The Chrysler Group began making Grand Cherokees at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit this week, with the first vehicles to arrive in showrooms next month.
The 2011 Grand Cherokee will be available in three trims: Laredo, Limited and Overland. The Limited 4x4 starts at $39,995, while the top-of the line Overland starts at $42,995. Chrysler dealers have been waiting eagerly for the Grand Cherokee, the first vehicle redesign since the company emerged from bankruptcy last June 10.
Like the previous Grand Cherokee, Jeep sells the new model also in rear-drive-only versions. Starting prices range from $30,995 for the Laredo, down from $31,490 for the 2010 model, and $37,495 for the Limited, down from $40,200 for the 2010.
The 2011 Grand Cherokee will be the first vehicle equipped with Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, which the company says will deliver 23 mpg. This 290-horsepower engine is 11 percent more efficient than the outgoing one and will be available for the base versions. Above the V-6 sits the 5.7-liter V8 engine, developing 360 horsepower.
The Grand Cherokee is available with a new air suspension that allows the vehicle to be raised or lowered for different on-road and off-road conditions. The Selec-Terrain system is a traction control system with settings for a variety of conditions from dry pavement to sand, snow or rocks.
The pricing follows Chrysler’s recent policy of holding the line on prices while including more content.
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