- suv 263,924
- Grants, NM
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- autoshopper.com
1996 jeep grand cherokee review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The luxury hot rod of sport-utilities. introductionthe grand cherokee is the flagship of jeep's sport-utility family, and, in some respects, remains ahead of the ever-growing and ever-improving compact-class pack. when chrysler introduced the grand cherokee in 1992 sport-utility sales already were booming, with jeep cherokee enjoying year-over-year sales gains for more than a decade. The idea was to take the cherokee concept a step up the aspirational ladder, combining rugged jeep attributes with the luxury, comfort and performance associated with expensive cars. the combination has proved to be a winning one. Over a quarter-million grand cherokees rolled out of jeep-eagle dealerships last year, a total that was second only to ford's phenomenal explorer among all sport-utility vehicles. Obviously, the folks at jeep have been doing something right. for 1996, the grand cherokee receives a number of significant detail changes. Most notably, the interior underwent a makeover, which included installation of dual airbags and more luxury options. Grand cherokee, however, has maintained the angular lines and boxy shape even through its latest restyling. and it works. The distinctive, rugged jeep look, with its vertical grille and side-body cladding, still stands out from the competition. the grand cherokee comes in three models: base, laredo and the top-of-the-line grand cherokee limited. Laredo and limited are both available with one of two 4wd systems--selec-trac, which can be used as a part-time system, or the more sophisticated quadra-trac, which operates continuously. selec-trac is standard equipment on laredos equipped with 6-cyl. Engines and automatic transmissions. Grand cherokee limited models with 6-cyl. Engines come with the quadra-trac system. Quadra-trac is optional on v8-powered grand cherokees, and both models can also be ordered with rear-drive only, $24,603 for the basic laredo, $30,479 for the limited. in contrast to the explorer and blazer/jimmy, there's no 2-door version of the grand cherokee. It's also smaller and generally lighter than its key rivals--particularly the explorer--riding a shorter wheelbase. however, at 70. 9 in., the grand cherokee is the widest of the bunch, and in 4x4 trim it also provides the most ground clearance--8. 3 in. Good ground clearance is one of the keys to successful off-road performance, and off-road usefulness is a core value at jeep. interiorthe grand cherokee technically seats five. Indeed, three adults can wedge their way into the rear seat. But we found a long ride with two children and one adult in the back was cramped. the front seats are buckets; the rear is a 60/40 split bench that flops forward to expand cargo volume. Pronounced thigh and torso bolsters give these seats a pleasantly snug feel, and provide good lateral support to keep the driver centered when the vehicle is bounding about in the backwoods. all of the elements of any luxury sport-utility--or car, for that matter--are here. They include wood trim, automatic climate control, premium audio system, power windows, power mirrors, remote keyless entry and power-adjustable seats, to name only a few. There's less cargo capacity here than in the explorer and blazer/jimmy. The spare tire, stowed on the side of the rear storage compartment, cuts into the cargo space. The grand cherokee's key competitors have moved spare tire stowage underneath, operating on the theory that tire changes will be extremely rare since so few 4-door sport-utilities ever venture into off-road regions filled with sharp rocks and the like. the grand cherokee's one-piece rear liftgate provides a wide opening for cargo loading, but is difficult for short folks to reach and close. Engine, which was re-engineered to reduce noise in the grand cherokee's 1996 makeover. The inline six has more power than the base engines in competing import sport-utilities, as well as the ford explorer base v6, and like all inline 6-cyl. Engines it's smooth. but it's the v8 that really gives this vehicle its lively personality. although there's now a v8 engine option for the ford explorer, the grand cherokee v8 still provides the best performance in the compact sport-utility class, as well as the best towing capability--as much as 6500 lbs. With the optional trailer towing package, which costs $359 on 6-cyl. Models, $242 with the v8. the upper towing limit for the 6-cyl. Epa fuel economy ratings slide to 14 mpg city, 18 highway with the 5. 2-liter engine, compared to 15/20 for the 4. 0-liter 6-cyl. however, we found it hard to worry about mpg when the v8 was whisking us down the freeway, or making short work of passing on country back roads. The v8 provided exceptional acceleration--by sport-utiity standards--from a dead stop and emitted a delightful low, throaty rumble from under the hood. Otherwise, the ride is quiet. We also detected slight body roll on wide sweeping curves at highway speeds, although this is common to almost all sport-utility vehicles. braking was good, with 4-wheel disc brakes and anti-lock brakes as standard equipment. in addition to its robust v8 power, we were also favorably impressed by the grand cherokee's ride quality on paved roads. With springs and shock absorbers tailored to dual demands, there's some stiffness, but this vehicle is less truck-like than many of its competitors. naturally, the grand cherokee feels right at home on dirt roads, or no roads at all. In addition, it is equipped with good safety features, outstanding luxury amenities and the sophisticated quadra-trac option, all of which makes it a standout in a field filled with steadily improving choices. with v8 power, it's the top performer in its class. Add distinctive styling, and it's easy to see why this vehicle remains a best-seller. assembled indetroit, mi. options as testedv8 engine, quadra-trac 4wd, automatic climate control, premium am/fm/cd/cassette sound system, power-adjustable heated leather seats, color-keyed body cladding, overhead console with compass, trip computer. model testedgrand cherokee limited v8. Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Mirrors✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Climate Control✔ Leather Seats
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