Larger is best, proper? Generally sure, typically no. An even bigger sports activities automotive is much less fascinating than a smaller, lighter one. Proper? Not fairly. Simply ask an MX-5 proprietor. Smaller, lighter sports activities vehicles are higher. An SUV that’s greater? Effectively, extra cargo house and room to stretch out is ideal. So Jeep determined with all of the hubbub about Third-row seating, perhaps a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Third-row seating is perhaps a very good factor. Seems…they had been proper.

Essentially the most noticeable enchancment is the general design. The Grand Cherokee L simply appears to be like sharp. The additional size behind the again doorways offers it an incredible sense of design stability. It appears to be like proper. It’s the identical nice design however…extra. The Baltic Gray exterior is subdued and doesn’t appeal to consideration. Our automotive got here with the Black Look Package deal ($2,725) which added black wheels, Pirelli all-season Scorpions, and black badging.

Inside is identical Jeep Grand Cherokee inside we’ve change into accustomed to during the last a number of years. Our take a look at automotive was monotonously and overwhelmingly darkish inside: black carpeting, black leather-based seats, black leather-based sprint, black middle console, black headliner. There have been bits of brightwork and a few darkish gray picket inserts but it surely was largely misplaced within the blackness. Entrance row seats had been snug with their heaters, air flow, and umpteen-direction electrical seat adjusters. The second row captains chairs had been additionally snug, being heated – one other package deal : Luxurious Tech Group 1 ($2,295). What was behind these seats was as much as you. You may both have two seats that weren’t a lot apart from jump-seats to make use of in a pinch, or a tripling of cargo house if you happen to folded them down into the rear deck. That was the largest distinction between the L and the usual Grand Cherokee.

Our take a look at automotive additionally got here outfitted with the Towing Package deal ($995), the spectacular Twin Pane Panoramic Sunroof ($2,615) and the 9-amplifier Audio system with Subwoofer stereo improve ($1,775).

The lodging had been snug. Practically all the pieces was adjustable from the touch-screen panel on the middle stack, regardless that most controls had been additionally accessible in a handbook kind – radio alter, heater buttons – for these of us that bear in mind old-fashioned simplicity and like it to display scrolling whereas driving. Frankly, if you happen to can’t get snug on this automotive, you possibly can’t get snug anyplace.

We totally anticipated some snow to problem the totally competent and legendary capabilities of the Grand Cherokee L however the climate has been unseasonably heat this 12 months and we weren’t capable of problem the the Grand Cherokee L in any manner different hanging on via some enjoyable freeway cloverleaves in chilly climate. It nonetheless impressed us with it’s clean experience and bump-absorbing skills. We had been impressed with how nicely the Pirelli Scorpions – a formidable off highway tire – dealt with our dealing with shenanigans. We anticipated tire noise and screech via quick corners however they toed the road diligently and offered all of the grip we requested of them. We had been capable of attempt it in some snow that we obtained late throughout our mortgage however the G Cherokee L simply pushed proper via it prefer it wasn’t even there. Snow that will have grabbed my private automotive’s wheels and pulled it in deeper had zero impact on the Jeep. Simply steer and go. No muss, no fuss, no drama.

The brakes had been robust however required a agency push. Not too agency, however if you happen to braked too gently you didn’t gradual in a short time.

If there was one factor we had been undecided on, it’s the digital rear-view mirror. It labored for us on the Maserati MC20 since you couldn’t see greater than 2 sq. inches out the again window, however on the Grand Cherokee L, it makes all the pieces appear completely different from the place it truly is behind you. It’s okay, however I saved making an attempt to regulate the mirror manually and doing that doesn’t have an effect on what seems within the mirror. Some will prefer it, some gained’t. I don’t suppose the Grand Cherokee is the best place to put in it. Your mileage could differ.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L begins at $53,405. Our tester got here in at $66,830, which is more and more affordable for what you get.

It obtained 5-stars in all of the NHTSA security checks besides “rollover” the place it obtained 4 stars. Nonetheless fairly good, given its weight.

Gas mileage is acknowledged as 25 mpg on the freeway and 18 mpg within the metropolis. That’s about what we noticed over the week we had it.

If you happen to’ve all the time preferred Grand Cherokees and wish just a little further room in them, the L mannequin is perhaps the one you’ve been searching for.

Efficiency: 5

Dealing with: 5

Design: 6

Inside: 7

Infotainment: 8

Sound: 8

Enjoyable: 5

General: 6