2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Des Moines

See Our New 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Des Moines IA

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Design

Chrysler Group is touting its 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, with its monstrous Hemi engine and bevy of electronic gadgets, as a catchall conqueror of terrains, be it plain, parking lot or pit lane. And while the specs are impressive, the idea of a nearly 5,000-pound, full-size SUV dashing around a road course raises more than a few eyebrows.  While still hefty, the look of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is more hunkered-down. It's one inch lower than other Grand Cherokee models and further differentiates itself with unique wheel flares and side-sill cladding. A double-scooped hood gives extra ventilation for the grunting powerplant beneath. In the rear, monstrous four-inch tailpipes mark the exits for the dual exhaust system.

Handling of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee still upholds its reputation for off-road prowess. An optional adjustable air suspension (Quadra-Lift) can vary the JGC's ride height from 6.6 inches for easy passenger and roof rack loading, to 10.7 inches for serious off-road work. The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 uses a new, 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that makes 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. Gearheads who drive this special edition model will be able to impress friends by rattling off performance numbers usually reserved for sports cars such as a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a quarter-mile time in the mid-13 second range. And whether or not it ever goes to the track, drivers can sleep well knowing the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee can stop from 60 mph in 116 feet with its Brembo big brake kit and pull 0.90 g on the skid pad.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lineup

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a five-passenger midsize SUV that comes in Laredo, Limited and Overland trims. Each is available with 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains. The Limited gets all the Laredo's optional equipment plus 18-inch wheels, additional chrome trim, bi-xenon headlights, rear parking sensors, a Garmin navigation system, automatic wipers, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, driver memory functions, heated front and rear seats and a leather-wrapped shift knob.

The Overland gets all the Limited's options, plus the variable-height Quadra-Lift air suspension and special exterior and interior trim that includes a mesh grille, perforated leather seating and a wood/leather steering wheel

Interior of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Interior features include SRT8 logos galore, heated and ventilated leather seats, and, in a further nod to racing, carbon fiber accents. An electronic display lets drivers keep track of steering input measurements, horsepower, torque, 0-60 mph time, 60-0 mph braking distance, g-forces, and one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times. The Grand Cherokee features a handsome cabin with a cleanly styled dash, tight seams, high-quality materials and consistent textures from door to dash.

Conclusion

For 2012, the Jeep Grand Cherokee slightly improves its fuel economy and adds a couple of trim levels, including the posh Overland Summit and the return of the hot-rod SRT8 variant.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com