Jeep Grand Cherokee
How it looks when you see on the street: The 90s are all the rage in fashion — and the Grand Cherokee — introduced in 1992 — provokes uber 90s nostalgia. Back then, the Grand Cherokee recast Jeep as a luxury SUV manufacturer and popularized the idea that capable cars could be used for everyday schlepping as a rugged status symbol, when midsize SUVs were a niche category. The Grand Cherokee, in fairness, from the get-go was well suited toward wintery weather and had safety tech such as passenger air bags, which were a newer concept. My parents had one of the first Grand Cherokees on the streets in Detroit, and it earned respect everywhere we went. It popularized the idea of riding up high as a sense of security that now tops so many shopper’s lists. GC is now in its fifth generation, and it’s stayed true to its origin story, though its traded in a boxy body for a more curved form, and added a ton more of thought utility. We drove the two-row Summit Reserve last month, which came with substantial 21-inch wheels that gives it presence.
“It’s a total kid pleaser.”
How it makes you feel when you get in: The inside of a Grand Cherokee is a nice place to be. The cabin is cozy and the tech is straight forward and simple to use. There’s 21-inch machine face that houses the UConnect infotainment system. Most models are swathed in leather. Features like massaging seats, a 4-zone climate control, and the 19-speaker McIntosh sound system add to its inviting qualities.
How it drives: You can go anywhere in the Grand Cherokee and thats its appeal. For us that meant mucking it up on dusty ball fields in spring weather, and then tooling through the city streets where steering was smooth in tight quadrants. The addition of an air suspension option makes the GC ride downright cushy. It has three engine options a V6, a V8, and a new plug-in hybrid system Jeep calls the 4xe that we are looking forward to driving.
Space for people and things: Its comfy for a four person family — and what one would ask of a midsize SUV though inch for inch, its contenders have more spacious cargo space.
Best Features: It’s a total kid pleaser with Amazon Fire TV for Auto, which means that you can leave the iPads at home.
What makes it stand out: It’s safety features include the Head-Up Display NightVision with Pedestrian and Animal Detection, Rear-View Auto-Dimming Digital Display Mirror— a perfect car for an upstate getaway.
How much does it cost: Our specced up GC was priced at $69,000.