The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues to conquer both customers and the competition, and a recent comparison in Consumer Reports shows why. The prestigious publication recently brought the Grand Cherokee and the Toyota 4Runner together for a head-to-head battle, with the completely redesigned Jeep taking home top honors.
“The Grand Cherokee is a big improvement over the previous model, with refinement on par with models that cost a lot more,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports‘ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Conn. “The 4Runner, which still uses a body-on-frame design, is disappointing on the road. The 4Runner doesn’t let you forget you’re driving a truck.”
The Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, “rides well and is quiet and steady on the highway,” thanks to its powerful new Pentastar V6 engine, which is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that Consumer Reports calls “smooth and responsive.” And even after the magazine rated the Jeep’s braking as “Very Good,” the kudos didn’t stop coming. The interior of the Jeep was more upscale than its rival’s, “with soft-touch panels and nicely detailed leather seats” that also happened to be both firm and supportive. According to Washington Jeep, the interior of the Grand Cherokee was lauded for its ergonomics as well, especially its “simple and straightforward” controls and tilt/telescope steering wheel.
The bottom line: The Toyota did nab a “Good” rating from the publication, but the Jeep upped the ante with a “Very Good” performance. And that’s very good news for CT Jeep dealer customers, who can visit their local dealerships now to check out the Toyota-topping 2011 Grand Cherokee.
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