The name is the same, but only a few parts have been carried over from the previous model. Unless you're a car or truck enthusiast, however, the Grand Cherokee still looks an awful lot like its predecessor. The trademark Jeep vertical grille is pretty much the same, as are the vehicle's size, the distance between the wheels and volume of the interior. Vehicle refinement is sometimes difficult to quantify, so let's start by comparing the new motor with the old. The lost torque is negligible, counterbalanced by the increase in horsepower.
Emissions are lower too, though that's a much more difficult claim to verify with the naked eye.
At speeds of more than 70 mph, however, we discovered an annoying whine emanating from below the vehicle, possibly coming from the differential. This same noise has been observed in our long-term Grand Cherokee Limited test truck, and we'll continue to pay it close attention in the coming months. Off the road, the new Grand Cherokee doesn't give up any stability with its solid front and rear axles, whose differentials are suspended by a well-articulated link arrangement. Because our test vehicle was not equipped with the Up Country Group, the Grand Cherokee wasn't exactly oblivious to rocky terrain. To enjoy this truck off road, the driver should still avoid the holes and run the ridges.