The gauges on Limited and Overland are electroluminescent, so the dials themselves appear to glow at night. It's a more pleasing look than the conventional setup, where the pointers and numerals are lighted against a darker background.
It's hard to tell at a glance, but the Overland's Redwood Burl trim is real wood. Similarly, its wood-and-leather steering wheel isn't as plush or thick as that of a Jaguar, but its does have remote stereo switches on the front of its horizontal spokes. That feature relieves the long reach to the dashboard for the radio controls, a reach made longer by the Grand Cherokee's high seating position.
Our initial impression from the driver's seat was that the hood was too high, blocking vision immediately in front of the vehicle. But the hood slopes down on its sides, so your vision isn't blocked while turning.
Rear legroom is tight for long-distance trips with large fishing buddies, but adequate for a night on the town with another couple. Climbing into the back seats is relatively easy (compared with the Land Rover Discovery, for example), thanks to generously wide doors.
The rear tire lies under the floor, which allows more space for cargo at the expense of a high liftover at the tailgate.
Next Page