2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

SPECIFICATIONS

1. A 3.6-liter V6 engine delivers 290 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. 2. There’s also a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 available with 360 hp, a monstrous 6.4-liter with 470 hp and a diesel with 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. 3. A cutting-edge eight-speed automatic transmission is standard in every version of this vehicle and it’s a great asset that makes the most of every pony. 4. Base models cost about $30,000. The Overland 4x4 model we tested cost nearly 50 grand.

PREVIEW

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has always been an appealing vehicle, offering buyers a unique blend of capability and comfort. The refreshed 2014 model elevates this nameplate to new heights with advanced technology, sleek design and luxury appointments, all without sacrificing off-road prowess.

Unlike its domestic rivals Chrysler doesn’t have a dedicated luxury division. GM of course has Cadillac, a purveyor of high-end automobiles and Ford’s got Lincoln, an entity that ostensibly tries to be the same thing. But none of the Pentastar’s brands really compete with marques like Lexus, Mercedes-Benz or Audi.

That’s not to say the folks in Auburn Hills don’t build some sumptuous, top-shelf vehicles. One of the nicest in their entire stable is trail rated and wears a Jeep badge. Yes, the Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 is a pure-bred premium sport utility vehicle that can bash rocks like an excavator in a granite quarry yet still take you and your spouse out for an elegant night at the opera. It’s the best of both worlds in one vehicle.

INTERIOR

One of the Grand Cherokee’s most appealing features is its cabin, which is lavishly trimmed. The dashboard and door panels are covered in smooth, stitched leather while the seats feature perforated cow hides with contrast piping. There’s also beautiful wood trim that you could say spruces things up. Quality abounds from the fit and finish to the materials to the way everything functions. It’s all very well done and worthy of a luxury car.

The back seat is also quite accommodating with comfortably angled cushions and plenty of headroom. There’s also ample cargo space, nearly 69 cubic feet behind the front seats; more than 36 behind the back bench. The luggage area is even elegantly trimmed with neat metal spears on the floor, carpeted trim on the side panels and hidden storage cubbies.

There were only two things I didn’t care for in the Grand Cherokee’s beautifully crafted interior. One is the shifter, which is a bit too fiddly for my liking. It isn’t always obvious which gear you’re putting the vehicle in. Sometimes I’d want reverse and it would go into park instead.

UNDER THE HOOD

Several different engines are available behind this Jeep’s smiling grille. The Overland we sampled featured Chrysler’s renowned Pentastar V6. Clocking in at 3.6-liters it delivers 290 hp with 260 lb-ft of torque, but what’s even more impressive than the raw numbers is how smooth it is. This engine is highly refined and feels like a more powerful version of Toyota’s 2GR-FE V6.

This powerplant is matched to a bleeding-edge eight-speed automatic transmission, with one ratio for every day of the week… and then some. In practice this drivetrain combination is mostly well-sorted and the cog-crate squeezes every drop out of the Pentastar engine, which needs to build revs in order to haul the portly Grand Cherokee around.

If a V8 is more your thing you can opt for a 5.7-liter HEMI or a 6.4-liter bruiser in the SRT model. The latter option has 470 hp and nearly as much twist. But that’s not all! The dark-horse option is a 3.0-liter compression-ignition V6. Chrysler’s EcoDiesel puts out 240 ponies, 420 lb-ft of torque and delivers up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway!

The Overland we’ve been sampling isn’t nearly that economical. It stickers at a still-respectable 24 mpg on the interstate and 17 around town. Combined it ought to hit 19 miles per gallon.