| Every inch of sheetmetal is new, although it's still so unmistakably Grand Cherokee that it's not going to turn heads.
Few will say, Wow, look at that new Jeep, although they probably should, because it's so much cleaner.
The real Wow will come when they drive it.
The lines are more fluid than before, and are 8.5 percent more aerodynamic, with a Cd of 0.37, lowered from 0.40 after 250 hours in the wind tunnel.
This brings better economy, with less interior noise.
It has a wider stance and shorter nose with less front overhang, giving it a subtle look of substance.
It's a fast windshield, meaning more sloped than before.
And it definitely has substance, being longer and heavier, stretched in the wheelbase by 5.3 inches, although it's only 1.8 inches longer overall thanks to less front overhang.
It's also 3 inches wider, for better handling and more interior space.
The seven-slot chrome grille is defined by six chrome slats over the black slots, while the headlamps sweep like winglets out from the top corners.
Smooth frontal fascia with black airdam, recessed to lessen drag, and tidy small foglamps in trapezoid pockets.
Aerodynamic bellypans run the full length of the chassis, chasing fuel mileage.
The sides have big rectangular concave sculpting, as if it's a place where Jeep meets BMW, and slightly trapezoidal wheel arches, a distinctive if still subtle touch.
The side glass is straight and unaffected, with black B pillars, darkly tinted glass and stainless steel trim.
Cool.
Jeep says the rear styling gives a nod to the 1963 Wagoneer that started it all, and it's true (although we wonder how many besides us will remember Mom's '63 Wagoneer in high school that we snuck to the drag strip in the next state, one Sunday afternoon, and ripped off crowd-pleasing 4-wheel-drive holeshots).
The backlight balances the slope of the windshield, although, retro touch notwithstanding, the entire rear view looks like that of a thousand other full-size SUVs.
That's because function rules, as it should; when SUV rear-end styling gets fancy, visibility is often lost.
The taillamps are bigger and extend into the liftgate, with four backup lights whose beams improve the video view of the rear back-up camera, an area where some cars are lacking.
There's an aerodynamic body-colored spoiler, level with the roof and over the sloped liftgate, and it looks good.
We also like the flipper glass window in the liftgate, which has a convenient opening handle.
The vehicle locks with the press of a button on the door handle, like at the tailgate.
This is nice.
The body-colored parts in the Laredo (mirrors, door handles, ding strip) look better than the chrome trim on the upscale Overland, whose 20-inch wheels with five thick spokes just look big and bright and unimaginative.
Far more Jeeps will be Laredo models (65 percent, expects Jeep) with 17- or 18-inch wheels, which look better.
There are some new colors, including a dark green that's non-metallic, bringing a welcome and rugged touch, like a nod to the Wrangler. |