The New Grand Cherokee - It's slow

I really like the new Grand Cherokee.  Damned sharp looking.  Nicely beveled, excellent proportions, a timeless design that the buying public will like.  And it will undoubtedly be one of the most capable SUVs you can buy.

But all that capability equals one heavy vehicle.  Inside Line put one on the track and the results were, let's say, lackluster. 0-60 of 9.0 seconds, thanks to a curb weight over 2.5 tons and an outdated transmission.  There's word that Chrysler will be bringing in ZF's jolly new eight-speed, but that's a few years away.

This is also the premiere of the new Pentastar V-6.  Its definitely competitive, with 290 horses, but its got a lot of metal to move around.  You can always bump up to the timeless Hemi, but that costs at the dealer and at the pump.

And, btw, this sucker is pricey. Well over 30 g's just to get in the door.  I'm a little worried that the new Ford Explorer, to be unveiled in a week's time, will steal some of the GC's thunder.