While the Wrangler can be a rough ride, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is unapologetically cushy. Sure, it can handle the backroads, but with premium audio and power seats in the entry-level, it’s all about comfort.
Key Points
- Even the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee‘s entry-level Laredo features optional heated leather seats up front and your choice of a 290 horsepower V6 under the hood, or a 360 horsepower V8.
- With a Limited, you’re getting standard heated leather seats in both rows, plus voice activation and remote start.
- The Overland adds a ton of features like Nappa leather, ParkSense, a backup camera, and Quadra-Trac 4WD management.
- The Kelley Blue Book typically estimates all three trim levels in the same price range, so if you can find an Overland at a fair price, that’s the one you want.
Entry-level 2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo Starts Strong with Optional Heated Leather Front Seats and Alpine Speakers
Starting at around $13,000 in the Blue Book, the entry-level Laredo is as good a place to start as any. All three trim levels are rear/four-wheel drive, with a five-speed automatic transmission, and they’re all available with either a 290 horsepower 3.6L V6 Flex Fuel engine, or a conventional 360 horsepower 5.7L V8 Hemi. So you’re not missing out on a high-performing soft-roader by going with a Limited over a Laredo or an Overland.
With an eight-way power seat for the driver, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted cruise controls, plus Uconnect, Alpine premium audio, and Garmin navigation, the Laredo is an entry-level trim that delivers more than some SUVs do in their luxury models. If you aren’t fond of the standard cloth, you can even find the Laredo with optional Black or Medium Greystone leather front seats.
The only real problem with the Laredo is that you’re not saving much money by going with the entry-level trim. In fact, the Kelley Blue Book estimates the starting price to be a bit higher than the Limited or the Overland.
2011 Grand Cherokee Limited Upgrades Performance with Quadra-lift, a Dual-pane Sunroof, and Heated Leather Seats
The Limited actually starts at $500 less than the Laredo, around $12,500 on Kelley Blue Book, and adds heated leather seats in both the front and back, remote start, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
Upgraded safety features include a whole range of sensors and sonars for forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert. Add to that, Quadra-Lift air suspension and Quadra-Drive II to manage the four-wheel drive.
The way a car’s pricing works out after 10 years on the market can be kind of funny. What might have been $4,000 to $5,000 worth of upgrades a decade ago amounts to the Limited actually costing less than the Laredo today.
But of course, that’s down to what kind of deals you can find. The Kelley Blue Book gives us a fair estimate, but you’ll have to consider factors like car condition, local economy, and your own skills as a negotiator in order to get a more accurate picture of what you can expect to pay.
But assuming the KBB price to be the norm, there’s really no reason at all not to go with a Limited over a Laredo.
2011 Grand Cherokee Overland Adds Nappa Leather and Real Wood Trim at a Price You Can’t Refuse
This is the one you want if you can find it at a fair price. The Blue Book estimates the Overland to start at around the same price as the Limited, in the $12,500 range, and it’s simply packed from end to end with fancy upgrades for a true luxury SUV experience.
First of all, you’ll notice that the Overland just feels different, with genuine real wood trim in the heated steering wheel, Nappa leather upholstery, olive ash burl wood paneling, and infrared dual-zone air climate control. It feels less like a Jeep cabin and more like a luxury hotel room.
Additional conveniences include a power liftgate, auto-leveling headlights, and a beefier media center with SIRIUS Traffic. Plus a ParkView backup camera to go along with the ParkSense assist system.
The mechanical specs are basically the same as the other two trim levels, but that’s not a bad thing, as the other two trim levels don’t exactly leave you wanting for anything. Two awesome engine options, Quadra-Trac 4WD, and Quadra-Lift suspension, there’s not much here to complain about.
If You Can Find it at a Great Price, Buy an Overland
The thing about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is that, a decade after the launch, pricing has pretty much leveled out between all three trim levels. Whether you’re shopping for a Laredo, a Limited, or an Overland, you’re going to find it somewhere in the $12,500 to $16,000 range.
What that means is that the Overland is, by default, going to deliver the best value. The Blue Book estimates that they all cost about the same, so you might as well go with the one that offers the most features for the price.
But, the Blue Book can only provide us with estimates and averages. Whether you can actually find an Overland for the same price as a Limited is another story.
Let’s put it this way: if you can find an Overland in great condition, in your area, and for a great price, get the Overland. But don’t hold your breath.
If you can’t find an Overland for under $13,000, the Laredo and Limited both offer a luxurious, comfortable driving experience, and any Grand Cherokee you can find will handle rough weather and steep hills just fine.
Photos: Stellantis
