We knew we liked the all-new 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee the first time we got behind the wheel one foggy morning at Mudfest in Portland, Oregon. The styling and interior were nice, especially considering high standards set at that event by the likes of the Porsche Cayenne, Lexus GX470 and Infiniti QX56. For a Jeep, it was about as plush as you'd want the family car to be. You had rear seat video for the kids, power sunroof, and a nice sound system wrapped around you. It was a fairly easy class winner in our minds for SUV of The Year, as judged by our staff as well as the group of other journalists representing the Northwest Automotive Press Association.

However, it took another month or so to truly fall in love with the Cherokee.

It took a snowstorm. It took icy roads and drifting snow to appreciate the security, handling, comfort, CONFIDENCE this vehicle puts in your hands.

Off road, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is very solid and quiet. There are no creaks, rattles or squeaks. Traction in snow was great. The only thing holding us back was the new lower air dam, intended to increase aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. It made for quite a snowplow effect.	Put in an off-camber situation on slick muddy trails, we experienced no wheel slip. The engine compression performs excellent to control downhill speed. Off the showroom floor, it's everything we could ask for in a Sport Utility Vehicle. Beyond the showroom floor, the customization options begin to stir the imagination...

On the road between adventures, that Hemi ROCKS. Acceleration is excellent. Smooth all the way through the powerband, mash that throttle down if you want to. You have all you need for passing trucks or climbing hills, with a rumble and growl that will satisfy any mid-life crisis. And at only $1,245 for the Hemi option, who wouldn't go for it? Keep in mind it's a Limited Edition though, so not everyone is going to have the chance to get their hands on it. (We suggest you RUN to your Chrysler dealer now... we'll be here when you get back.)

We very much wanted to test the Grand Cherokee's towing performance, but didn't have the opportunity to get our hands on a hitch-equipped model. Trust Jeep to do it right though. They know trailer needs.

The interior had several features we liked very much:

The interior is luxury-car plush, but Jeep-simple. Gauges and controls are clear and well-placed.	The five-speed automatic has a tap-and-shift manual transmission as well. And a simple lift of the silver T-lever puts you in 4WD low.

Rear cargo compartment has a lipped cargo containment tray. This keeps small items from rolling or sliding around, or muddy work items off the carpet.	Release two latches, flip the container tray over, and you have a single solid flat surface for loading the big stuff. Smart.

Surprise - those little red lights are your backup sensors. Not only do they indicate how close you are to an object, but the duality means that it even indicates which corner of your rear bumper is closest to the object. Four lights on each side and red in the center - we are JUST ABOUT to touch the garage door.	With four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, the Cherokee still has as much off-road heart beating as it does on-road comfort goodies. When the Wagoneer was introduced in 1962, it was considered quite the luxury "SUV", and the 2005 Grand Cherokee sets a new standard of safety and comfort for the true off road enthusiast.

The only negative comment our testers had was the visibility blocked by the grab handle (though in fact, not all test drivers noted it as an issue). When making a left turn, when the eye is drawn ahead and to the left to watch for hazards or oncoming traffic, the blind spot can be significant. In our test, during one sweeping turn, view of the entire road was blocked. When roads are bad, you need to be able to anticipate other vehicles coming across the line. If you can't see them, it's a head-on collison waiting to happen. In-town driving noted it as well. You had to either stop back from a corner and look through the windshield, or pull the nose slightly across the line to be able to get a clear view of approaching traffic from your left. But again, not all drivers even noticed a reduction in their view, so it certainly may be affected by body size and driving position.

And come on - when you love a vehicle this much, this is a rather piddly thing to pick on. Give us a Hemi and a grab bar nuisance any day.

With a choice of three different engines (we ask again, why would any driver NOT want a 5.7 liter V-8 Hemi?!) and even three different four wheel drive systems, the 2005 Grand Cherokee is more than All-New - it is the answer to nearly any shopper's budget and any driver's needs.

The full-time four-wheel-drive systems available:

Base Price of the Limited Edition: $34,045

Standard - Front multi-stage airbags, Latch-ready child seat anchor system, Enhanced accident response system, Tire pressure monitor and warning signal, 4-wheel traction control, Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, Quadra-Trac II active full-time 4WD, Rain-sensitive windshield wipers, Rear window wiper washers, Power rack and pinion steering, Air conditioning with dual zone controls, Power adjustable pedals with memory, Power windows, Power locks, Cruise control, Remote keyless entry, Security alarm, Leather-wrapped steering wheel, In-dash 6 CD/MP3 player, Steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Boston accoustics premium sound system, Memory for radio, driver seat and pedals, Rear 60/40 split folding seat, Overhead console, Automatic on/off headlamps, AND MORE

Options as tested -
Customer Preferred Package: $1,925
Electronic stability program, heated front seats, Smartbeam headlamps, UConnect hands-free communication, Power sunroof

Side Curtain Air Bags: $490

5.7l Hemi Multi Displacement Engine: $1,245
Electronic Limited-slip front and rear axles

P245/65R17 OML All Terrain Tires: $190

Parksense Rear Back up System: $255

Tire Pressure Monitoring Display: $75

TOTAL PRICE AS TESTED: $38,870

Platform for the Off-Road Enthusiast?

Mojave by American Expedition Vehicles

Is the new WK destined to just be a grocery getter? Is it too advanced to be modified by the enthusiast? We have heard reviewer and reviewer say just this. But, we beg to differ. We think the new Grand Cherokee may be the best yet.

We know the WJ has not panned out. Just try to find aftermarket parts for it. They are very limited and few and far between. We think this is going to change with the WK. Take a look at this fine WK built by American Expedtion Vehicles.