Auto: Jeep Grand Cherokee – America’s Range Rover?

In the world of off-road vehicles there are two names that everybody seems to know: Land Rover and Jeep. In America, the Jeep made its early associations during World War II as part of the Willys-Overland company and spawned a new love affair with the go anywhere type of vehicle. In fact, the first civilian models showed up in 1945 just four years after the production of the first army regulation Willys MB Jeeps. The Jeep was truly a vehicle inspired by World War II and the terrain the army knew they were going to have to traverse.

Ironically, the Land Rover was inspired by the original Willys World War II Jeep after a chief designer at Rover, Maurice Wilks, drove a Jeep during a summer at his holiday home in Whales. The first prototype was made in 1947. The result is two off-road brands that are also the two oldest brands, Jeep first and Land Rover second.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee America’s Range Rover? That question might seem odd to the average none car buff, especially considering the history I just laid out above. The world does change in mysterious ways and Land Rover through trial and tribulations recognized a market in the late ’60s with the introduction of the Jeep Wagoneer and Ford Bronco; the company, now British Leyland, saw the need for a capable off-road and luxury vehicle – on that went beyond the appointments of the Jeep Wagoneer. In 1970, the Range Rover was born with the idea of being luxurious and an off-road warrior. Funny that it all spawned, including the V8 engine, from American car companies.

We all know that Jeep has had its fair share of troubles too, now owned as part of the Fiat portfolio along with Chrysler and Dodge. However, the company’s path was very different and somehow it wasn’t until the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee redesign that the Land Rover and Jeep brands have really come head to head in the American market. The Wrangler and Cherokee have been the common SUV of choice in the States, but then the Range Rover and later the Discovery (immortalized alongside Jeeps in Jurassic Park) became vehicles of the wealthy and more fortunate crowd of consumers. That is until now.

The 2012 (and now available 2013) Jeep Grand Cherokee is quite the vehicle; more refined, more luxurious and has “Trail Rated” off-road capabilities. What is even more remarkable is the flexibility Jeep offers the consumer. You can get a two-wheel drive Grand Cherokee starting just under $28K. But, really we all want a 4×4, especially in Colorado. The 4×4 starts at $29,495 for the Laredo base model. Option it up like our test vehicle and you get the $43K Grand Cherokee Limited. That is a far cry from the about $67K Range Rover Sport we tested and reviewed (read the Oct. 3 issue of Out Front).

Here is the thing, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited offers a well appointed leather interior, navigation, heated seats and driver steering wheel, striking and well put together interior design – especially for a Jeep – and a selectable traction control and four-wheel drive system that gives the Range Rover some stiff competition. You can even choose between the impressive Pentastar V6 or Hemi V8.

They have finally developed a Grand Cherokee that can give consumers the luxury and off-road capabilities with the component that Ranger Rover had been beating Jeep with time and time again – style. Yes, the Grand Cherokee not only drives better than it has in the past, it has the looks to roll up to the red carpet and be taken seriously. Better yet it started in Toledo, Ohio, is currently made in Detroit, Mich., and is truly part of American heritage.

Whether you opt for the base model or the SRT8 performance edition that starts at $60K, the Grand Cherokee is not only America’s Ranger Rover, it has the heritage of being part of the original American off-road manufacturer.