Cruising the countryside with cargo, kids and pets comfortably secured, the Grand Cherokee begins to show its stuff -

When the optional 325-hp 5.7-litre HEMI V8 revs up the Grand Cherokee really begins to show its stuff. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

especially when the optional 5.7-litre (345 cubic inch) HEMI V8 is stirring beneath the hood. With the force of 325 horses, hyper-fortified acceleration means highway passing and hill climbing performance is instantly on-tap. Adding extra reinforcement to the Grand Cherokee's towing ability is no less than 375 pound-feet of HEMI-made torque. This is a beauty of an engine. It burbles with commanding authority, never breaking a sweat to hustle the 2,112 kg (4,657 lb) Grand Cherokee from the mall to the mountaintop, the hard way. To maximize fuel efficiency, Jeep has equipped the HEMI with DaimlerChrysler's Multi-Displacement System

The Grand Cherokee is proof that unforgiving 4x4 suspension setups are not needed for off-road excellence. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

technology (MDS), which seamlessly deactivates four cylinders at idle and in low-power operation. Because the Grand Cherokee Limited belongs to the Jeep family, its off-road ability is outstanding. The 2005 model gains an independent front suspension setup along with increased suspension travel all around. This reworking improves the SUV's ride quality without hampering its rock-crawling brawn. I certainly appreciated its smooth, highly controlled ride as I bumped and ground my way over some badly disintegrated pavement that allegedly was once a road. Gone are the days of unforgiving 4x4 suspension setups, in the Grand Cherokee at least.