Forget everything you know about the modern SUV. Now try to remember what an SUV used to stand for – rugged reliability across any series of terrains. 

These days, car companies will pass any tall-standing station wagon as an SUV – adding an all-wheel-drive option just to make you believe so. Heck, even the brand I write this very story about is guilty of it.

In many countries outside North America, ask anyone what the word “SUV” stands for – they will have no idea. Point at one and they will tell you that’s a “Jeep”. That’s because the word “Jeep” is almost synonymous with any rugged vehicle with off-roading capability – even if the Jeep brand isn’t actually sold there.

Enough rambling, let’s get to it. 

We recently tested the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Although the Grand Cherokee was just redesigned less than 3 years ago, this has to be one of the quickest mid-cycle refreshes we have seen for an American brand.

First, let’s go over the specs of the base model:

-3.6-litre V-6 VVT engine outputting 290 horsepower

-260 lb.-ft. of torque

-8-speed automatic transmission

-4-wheel drive system (QuadraTrac)

-Hill Start Assist

-5-inch Uconnect touch screen

-Seven airbags

-5 passenger seating

-Premium cloth seats

-Dual-zone climate control

-Base model starting price: $39,995

The vehicle we tested was the Summit edition and adds the following:

-Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Collision Warning

-8.4” Uconnect touch screen

-20” wheels

-Lots of chrome

-Leather seats

-Quadra-Lift Air Suspension System

-Select-Terrain with Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock mode

-Harman/Kardon 19-speaker audio system

-Front and rear parking sensors 

-Adaptive headlights

-Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert

-Ventilated front seats

-546-watt Premium Audio System with 12 speakers

-Summit edition starting price: $59,995

Like: Headlight & Taillight Design

As I mentioned, this vehicle has gone through a mid-cycle refresh for 2014 – and without a doubt, this has to be one of the most significant mid-cycle refreshes so far this decade. The Grand Cherokee encompasses everything that was hailed about the outgoing model and adds a few refreshing new touches increasing its visual appeal. These changes are more apparent in the upper trim levels – with LED headlamps and chrome body inserts. Upon closer examination, the redesigned headlamps are reminiscent of the Chrysler 300. With flowing LEDs surrounding every edge of the headlight cluster, this vehicle is not going unnoticed and in low daylight is where the Grand Cherokee truly shines.

Like: Uconnect system

While most in-car multimedia and navigation systems continue to be terrible, the Uconnect system – also found in Dodge and Chrysler vehicles – adds simplicity and ease-of-use. The system’s interface allows you to perform and control various multimedia, navigation, temperature, and phone functions, and thankfully also provides enough buttons and knobs to allow you to control the climate and audio with an old-fashioned twist or push. What’s also neat is the ability to have a picture-in-picture view of the navigation and audio functions on one screen.

Like: Eight-speed transmission

For 2014, the Grand Cherokee gets a ZF-engineered eight-speed automatic. Paddle shifters are now standard equipment adding another dimension of fun, both on and off-road. A new Eco button has been added, and after testing it, the vehicle becomes two litres more efficient over the 12.4 litre EnerGuide rating. Throughout our city driving with Eco mode on, we were able to achieve an average fuel economy of 14.4L/100kms.

Dislike: Shifter

I have had the opportunity to drive a number of luxury vehicles recently, and many luxury brands are trying to reinvent the gear shifter. A Jaguar XF I drove earlier this year offers a pop-up rotary dial pulled straight out of a high-end washing machine, while a Lincoln I drove recently offers a push-button gear shifter. The Grand Cherokee’s rendition is unique as well – offering a shorter lever for seamless shifting. Personally, I found it slightly confusing, causing me to put it in neutral a few times while intending to put it in reverse. On the plus side, it’s something that one can get accustomed to over a short period of time. 

Dislike: Storage console

Do you listen to music using CDs? If you had to choose between a CD player and a decently-sized center storage console, what would you choose? If you’re a CD person, then you wouldn’t mind that the car’s compact disc player takes up half the space in the center storage console. But if you’re like me however, I would trade that space for an adequately sized storage compartment. After all, who uses a CD anymore? 

I must disclose that the vehicle we tested had the bigger Uconnect system, possibly requiring the CD player to be relocated to the center console. That being said, there are a few other storage spaces in the car, so finding storage space wasn’t a big issue.