2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2016 Jeep Grand The towing capabilities of the Grand Cherokee are among the best in the class. The Grand Cherokee’s prices start at $29,995. The car comes in 5 trim levels and offers a 3.6L V6 engine. This mid-size SUV faces competition from the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, the 2016 GMC Acadia, and the 2016 Ford Explorer.

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee is offered in five trims, that range from $29,995 getup to $65,695 for the V8 SRT trim. The base Laredo starts at $29,995 with rear-wheel drive as standard and can be configured with four-wheel drive with a premium of $2,300, above that is the Limited trim which starts at $37,565 with rear-wheel drive and $39,565 for the four-wheel drive, the Overland starts at $44,395 and the Summit starts at $49,795. The SRT trim sits at the top of the food chain and it gets a V8 engine with more grunt along with top-of-the-line features as well.

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The Limited trim with four-wheel drive is the best option here: it features 18-inch wheels, heated and power-adjustable seats that get leather upholstery. It is also priced at under $40,000 which is affordable as well. The Advanced Technology Group is also recommended on the Limited trim for its driver assistance features.

The Grand Cherokee comes standard with a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower along with 260 lb-ft of torque. The other engine option available on the Limited, Overland, and Summit trim is the 5.7L V8 that puts out 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT trim gets the 6.4L Hemi V8 that puts out a whopping 475 horsepower along with 470 lb-ft of torque. All the engines come mated to the same 8-speed automatic transmission.

No matter which engine configuration you choose, the Grand Cherokee does not fail to disappoint. It offers satisfactory acceleration, and the handling and steering on offer are very precise and controlled. The well-tuned suspension guarantees a smooth ride quality as well. The Grand Cherokee takes 7.1 seconds to hit the 0-60 mph mark, and the quarter-mile comes up in 15.4 seconds. The top speed stands at 128 mph.

The Jeep and the Ford, and the GMC and the Chevy output the same power figures. All four cars offer similar torque values as well. In the 0-60 mpg run, the Ford is the quickest out there, followed closely by the GMC at 6.7 seconds. The Jeep comes in third whereas the Chevrolet takes the last spot at 7.2 seconds.

According to the EPA, the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the standard 3.6L V6 gasoline engine returns a fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined which is impressive. The fuel capacity stands at 24.6 gallons, which gives the Grand Cherokee a combined range of 541.2 miles.

The Grand Cherokee is the most efficient car in these four. The Explorer comes next with its 20 mpg combined mileage. The GMC and the Chevy both offer a combined mileage of 18 mpg. In terms of range, the most range is offered by the Grand Cherokee itself, as it has the largest tank and the best efficiency. The range stands at 467 city miles and 639 highway miles. The Explorer offers the least.

The 2016 Grand Cherokee’s interiors are extremely premium and well-done. The dash is well laid out, and just plain. The center console is pretty straightforward, with the controls placed in a way that makes it easier to access and use. This is one of the most user-friendly interiors. The cabin is spacious and the fit and finish levels are high.

The Grand Cherokee does not have a third-row seat, not even optional, unlike the rivals. The seats are for 5 people, and the kind of available and optional luxuries just makes the overall experience way better. The front seats have excellent legroom and offer great support, especially with the side bolstering. In the rear, there is a great comfort and ample legroom as well. The car sits tall but visibility is not hampered in any way.

Compared to the rivals, the Grand Cherokee falls behind in terms of the space offered. The Explorer offers the most legroom in the front. In the second row as well, the Explorer has the most legroom on offer. Because the third-row seats are absent on the Jeep, the cargo space is quite large as compared to the competitors. The cargo capacity behind the rear seats is 36.3 cubic feet and 68.3 cubic feet if the rear seats are folded. Some interior features are:

• Cruise control
• Dual-zone climate control
• Keyless ignition and entry
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather upholstery

How intuitive is the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s infotainment system?

The 2016 Grand Cherokee’s infotainment system is among the most advanced, user-friendly, and simple systems. The standard 5-inch touchscreen is not bad, but the 8.4-inch screen is recommended. Standard infotainment features include a 5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone, and audio connectivity, USB port, an auxiliary audio jack, and a six-speaker sound system. A ten-speaker system is also available. Some salient features are:

• Steering wheel mounted controls
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 8.4-inch touchscreen
• USB port
• Ten-speaker sound system
• HD radio

The 2016 Grand Cherokee maintains its tall stance its rugged posture. The 2016 Grand Cherokee can be described as a fusion of a traditional rugged SUV with a practical crossover. The grille is slightly thinner and smaller than before. Apart from that, the design has continued over the years. The exterior of the car does have a slight luxurious appeal. The rear of the car does remind us of the BMW X5.

The Cherokee is the shortest vehicle of these four. It is also the most narrow and has the least height as well. However, it has a longer wheelbase at 114.8 inches. It sits the tallest from the ground as well, at 8.6 inches that helps during off-road conditions. Some exterior features are:

• Alloy wheels
• Automatic headlamps
• Power liftgate
• Roof rails
• Automatic wipers
• Air suspension

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee did well in terms of safety ratings. The 4WD version got a 5-star rating from NHTSA, whereas the 2WD got a rating of 4-stars. Standard safety features on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee include antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, hill start assist, hill descent control (4WD only), airbags, and active front head restraints. Driver assistance features are available as optional. Some Safety Features are:

• 4-Wheel Traction Control
• ParkSense Rear Park-Assist with Stop
• Electronic Stability Control
• Enhanced Accident Response System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
• Advanced Multistage Front Airbags

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee gives tough competition to its rivals by providing practicality and comfort with a mix of style and extreme capabilities. With the availability of different trims to suit specific needs, there is no lack of choices as well. Overall, the Grand Cherokee is a great vehicle that can glide through any terrain while providing maximum comfort and practicality which makes it a great bargain.