The designers of Sport Utility Vehicles have a dilemma. Some SUVs, like the Jeep and Land Rover, have genuine four-wheel drive ancestry, with a reputation to uphold, which brings with it high ground clearance, stiff suspension, and heavy, complicated four-wheel drives. At the same time, the designers realize only a tiny percentage of the many people now buying SUVs ever take their vehicles off road (between 5 percent and 10 percent). Most spend their time tootling around the neighborhood, shopping or commuting to work on the freeways.
    Daimler/Chrysler have approached this dilemma in the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee by maintaining and enhancing a powerful off-road capability, while attracting non off-roaders with a drop dead gorgeous look, and a quiet luxurious interior with all the luxury features you could ever want.

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee has all the luxury a driver wants.

    The result is a stunning-looking, stiffly suspended, modest-sized, but comfortable and quiet vehicle, with probably the best mountain-climbing, river-crossing credentials in the nation.
    The designers have cautiously and beautifully smoothed the Grand Cherokee body, slightly enlarged the interior, lowered the step up into the interior and raised the seat height for better visibility. New suspension and steering systems have been introduced to improve ride and handling. The new large (12-inch rotor) four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes are reported to be the largest fitted to any SUV.
    The full-size spare wheel has been relocated, and is now laid flat under the cargo area floor. The cab is five inches longer, with an increase of 3.2 inches in seat hip room, slightly more headroom and an increase of 1.2 square feet of cargo space, in addition to the space advantage because of relocation of the spare wheel. Rear seat legroom is still tight for most people.
    A new, lighter, 235 hp, single overhead camshaft 4.7 liter V-8 engine (replacing the larger, less powerful and thirstier 5.2 and 5.9 liter engines offered on the 1998 models) will be an option to the standard push rod, in-line 6-cylinder engine, which gains five horsepower in 1999. A new five-speed, responsive automatic transmission has been developed, the fifth speed attained by two second gears, one ratio for normal shifting and another one for "kick down" shifts.
    A flame red Grand Cherokee was offered by the helpful folks at Midway Jeep/Eagle on Midway Drive for road testing. It looked good enough to eat.
    I can understand why a non-SUV buyer would be tempted to buy this one. On the road this Cherokee was quiet, smooth and peppy. The ride, although better than the 1998 model, was still a little stiff and "hoppy" on the freeway. Steering has been improved, although it is still a little numb and vague. A drive along some twisty, country roads revealed much improved cornering, although it’s no sports car, and still feels "tippy" when pushed hard.
    This Grand Cherokee feels very solid and well-built, the doors all close with a Mercedes-like bank vault thunk, and everything feels well put together. Chrysler's serious attempts to upgrade quality in all of its products should ensure this new (no major common parts with the 1998 model) vehicle will not experience the reliability problems of the first few years with the previous design.
    Four models are offered. The bottom of the line is the Laredo two-wheel drive at $25,800 The others are the Laredo four-wheel drive for $27,700, the Limited two-wheel drive for $31,565 and the top-of-the-line Limited with four-wheel drive for $33,995. (Why anyone would buy a two-wheel drive version of this superb four-wheel driver is a mystery.)
    Standard equipment on all these models includes air, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, power windows and door locks, keyless remote entry, luggage rack, cruise, tilt steering wheel and cast aluminum wheels. In addition, the Limited includes an alarm system, fog lights, garage door opener, luxury group with auto on/off headlight and auto day/night mirror, dual power heated outside mirrors, radio/cassette/CD with Infinity speakers with extra controls underneath the steering wheel right at your fingertips, leather seats, trip computer and Quadra-Trac II transfer case.
    The V-8 engine with the Quadra-Trac II transfer case is a $1,055 option for the Laredo and Limited four-wheel drive models. An "Up Country" suspension group is offered for $390, a trailer tow group for $360, a sunroof for $800 and a Quadra-Drive transfer case for $550.
    There is not enough space here to explain how all the four-wheel drive options work, but suffice it to say that the Quadra-Trac II transfers power from the rear wheels to the front wheels when the rears slip, and the Quadra-Drive transfers power front to back and side to side, so that power can go to the only single wheel with traction.
    The warranty offered is 36 months or 36,000 miles, bumper to bumper. The EPA estimated fuel consumption for the 6-cylinder models is 16 mpg city/ 21 mpg highway, and for the V-8 option is a pretty reasonable 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway.
    This sleek, modern-looking, luxurious SUV will seduce many buyers, whether off-road drivers or not, and for off-roaders this is the most capable SUV available for the money.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 54 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at osten@aol.com.