The Grand Cherokee is Jeep's flagship model, a handsome five-passenger 4x2 or 4x4 crossover SUV. That it is based on a car chassis can be easily missed as this model is also designed to handle off-loading, although not to the degree of the highly capable Jeep Wrangler. Mid-duty off-road performance is sufficient across the 4x4 line.
Midcycle Upgrade
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee represents a mid product cycle update of the 2011 release, gaining a refreshed face and updated tail lamp treatment. This model will also feature an optional diesel engine, setting this vehicle apart from its usual competitors.
The new Grand Cherokee made its debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Besides its slimmer headlamps and optional corner lighting, this vehicle offers a refreshed liftgate.
Inside, the interior has received several notable upgrades including a new, three-spoke steering wheel, an updated instrument cluster, a reorganized center stack and a new shiftbox selector. Safety features have been upgraded too with optional front parking assist, front collision alert and adaptive speed control now available.
Engines and Transmissions
Both of the current gasoline engine choices return with the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Standard is a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and optionally a 5.7-liter "HEMI" V-8 can be had. An eight-speed automatic transmission is new to the model line.
Perhaps the most notable change for the Grand Cherokee is a third engine choice, a 3.0-liter six cylinder diesel. This EcoDiesel, a Fiat product, makes 240 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque. It is rated at 21 mpg around town and 30 mpg on the highway. This engine will be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and provide paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for more engaged driving.
Jeep Changes
The changes to the Jeep Grand Cherokee will buy Chrysler time to develop the next generation model due out in 2016. That vehicle is expected to continue offering the optional diesel engine, but the HEMI may be retired as stronger federal fuel mileage requirements kick in. The standard gas engine may displace at 3.2 liters, a supercharged engine that will do the work of a V-8. Also, a Grand Wagoneer version of the Grand Cherokee is expected to debut, a seven-passenger model with a stretched wheelbase and three rows of seating.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the brand's best selling model, with more than 150,000 units sold in the United States in the 2012 alone. The Jeep brand continues to enjoy a stronger following globally as its parent Fiat Group markets Jeep in Europe, China and elsewhere. Fiat is investing billions of dollars in Jeep, perhaps the most important brand in the Chrysler Group fleet.
Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance automotive writer. Matt is also a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport and affiliated websites, an aftermarket supplier of quality auto parts including Gibson Exhaust and ACT Clutch.
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