2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4
An Automotive Love Affair
By Joseph Mavilia
Overview:
This is the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4.Recently I reviewed the Wrangler and Compass and now revisiting the larger luxury model.
I had been interested personally because I’m looking to find a vehicle to tow behind a Motorhome. Very few cars will tow “Flat”, meaning on its own 4-wheels with all running gear disconnected from the engine and transmission. This way no miles are racked up on the odometer and it is easier to hook up.
Only the Wrangler and Cherokee will ‘flat tow’ so it’s a toss-up between the Wrangler and the Cherokee. Of course, the Grand Cherokee would add space and comfort and features I prefer, but not critical.
General Information: It is assembled in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Parts: – US/Canada 61%, Mexico 27%, Engine – Mexico; Transmission – USA.; Classification is Standard SUV. Cars from Jeep: Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Renegade, Wrangler, Wrangler JK, Wrangler JK Unlimited and Wrangler Unlimited
Handling & Performance:
All SUV for me are very similar on the highway, but when needed off road Jeep has the advantage.
Styling:
My banker wanted some advice on some cars she was looking at and she recounted that her dream car as a young person was a Mercedes Benz Coupe. One of the reasons she wanted a Mercedes was because the design / styling didn’t change.
I thought, yes, I felt the same and, in a world, where design changes often Jeep has always been true to its image consistently since its origin in 1942.
Fit and Finish:
It is finely assembled and at least equal to the competition.
Cost:
Of the competition noted here Jeep is one of the best buys in this line of “Off Road” capable cars. It is even a little too luxurious for a lot of off roading. If I were going to be doing a lot of that I would suggest the best adaptation is the Wrangler.
You can dress the Grand Cherokee in a Tuxedo for about $5,000. But as priced here, it is just fine. However, there is an option group (Jeep Advanced Active Safety Group) that I would add for $1,495. Included are “Smart Cruise”, advanced brake assist, full-speed forward collision warning, Lane Sense / Lane Departure Warning, Parallel and perpendicular park assist and Rain Sensitive wipers. These are all those things that add so much to your driving experience.
Conveniences and comfort:
Very comfortable ride as we’ve come to expect in a road car. In and around town it doesn’t matter so much but if your use means one or more-hour trips it’s nice to have the added padding on those seats.
Consumer Recommendation:
Determine if you will need to go off road. Consider how many times you’ve taken your vehicle out on the “outback” and if the answer is never, don’t spend the money for 4-Wheel Drive.
Recognized Competition:
| Brand | $$$ | MPG | Seating | Doors | Country of Origin | Assembled | Drive Train |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 41,000 | 21 | 5 | 4 | USA | USA | 4WD |
| Land Rover Discovery | 67,000 | 18 | 7 | 4 | UK | UK | 4WD |
| Subaru Outback | 36,000 | 22 | 5 | 4 | Japan | USA | AWD |
| Ford Explorer | 36,000 | 18 | 7 | 4 | USA | USA | 4WD |
| GMC Acadia | 45,000 | 20 | 7 | 4 | USA | USA | AWD |
| Porsche Cayenne | 67,000 | 20 | 5 | 4 | Germany | Germany | AWD |
Good News:
Well appointed, off road capable, well priced.
Bad News:
If fuel economy is high on your list you probably won’t want to drive a big SUV, especially one that can take you off-road.
Standard Equipment:
3.6 liter V6 VVT engine, 8-speed auto transmission, Quadra trac II 4WD, select-terrain system, ParkView rear back up camera, Park Sense assist and stop, Blind spot and cross path detection, sport mode, keyless enter and go, remote start system, sentry key theft deterrent system, ready alert braking, cruise control, power liftgate, stability control, 4-wheel disc ABS brakes, hill start assist, trailer sway damping, Uconnect with 8.4” display, Navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio w/ 1 year subscription Guardian Service, 5-year traffic service, 5-year Travel Link Service, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth with voice command, 2-USB ports, Auxiliary port, 4-G LTE Wi-Fi Hot Spot, heated front seats, 8-way power driver seat with memory and 8-way passenger seat, heated leather wrapped steering wheel, climate control, front and side seat mounted airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags.
Gas Stats:
$3.89 / Gal avg. April 28, 2019
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.
Pricing:
MSRP $40,945.
Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@autolove.com
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