2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee review

1. Spacious and comfortable cabin

A roomy cabin is often high on the list of priorities when looking for a new midsize SUV, and the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee more than lives up to the 'grand' part of its name in that respect. There's seating for five passengers inside, with all occupants having space to stretch out into, with 40.3 inches of front seat legroom and 38.6 inches of rear seat legroom. And with features such as leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and heated front and rear seats as standard on Limited models upwards, every journey behind the wheel of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be a comfortable and enjoyable one for you and your passengers.

2. Great off-road capabilities

The Jeep name has been synonymous with off-road ability for decades, and the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is more than ready to take you on adventures off the beaten track. All-wheel-drive is an option across the entire 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee range, and look out for the available Quadra-Trac^® II system, which includes a two-speed transfer case and hill descent control. Additionally, Quadra-Drive^® II is an option on Limited and Overland trims, which adds electronic limited-slip differentials to both front and rear axles, while the Quadra-Lift^® air suspension system, which varies ground clearance and ride height, is standard on Overland trims. For climbing steep hills, tackling uneven terrain, and effortlessly dealing with slippery surfaces, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee can handle it all.

3. High-performance SRT8 trim

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a choice of three engine options. While the base 3.6L V6 and optional 5.7L V8 engines are hardly lacking in grunt, the 6.4L V8 engine included as part of the SRT8 performance trim is in a whole different league of power and performance. Producing 470 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, this powerhouse of an engine combines with other performance-orientated features on the SRT8 models such as adaptive suspension, Brembo^® brakes, sharper steering, and paddle shifters for faster gearshifts.

4. Strong towing power

If you're bringing extra kit with you on your cross-country adventures or handling the kind of tough yard work you'd normally need a pickup truck for, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee has you covered. Models equipped with the 3.6L V6 engine have a maximum estimated towing capacity of 5,000lbs when properly equipped, in either two or four-wheel-drive form.

The 5.7L V8 engine with the optional towing package (available across the range) brings that maximum estimated towing capacity up to 7,400 lbs on 4WD models when properly equipped (7,200 lbs on 2WD models).

5. Generous feature list

There are four unique trim levels available for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and whichever you select, you won't be lacking equipment. Base Laredo models can be found with a number of optional packages and features, including the Security and Convenience package which adds a cargo cover and a USB/iPod^™ interface, as well as standalone optional features such as a nine-speaker premium sound system. All optional equipment on Laredo trims are included as standard on Limited models, alongside other features like rear parking sensors and a Garmin^® navigation system. The premium Overland trim tops the range off with comfort options like a power liftgate (optional on Limited trims) and adaptive cruise control (Overland Summit models only).