A '99 Grand Cherokee Limited with the V8 engine and Quadra- Drive II 4WD system has been my transportation for the past week. It's roomier than the previous Grand Cherokee but still small enough outside to park easily. Access is easy, and it is nearly as comfortable on the road as a luxury sedan. The benchmark has just gotten better. From a distance, the new Grand Cherokee looks much like last year's version.
Closer inspection shows otherwise.
Although the styling is an evolutionary development of that of the original Grand Cherokee, the newest Jeep is a touch larger and much more convexly rounded. The windshield is more sloped, and there is a pronounced arch to the roofline. The Grand Cherokee's unit-construction chassis helps access as well as ride and handling. Because the body is not mounted on a separate frame, the floor height is lower, making entry and exit easier and allowing more interior room. Relocation of the spare tire from the inside cargo area to underneath the rear of the vehicle has improved interior space utilization.