Today, we look at the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a reliable and capable SUV that has been supplying people with practical go-anywhere load-hauling and transportation since the 70s; in one form or another.

The Cherokee is available in its standard crossover compact-SUV size, the larger Grand Cherokee and the extended Grand Cherokee L – which even straddles the product line with Jeep’s own full-size Wagoneer.

Despite all of these different SUV models, we think the Grand Cherokee is the sweet spot, refined and updated over the years to make it the king of this segment – or at the very least, highly competitive.

We take a brief look at the Grand Cherokee to remind ourselves of its pros, cons, and what stands out in the latest model.

Jeep Grand Cherokee: A Capable Workhorse Or Comfortable And Stylish SUV

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, white, front quarter, off-roading
Via: Jeep

Effectively, SUVs are now heavily in vogue across most demographics and are ubiquitous in both work and private life use, so automakers have had to balance some quite contrasting characteristics within the same type of vehicle.

SUVs like this one will need to be strong, capable, powerful enough to tackle some off-roading and at the same time, provide a refined, comfortable and stylish ride with all the latest infotainment features and premium-looking cabin design.

It’s true that the Grand Cherokee starts at around just $38,000, but prices go north quickly when you select higher trims and add options to your car; which a lot of people will.

The Summit Reserve flagship model trim costs a whopping $65,000 before options. It is why, the mighty Grand Cherokee is firmly in premium-SUV territory price-wise and needs to provide a similar experience inside and out.

RELATED: 2022 New York Auto Show: Jeep Debuts Grand Cherokee High Altitude 4xe

The Grand Cherokee Has A Big Heart: Big Engines And All-Wheel Drive Help, Too

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee interior, tan leather, from passenger seat
Via: Jeep

For 2022, the engine range is simple yet adequate – to help both highway acceleration and off-road navigation. The 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is available for the Trailhawk and Summit Reserve models, which for $3,800 offers around 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.

This is better than the aging 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 which offers 290 hp and 257-lb-ft of torque; but the engine to go for is the 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder in the Grand Cherokee 4xe model, new for 2022 and starting at around $60,000.

Jeep’s hybrid version also comes in different trim levels including the Trailhawk, and offers an awesome 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque – more powerful than the V8 and way more torquier, albeit for a considerable price increase – although it should be much more economical.

The EPA fuel economy database says that the 5.7-liter V8 can provide 17 MPG combined, whereas the electric and fuel combined rating for the 2.0-liter is up at 56 MPG, or 23 when it’s running on gasoline alone.

RELATED: Fuel Efficiency On Steroids, But The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV Also Has Some Cons

Inside The Grand Cherokee: Premium Cabin, Full Of Features

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, red, rear quarter, in desert
Via: Jeep

On the outside, the Grand Cherokee’s design looks premium and arguably stands the test against other refined SUVs like the BMW X7, Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery and more.

Inside, it is updated from the previous generation in a big way with improved materials, nicer design and if you pay for it – luxury and opulence in the fully-specced Summit Reserve.

There are the all important infotainment screens – you can have up to a 10.1-inch center screen, 10.3-inch passenger screen and digital gauge cluster, plus premium features like massaging, heated seats, ambient lighting and much more.

BMW’s large SUV, the X7, starts from $75,000 in the online BMW builder and is a potential rival to the fully-loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve, but offers even more image and style from the outside, although it will become considerably more expensive with options and packs added.

That car offers 21-inch wheels, a 3-liter twin-turbo 6-cylinder with 335 hp and inside, two 12.3-inch screens, one in the central dashboard and one for the instrument cluster.

Choosing The Grand Cherokee Against Other Medium-Sized SUVs

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee with second car, white and then red, desert, front quarter and then rear quarter
Via: Jeep

Realistically, the Grand Cherokee isn’t in competition with the BMW X7 though, but it might be in competition with itself – or rather the Grand Cherokee L and the Wagoneer.

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee L is a three-row version of the standard car, which adds around $2,000 to the online retail price and increases the body length of the car. There is more luggage space and as a result is more practical for little more financial outlay.

The Wagoneer on the other hand, starts at $59,000 and offers even more space and luxury than the Grand Cherokee, but at just $6,000 less than the top-of-the-range Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve, isn’t worth it unless you’re looking for maximum space or maximum luxury – or a combination of both.

The Grand Cherokee does a good job of offering a reasonably-affordable, reasonably-capable and reasonably-premium mid-size SUV for a wide range of people – a real jack-of-all-trades.