Full Description: Every Grand Cherokee now comes standard with blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist systems, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new Limited X package debuts, combining styling details from the Summit and SRT trim levels, along with special graphite trim. Once a staple of the new-car market, the traditional midsize SUV has become something of an endangered species in recent years. But the Jeep Grand Cherokee is quite alive, thank you very much, and in fact forges ahead with one of the best all-around skill sets you'll find for the money. Starting with rear-wheel drive, just like SUVs in the old days, the Grand Cherokee offers no fewer than three four-wheel-drive systems, and it's every bit a Jeep on tough trails when properly equipped. At the same time, its luxurious interior and smooth ride also make it quite suitable for everyday driving. It's a combination that few other SUVs can match. If we stopped right there, the JGC would already be a highly desirable vehicle. But this Jeep also serves up a tantalizing array of engines that sets it apart from its main rivals. The base V6 is actually quite capable in its own right, but you can alternatively specify a powerful 5.7-liter V8 or a fuel-efficient, torque-rich 3.0-liter diesel V6, both of which are standout options in this segment. There's even an outlandish 475-horsepower V8 in the SRT model, which provides super-SUV performance for many thousands less than German interpretations of this formula. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a five-passenger midsize SUV that comes in five trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Overland, Summit and SRT. Each is available with rear-drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) except the high-performance SRT model, which is 4WD only. There's no bad Grand Cherokee in the lineup, and picking one is largely about getting the capabilities you want or need. But if we had to choose just one, we'd go with the Trailhawk trim level. With special features such as off-road skid plates and low range gearing, it's prepared for any trail you might want to tackle. It's still useful for your daily commute, too, and can be fitted with pretty much all of Jeep's luxury-oriented features. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a five-passenger midsize SUV that comes in seven trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, SRT and Trackhawk. Most Grand Cherokees are available with rear-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), but the Trailhawk is 4WD only and the SRT and Trackhawk get specialized all-wheel-drive systems. All Grand Cherokees are reasonably well equipped, but certain upgrades are offered only on higher trims, including the 8.4-inch touchscreen and the optional V8 engines. Standard feature highlights for the base Laredo include a 3.6-liter V6 engine (295 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio and two USB ports. If you're looking for a few more creature comforts (or if you just need heated seats for cold winter commutes), then check out the Limited trim level. On Limited and above, you can go with the standard V6 or you can opt for the optional 5.7-liter V8 (360 hp, 390 lb-ft). An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard for both. Other standard equipment on the Limited includes 18-inch wheels, remote start, auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirrors, a power liftgate, a 115-volt power outlet, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, power front seats and driver-seat memory settings. The off-road-oriented Trailhawk trim level is our choice for the Grand Cherokee. Without a doubt, it's one of the most capable off-road SUVs in its class. On top of the Limited trim, it adds unique exterior styling flourishes, different 18-inch wheels with off-road tires, four-wheel drive with low-range gearing (Quadra-Drive II), an adjustable air suspension (Quadra-Lift) with increased suspension travel and other Trailhawk-specific tuning, hill ascent and descent control, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, underbody skid plates, trim-specific interior styling, and an upgraded instrument cluster display with exclusive off-road features. The Trailhawk also adds power-folding mirrors, ventilated front seats, an 8.4-inch touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a navigation system and a nine-speaker sound system. Next in the Grand Cherokee lineup is the Overland. It has a few more luxury options and shares the Trailhawk's latter four standard features as well as a mainstream version of its air suspension. It's also equipped with 20-inch wheels, automatic wipers, xenon headlights with auto high-beam control, LED daytime running lights and foglights, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a navigation system, a power-adjustable steering wheel and extended leather upholstery. If you want most of the creature comforts that the Grand Cherokee has to offer, definitely consider the Summit trim. It includes the Overland's standard equipment, plus polished 20-inch wheels, headlight washers, front parking sensors, a self-parking system (both parallel and perpendicular), additional noise-reducing window glass, active noise-canceling technology, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a forward collision mitigation system with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, upgraded leather upholstery with diamond-quilted accents, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. (A full leather interior with even more coverage is an extra-cost option.) Most of the Summit's safety equipment is also available on the Overland trim level via the High Altitude package. A bit out of the standard structure is the high-horsepower SRT trim level. It is broadly equipped like the Summit trim level with a few distinctions. Unique standard equipment includes a 6.4-liter V8 (475 hp, 470 lb-ft), a specialized all-wheel-drive system (tuned more for high-performance driving than off-road use), 20-inch wheels with performance tires, an adaptive sport-tuned suspension, sport-tuned steering and brakes, a sport body kit, a limited-slip rear differential and selectable performance modes. Even further down the high-performance rabbit hole, there's the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. The Trackhawk gets most of the SRT's standard equipment plus the famous Hellcat supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (707 hp, 645 lb-ft), an upgraded eight-speed transmission, an upgraded adaptive suspension and Brembo brakes, more aggressive-looking bodywork, launch control, and lightweight 20-inch wheels with high-performance tires. There are also some unique interior design cues and upgraded upholstery to set the Trackhawk apart from the group. A full leather interior is available as an option on both high-performance models. Trailhawk, SRT and Trackhawk aside, the Grand Cherokee comes with RWD as standard. The AWD systems on offer require some explanation. Laredo trims feature the Quadra-Trac I single-speed AWD setup. Quadra-Trac II, with a two-speed transfer case for greater off-road ability, can be installed in the Laredo but is the default system in the Limited and Overland. The Quadra-Drive II system adds an electronic limited-slip rear differential -- it's optional on AWD Limited, Overland and Summit variants, and standard on the Trailhawk. Included with every AWD system is Selec-Terrain, which alters engine response, gearshift points, suspension and hill-descent control for optimum traction in five different scenarios. With the V8 and 4WD, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a tow rating of 7,200 pounds. Two-wheel-drive models can tow a bit more, and V6 models tow about a 1,000 pounds less. Most crossover SUVs don't come anywhere close to those numbers. Rear-wheel drive is standard on non-SRT Grand Cherokees, but these models also offer three available 4WD systems: the single-speed, light-duty Quadra-Trac I system (Laredo only), Quadra-Trac II with a two-speed transfer case (Laredo, Limited, Overland and Summit) and Quadra-Drive II with a rear electronic limited-slip differential (Limited, Overland and Summit). An adaptive air suspension (Quadra-Lift) and a driver-selectable traction control system that adjusts to different terrain are also available (optional on 4WD Limited, standard on 4WD Overland and Summit). The Grand Cherokee SRT comes standard with a specialized all-wheel-drive system tuned more for high-performance driving than off-road use. The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, hill start assist, hill descent control (4WD only; optional on Laredo and standard on the others), front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. A rearview camera is standard from the Limited trim on up, as are rear parking sensors, while front parking sensors come standard on the Summit. In prior government crash tests, the 4WD Grand Cherokee earned five stars (out of a possible five) for overall crash protection, and the 2WD version earned an overall rating of four stars. Both rated five stars for total frontal crash protection and five stars for total side crash protection. The reason for the one-star difference in overall rating is the 2WD version's slightly lower rollover rating. In testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Jeep Grand Cherokee received the highest possible rating of Good in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength crash tests. It earned a second-lowest Marginal rating in the small-overlap frontal-offset test. The Grand Cherokee's seat/head restraint design was rated Good for whiplash protection in rear impacts.