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Follow-Up Test: 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Underachieving Overland
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By Christian Wardlaw
Date posted: 03-19-2002
Four years ago, when the second-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee was introduced,
SUVs were an easy sell. People craved them, and there were, compared to the wide
range of offerings on the market today, relatively few worthy competitors to the
all-new Jeep. From North America, only the Dodge Durango could have been considered
a truly modern alternative, as midsize sport-utes from Ford and General Motors
were in their fifth year of production at that time. Japan also fielded an aging
set of SUVs, the newest of them a middling design sold as the Isuzu Rodeo and
Honda Passport. Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover constituted the threat from Europe,
neither enjoying affordable price points nor reputations for quality trucks. The
Grand Cherokee, for years the second best-selling SUV in America, seemingly couldn't
lose.
Staying true to the original formula, the 1999 Grand Cherokee was a rugged, capable
truck loaded with creature comforts to make daily driving more palatable to your
average suburbanite. It featured more power and refinement, a new Quadra-Drive
full-time four-wheel-drive system, and improved paved-road drivability. But, as
Edmunds.com discovered during a troublesome long-term
test, all the bugs hadn't been worked out before the truck came to market.
For 2002, Jeep is working hard to drum up interest in the quickly fading Grand
Cherokee. Three new trim levels debut this year, and significant rebates have
been offered in an effort to entice buyers to visit a local Jeep dealer. But with
so-called crossover SUVs all the rage (station wagons that look like trucks but
drive like cars), and an increasingly crowded marketplace populated by newer and
more modern machines in which to do battle, DaimlerChrysler can't bank on the
appeal of the legendary Jeep nameplate the way it could several years ago to sell
Grand Cherokees.
The Special Edition and Sport are new to the lineup, filling the void between
the base Laredo and luxury Limited. Above and beyond Laredo standard equipment,
Special Editions have a body color grille, foglights, an upgraded stereo and Quadra-Trac
II on-demand four-wheel-drive (when a 4WD model is selected). Sport models add
to a Laredo goodies such as unique 16-inch aluminum wheels, heated exterior mirrors,
leather interior trim, premium speakers and a trip computer. Both come standard
with the venerable 195-horsepower 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that has
been a Jeep staple since the late 1980s, matched to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Optional is a 4.7-liter 235-horsepower V8 that is surprisingly capable of supporting
the intent of the Sport's nomenclature. V8 models are equipped with a five-speed
automatic.
The other new model for 2002 is the Overland, a fully loaded mack-daddy Grand
Cherokee that comes with all the goodies standard. It, along with Limited V8 JGCs,
gets a new high-output version of the 4.7-liter V8 that ultimately impresses more
on paper than it does on the road. Attractive five-spoke 17-inch wheels put the
power to the ground through standard Quadra-Drive 4WD. Exclusive to the Overland
is real redwood burl cabin trim on the dash and steering wheel, two-tone suede
and leather upholstery, and chrome exterior detailing on the grille and tow hooks.
Regular readers will recall that, despite the quality gremlins that afflicted
our long-term Grand Cherokee, we did genuinely enjoy the vehicle. So it was natural
that we'd want to give a new and improved version a try. We asked for the keys
to an Overland and spent a week driving this most luxurious of Jeeps the way most
buyers do: commuting and running errands in a suburban setting.
Despite the Overland's significant level of standard equipment (only a handful
of options are available, such as a tire pressure monitoring system, power adjustable
pedals, chromed wheels, a trailer-towing package, an engine block heater and Inferno
Red paint), we came away from our time in this luxo-Jeep less impressed than before.
This is mainly a function of market shifts during the past four years. Since the
Grand Cherokee was last redesigned, new competitors and updated stalwarts have
tarnished some of the Jeep's shine.
For instance, back in 1999, the 4.7-liter V8 made the Grand Cherokee feel like
a four-wheel-driven muscle car, providing amazing acceleration for a sport-utility.
Today, what with 240-horse Explorers and 270-horse TrailBlazers running amok,
the Jeep doesn't feel all that special underfoot. So for 2002, the Limited and
Overland can be equipped with a high-output version of the four-seven, making
265 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Our test truck, weighing 4,364 pounds,
managed to get from rest to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. That's more than a second quicker
than a Ford Explorer V8 or a Chevrolet TrailBlazer, but it doesn't feel like it.
Dip into throttle too much, and, like us, you'll be lucky to average 15 mpg in
a combination of highway and city driving (we tallied a combined 14.7 mpg during
our test).
Additionally, true trucks aren't the darlings of the SUV class anymore, now that
consumers have discovered that a "truck" can ride and handle like a "car." The
Lexus RX 300, Acura MDX and Toyota Highlander have spoiled SUV buyers who rarely
venture off the pavement by supplying a smooth ride and competent handling at
the expense of offroad prowess. This means the Grand Cherokee, engineered to tackle
the tough Rubicon Trail and survive unscathed, suffers when it comes time for
Mom 'n' Pop Suburbia to choose their next set of pseudo-rugged wheels.
Plus, station wagons are enjoying a resurgence of consumer interest. People are
beginning to realize that they don't have to own a crossover SUV to get space
for five adults and plenty of cargo combined with all-wheel drive. The success
of AWD wagons from Audi, BMW, Subaru, Volkswagen and Volvo confirms that, as strange
as it seems, consumers have really wanted an AMC Eagle Sportwagon, updated for
the 21st Century.
Hence, the Jeep wasn't a pleasant companion for the daily slog. It felt heavy,
steered slowly, and the body rolled and jiggled like Drew Carey on a blind date.
Furthermore, we expected more seat-of-the-pants oomph from the massaged engine,
but found that the Overland didn't feel much quicker than our 1999 long-term Limited.
Add in the Jeep's soggy, unsupportive seats and sometimes quirky cabin layout,
and we wonder why people buy Jeep Grand Cherokees just to trundle about town.
Offroading is another story altogether. Though we didn't subject our Overland
to a tough trail trial, we've spent plenty of time four-wheeling various Grands
in Laredo and Limited trim, in places ranging from the Colorado Rockies to the
California desert to the woods of the Northwest. Suffice it to say that the Grand
Cherokee is the best midsize SUV on the market when it comes to boulder-bashing.
Few vehicles can touch this Jeep when the going gets rough.
Unfortunately, rough going in the suburbs usually amounts to 6 inches of snowfall
once or twice a year. And while the Grand Cherokee Overland is opulently outfitted
for daily driving, with a 10-disc CD changer hooked up to Infinity speakers, a
power sunroof and rain-sensing wipers, it's all truck underneath the leather,
wood and chrome.
Today, unlike four years ago, most folks have come to realize that they really
don't want to buy trucks. Rather, they want to buy cars that look like trucks.
To this end, the purpose-built offroader known as the Jeep Grand Cherokee misses
the mark.
See all the Ratings: 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4WD 4dr SUV (4.7L 8cyl 5A) Road Test Scoreboard
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