual front airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags for both rows. Active head restraints, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system are also standard. Safety options include a blind spot monitoring system and Chrysler's new Rear Cross Path detection, which alerts drivers pulling out of a parking spot if there's oncoming perpendicular traffic. Also optional are adaptive cruise control and a collision alert that warns the driver if he or she is approaching another car too quickly.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trim Levels

Grand Cherokee Laredo comes with cloth seating, fold-flat front passenger seat, power eight-way driver seat with four-way lumbar, LED lighting, reclining rear seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, halogen headlamps, roof rails, flipper liftgate glass, foglamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels, trailer sway control, keyless ignition, electronic vehicle information center, 12-volt auxiliary outlets. Laredo X upgrades to leather seating, heated front seats, 18-inch aluminum wheels, nine-speaker 506-watt CD/DVD/HDD/MP3 audio, rearview camera, hands-free communication, 115-volt power outlet, and remote starting.

Grand Cherokee Limited adds heated rear seats, bi-xenon headlamps with auto leveling, dual-pane panoramic sunroof with power shade, navigation, rain-sensitive windshield wipers. Also touches of brightness like: silver strakes in rear cargo area, door sill scuff pads with bright insert and Jeep logo, body-colored fascias with bright insert, bright door handles, bright exhaust tip. The V8 is optional.

Grand Cherokee Overland features an air suspension system and Nappa leather seating with piping, ventilated front seats, wood and leather heated steering wheel with memory, cargo net, power liftgate, premium audio with navigation and SIRIUS travel-traffic information, 20-inch aluminum wheels. The V8 is optional.

Design of the '11 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Sleeker-looking than the model it replaces, the Grand Cherokee still resembles a Jeep, but it's perhaps the brand's greatest stretch so far. Traditional Grand Cherokee cues, including a seven-slot grille and horizontally arranged headlights, remain, but the rear end has been completely reworked. Enormous fenders house 17- or 18-inch aluminum wheels on the Laredo and Limited, and 20-inchers are available on the Limited and standard on the Overland. At roughly 190 inches long and 76 inches wide, the Grand Cherokee is slightly larger than two-row crossovers such as the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza. Its 37.1-foot turning circle is the group's best. And it definitely has substance, being longer and heavier, stretched in the wheelbase by 5.3 inches. It's also 3 inches wider, for better handling and more interior space. A rear load-levelling suspension, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated leather seats, heated steering wheel, power liftgate, rear seat DVD entertainment system with Sirius Backseat TV, rear parking camera, and a multimedia infotainment system with 30-gigabyte hard drive, navigation system and UConnect wireless connectivity are available.  The seven-slot chrome grille is defined by six chrome slats over the black slots, while the headlamps sweep like winglets out from the top corners. Smooth frontal fascia with black airdam, recessed to lessen drag, and tidy small foglamps in trapezoid pockets. Aerodynamic bellypans run the full length of the chassis, chasing fuel mileage.  The sides have big rectangular concave sculpting, as if it's a place where Jeep meets BMW, and slightly trapezoidal wheel arches, a distinctive if still subtle touch. The side glass is straight and unaffected, with black B pillars, darkly tinted glass and stainless steel trim.

New Jeep Grand Cherokee Power

New for 2011 is a 3.6-liter V-6 developed by Jeep parent Chrysler; it makes 290 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque, both notable increases over last year's 3.7-liter V-6. A 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 is also available; last year's 4.7-liter V-8 has been dropped.  The Grand Cherokee offers three four-wheel-drive systems: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II. Quadra-Trac I automatically transfers power between the axles without any driver involvement; Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II have low-speed transfer cases for dedicated off-roading. Quadra-Drive II adds a rear electronic limited-slip differential. With Quadra-Trac II or Quadra-Drive II, a new Selec-Terrain system allows drivers to choose among five situations: Sport, Auto, Snow, Sand/Mud and Rock. The system adjusts drivetrain and suspension settings to suit conditions, not unlike Land Rover's Terrain Response system. A Quadra-Lift air suspension, optional on 4x4 Laredo X, Limited and Overland, can vary ride height.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Cabin

The cabin sports improved materials, with better-integrated center controls and genuine wood trim on uplevel models. Overland models get a leather-wrapped dashboard, something usually reserved for luxury cars. Other available features include heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel with power tilt/telescope adjustments, a navigation system and a panoramic sunroof. Jeep says rear legroom is up more than 4 inches over the previous Grand Cherokee. The seats can recline several degrees or fold flat in a 60/40 split. With the seats down, maximum cargo volume totals 68.7 cubic feet. The interior is stylish and made with high quality materials, especially the leather seats in the Laredo models. The 60/40 rear seats recline for comfort enabling passengers to look up at the sky through the optional Panoramic sunroof that extends over both rows of seats; and the front seat folds flat to carry long things like kayaks or two-by-fours. The styling moves uptown, with a sloped windshield and backlight, sculpted sides, and cleaner lines everywhere. Nothing is missed in the standard safety equipment.

Summary

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was one of the pioneering SUVs that ushered in the modern midsize SUV segment in the early 1990s. When it debuted, the Grand Cherokee represented a bigger and better version of Jeep's smaller but still popular Cherokee. The company's designers wanted it to be maneuverable enough for urban duty, roomy enough for family duty, stylish enough to take out on the town and capable enough to get to the more remote campsites. The JGC, as it's commonly referred to, has become one of America's top sellers in the SUV segment. Unlike most other traditional SUVs from domestic automakers, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always been built using a carlike unibody chassis rather than a body-on-frame design. In general, a unibody chassis provides advantages in terms of on-road handling, easier entry and exit, and safety. Maintaining Jeep's strong reputation for off-road prowess is retained thanks in large part to the Grand Cherokee's advanced four-wheel-drive systems. Visit the official 2011 Grand Cherokee site for the latest updates on this amazing model.