Everyman's Jeep, the V-6 Laredo 4x4 reviewed

I leased my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 new in January of 2006. Since then, I have put nearly 17,000 miles on it, taking it on long road trips, commuting to and from work/school, and even driving it off road and in treacherous conditions. I feel like I can accurately detail what living with this vehicle on a day to day basis is like.

EXTERIOR

The 2005+ Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great looking vehicle in my, and many others opinion. The Grand Cherokee is a great looking SUV, with chiseled, angular looks that distinguish it from the older, slightly rounder Grand Cherokees. The standard 17 inch wheels look good on the base Laredo model and fill out the wheel wells well. Other exterior touches like the Jeep logo on the brake calipers make for a very attractive SUV. When I got my Grand Cherokee in January 2006, there were not nearly as many new ones on the road then as now, and I got many, many positive comments on the new styling. Even today with countless new Grand Cherokees on the road, the design looks fresh and is, in my opinion, one of the best looking SUVs today.

INTERIOR

The angular design theme carries over into the interior as well. At first glance, the interior is impressive, with good looking materials and chrome and faux aluminum accents. The new gauge cluster is particularly attractive and easy to read. I was very impressed with the interior on my test drive, being a clear improvement on the Wrangler that I had just turned in and the older Grand Cherokees that I had ridden in the past. Sadly, on closer inspection, many of the interior materials, like so many in today’s Chrysler products, are hard plastic.
The seats in the Laredo are cloth, with leather being optional. In the Laredo, the driver’s seat is power adjustable while passenger seat is manually operated. Both have manual lumbar support. My seats are cloth, and firm and supportive. On a 1200 mile road trip that I made last year, I found the seats surprisingly comfortable, and suffered very little fatigue. I have ridden in the back on a few occasions, and I find the rear seats just a little too firm. There is no fold out armrest in the back, which can make it a little less comfortable place to be on long trips.
The interior amenities are all present and accounted for even in the base Laredo model. Power windows, locks, and mirrors, are, of course, standard. The stereo is very good, and even has an auxiliary jack for MP3 players and Ipods. There are plenty of cup holders and storage spaces. An interesting and useful feature is a reversible cargo storage area, which I have used on numerous occasions when transporting dirty cargo.
Overall the Grand Cherokees interior is functional, generally well constructed, and aesthetically pleasing. It is easy to see where a few extra dollars spent could have made a huge improvement to this vehicles interior, particularly with the quality of the plastic. However after a year, the interior has held up very well with almost no wear to speak of.

ON ROAD DRIVING

Jeep touts the new Grand Cherokee as having an excellent ride, and indeed, I was very impressed with its comfort and suspension on road. Of course, there is simply no comparing the ride comfort of the Grand Cherokee with my previous Wrangler, which was like a torture chamber on the highway, but I find the Grand Cherokee’s ride to be superior to other traditional SUV’s I have owned, including the Mercedes-Benz ML320 and Oldsmobile Bravada. While certainly not a vehicle that begs to be driven down twisty back roads, the handling is good enough for an SUV this size.
The biggest drawback to the Grand Cherokee Laredo is its 3.7L V-6 engine. While generally competent around town, you do realize the limitations of this engine when driving on the highway and up hills. With only 210 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque on tap, the V-6 engine struggles when moving the 4488 pound SUV. The manually shiftable 5 speed transmission is handy when coaxing the Grand Cherokee up steep grades and when passing on the highway. Fuel economy is decent for an SUV and I usually get around 16mpg in town and 21-22mpg on the highway. The worst fuel economy I have experienced was around 14mpg in town and the best was 23.3mpg on the highway.
Hopefully Jeep will replace the 3.7L V-6 in the base model Grand Cherokee with the 260HP 4.0L V-6 found in the Dodge Nitro R/T, however even with the 3.7L V-6, the Grand Cherokee provides a comfortable on road driving experience, and is comfortable and economical enough for long trips. While I cannot attest to real-world MPG numbers, I would strongly look into the optional 4.7L V-8 when purchasing a Grand Cherokee Laredo.

OFF ROAD DRIVING

While Jeeps are famed as being “trail rated” vehicles capable of the most treacherous off road conditions, the Grand Cherokee Laredo is not designed for heavy off road use. My Grand Cherokee has the “Quadra-Trac I” full time 4wd system, while the “Quadra-Trac II” system is optional on Laredo models. The difference is that the “Quadra-Trac II” has a two speed transfer case which can handle heavier off road usage. I have driven my Grand Cherokee on snow covered trails in the woods and it performed well. On road, in heavy snow and sleet the Grand Cherokee is sure footed and capable. For most drivers, the standard full time 4wd system should be adequate, unless you plan extensive off road travel.

OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE

I have had a very good experience with my Grand Cherokee Laredo for the past year. I have always performed scheduled maintenance on my vehicle, and I have had no mechanical problems whatsoever. The Grand Cherokee has always been reliable and the body, interior, and engine are still like new.

CONCLUSION

Despite the lackluster performance of the 3.7L V-6 in my Grand Cherokee, I am very satisfied with my experience with the vehicle so far. The vehicle is capable, and an excellent value. When I leased my Grand Cherokee in January of 2006, the dealership was practically begging me to take it, and I got an excellent deal on it. With the lease loyalty incentives, dealer incentives, and military discount, I got my Grand Cherokee for about $5000 off MSRP. I am sure that now, with Chrysler’s continuing financial difficulties, you could do even better than that. The sheer number of Grand Cherokees and Commanders on the road seems to attest to this.