Jeep’s Grand Cherokee enters 2016 with a host of changes that help keep it at the top of its game, including two 75th Anniversary Edition models that build on the Laredo and Limited trim levels. From its handsome styling to its high-quality cabin, the Grand Cherokee has the goods and the prowess to take the SUV fight to top-tier German and Japanese brands.
Under the hood, the standard Pentastar V6 engine gets upgraded to include revised valvetrain technology and standard engine idle stop. As a result, horsepower increases by five to 295 hp. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8 (360 hp, 390 lb-ft), 6.4-litre Hemi V8 (475 hp, 470 lb-ft), and 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 (240 hp, 420 lb-ft) carry over without any changes. All pair to standard four-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission, capped by a new shift lever. Depending on trim and the depth of your pockets, the Grand Cherokee can be equipped with four-corner air suspension, and several different four-wheel-drive systems, including one with a limited-slip rear differential.
The tweaks don’t stop there. Models with the 3.6-litre V6 and 5.7-litre V8 also get a brand new electric power steering system with driver-selectable weight. Those vehicles, plus the SRT also get new suspension components that are made out of aluminum to save weight.
The Grand Cherokee gets the latest version of FCA’s Uconnect system. It includes new reconfigurable menus, a do-not-disturb mode; while the system now features Siri Eyes-Free, it doesn’t include Apple CarPlay. The hot-rod SRT version benefits from a redesigned instrument cluster that puts the tachometer front and centre, new styling for the Performance Pages trip computer display, and a valet mode with PIN activation.
Capable and confident on all terrain, the 2016 Grand Cherokee starts at $43,395 for the Laredo, and tops out at $71,695 for the SRT.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
