Friday, June

5,

NEWS photos Mike Wakefield

Jeep Grand Cherokee

IT WAS the 1962 1/2 Jeep
Wagoneer that first com-
bined off-road ruggedness
with five seats, four doors
and an automatic transmis-
sion. But the ‘‘car-like
4X4’” really didn’t capture
the imagination of the buy-
ing public until 21 years
later.

The 1984 AMC Jeep Cherokee
was the first of the modern-day
sport utility vehicles to successful-
ly combine the roominess and
comfort of a sedan and the dura-
bility and off-road capability of a
4X4. It has been followed by at
least a half-dozen others in the
last eight years.

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee
is a further extension of this trend

to car-like 4X4s. ‘‘Unlike the
competition,’’ said Chrysler
engineer Craig Winn at the vehi-
cle’s press introduction, ‘‘the
Grand Cherokee was not derived
from a truck.'’ Like most
automobiles, the Grand Cherokee
has a unitized body construction
(frame member is welded directly
to the floorpan). This, says
Chrysler, is an advantage over
other sport utilities which have a
truck-like, body-on-frame design.

Chrysler claims that the Grand
Cherokee is the first sport utility
vehicle which has a highway ride
that moves in the direction of im-
port luxury cars costing $30,000
or more, without compromising
its off-road capability.

The Grand Cherokee is certainly
a sophisticated 4X4. It is the first
sport utility to have an airbag,

Price as tested $24,170

and the only one to offer an
“‘all-the-time,’’ all-wheel-drive
system. It is also the only sport
utility to offer standard four-
wheel disc brakes with a four-
wheel anti-lock brake system
(most offer anti-lock brakes on
the rear wheels only).

The Grand Cherokee is 200 mm
(7.7 in.) longer and 90 mm (3.5
in.) wider than the Cherokee, and
as a result, the interior is con-
siderably roomier. There is also
more cargo space, and the 60/40
split rear seats will fold down.
However, the spare tire mounted
inside the cargo area takes up
valuable space. An optional out-
side carrier is available, and prob-
ably worth it.

Compared to the Ford Explor-
er, the Grand Cherokee is slightly
smaller inside and will seat a

maximum of five passengers
rather than six in the Explorer.
However, the Grand Cherokee’s
other major benefits, including a
superior ride and more _horse-
power, make it a real contender
for first place in this class.

The Grand Cherokee is powered
by the same 190-horsepower 4.0-
litre in-line six-cylinder engine
used in the Cherokee. Not only
does this engine have more horse-
power and torque than most
rivals, but the Grand Cherokee is
lighter in weight. However, com-
pared to the standard Cherokee,
the Grand Cherokee is a few hun-
dred pounds heavier and perfor-
mance is not as spritely. Average
fuel economy is better, though,
claims Chrysler.

See Three page 37

Wheelbase 2,690 mm/105.9 in.

Type four-door, five-passenger
sport utility wagon
Layout longitudinal
engine/4WD

Engine 4.0-litre inline six-
cylinder, electronic multi-port
fuel injection

Horsepower 190 @ 4,750 rpm
Torque 225-Ib-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission five-speed man-
ual (four-speed automatic)
Transfer case all-the-time
4IwD

Curb weight
Ibs

front

1.648 kim/3,633

Length 4,480 mm/176.5 in.

Width 1,760 mm/69.3 in.

Towing capacity 2,270 kg/

5,000 Ibs

Cargo capacity (rear seat up)
1,133 litres/40 cu.ft.

Fuel ecoromy n/a

Warranty three yrs/60,000 km

OR one yr/20,000 km + seven

yt/115,000 km powertrain war-

ranty.

Check out the Jeep Grand

Cherokee at Mountview Jeep

Eagle, £600 Marine Dr., North
an.

Greg
Wiison