Seat Time is a chance for us to share our impressions of vehicles being tested in the Autoline Garage and at media previews from around the globe.

Manufacturer: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Make: Jeep
Model: Grand Cherokee
Model Range: 5-door
Competitors: Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Explorer, Nissan Armada
Trim Levels: Laredo, Limited, Overland, Summit, SRT8
Price Range: $51,195 Base; $57,190 As Tested
Made in: Detroit, Michigan
Drivetrain: 3.0-Liter V6 ECODiesel (made in Italy), 8-speed Automatic
EPA Ratings: 21 city/28 highway/24 combined

Read on for Chip Drake‘s final impressions of this vehicle

Notable Features:

• New 3.0-Liter ECODiesel with 8-speed Automatic Transmission
• New front and rear fascias
• New interior leather materials for Summit
• New HID headlamps
• New 8.4-inch touchscreen radio with climate and infotainment controls

Final Impression:
Despite the lavish interior, striking IP, and comfortable leather seating, this Grand Cherokee Summit ECODiesel seems like it has switched identities with a Ram light-duty pickup. The suspension is extremely stiff and the V6 diesel is louder than some of its competitors. But if that’s the downside, most everything else points up. The Quadra-Drive II 4WD system was perfect for plowing through the overabundance of snow Michigan has seen this winter. And for the week we had the vehicle, we consistently exceeded the EPA’s 21 MPG in the city, in spite of the snow and potholes. Also, I know there are some nice HMI systems out there, but when it comes to having everything at your fingertips — or by voice — it’s hard to beat Chrysler’s Uconnect system for simplicity of use.