The 20-inch step-in height of the doorsills and lack of running boards, while great for off-road tire clearance, were a challenge for my kids climbing in and out of the Grand Cherokee. It has traditional Jeep lines that have been slightly smoothed out to appeal to a more upscale buyer. The Grand Cherokee’s exterior is refined, even upscale-looking, while still sporting definite Jeep characteristics. The Jeep and VW have five seats and the other two offer seven in three rows. (See them compared.) Its price starts markedly lower, but higher trim levels are priced on par with these premium models.

In size and amenities, the Grand Cherokee competes with models like the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and VW Touareg. (See the 4×4 versions side by side.) I tested a Limited 4×4. For the 2012 model year, there are four trim levels available: the Laredo in two- and four-wheel drive, the Limited in two- and four-wheel drive, the Overland in two- and four-wheel drive and the high-performance SRT8 4X4. The Grand Cherokee had a total overhaul for 2011, and not much has changed with the 2012 model year.

When it comes to driving character, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee seems to thumb its nose at most of the population, who spend more time on asphalt than they do crossing dry river beds.

It’s lost some of its modern relevance, especially for the families among us. While today’s version is masked by a pretty exterior and upscale finishes, the Grand Cherokee has sadly failed to evolve its ride quality enough to compete with others on the market. That was at the very beginning of this vehicle’s life, before SUVs ruled the road, and it was quite the status symbol back then. When I first started driving 20 years ago, I had a few classmates whose parents bought them Jeep Grand Cherokees.

2012 jeep grand cherokee gas tank size