For 2011, Chrysler has completely redesigned the Jeep Grand Cherokee from the ground up, bringing it to its 4th generation. Its chassis has been given a remarkable facelift, with many structural improvements to improve sturdiness, vibration, and road noise, making one of the staples of the SUV industry an even more durable and rugged piece of work. Host Ross Rapoport and Roadfly TV spent a week test-driving this new Jeep and discovering its capabilities. Here’s their review:

The engine is on the receiving end of a major overhaul as well–new for 2011 the Grand Cherokee gets a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that garners an impressive 290 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, giving you all the power you’ll need to overcome any obstacles in rough or smooth conditions or even tow up to 7200 pounds. Fuel economy, unfortunately, hasn’t changed much–you’ll be getting 16 mpg city and 22 mpg on the highway. And for those who aren’t worried about gas mileage and want a little extra power, there’s a V8 package that will get you an additional 70 horses.

As far as the Grand Cherokee’s offroad capabilities–this is where it excels. It features a terrain-select system that will adaptively alter in real-time your transmission, engine, braking system, traction control and more, depending on the current weather and road circumstances. The Grand Cherokee also clears the ground at a serviceable 8.6 inches, but an incredible feature on Grand Cherokee allows the ground clearance to be raised an almost 3 inches further, bringing it to an astounding 11.1 inches. Great for conquering any craggy terrain in your near future.

The Grand Cherokee’s interior is also very sumptuous and impressive, far better than predecessors. Once inside, the cabin is tailored from helm to stern in a smart choice of wood, leather, and chrome. All the seats, and even the steering wheel, are heated, and the sunroof is one of the biggest and convenient you’ll find on any vehicle in the industry. And all the electronics are well placed, easy-to-use, and accommodating.

While many consumers are placing stock in hybrid and crossover vehicles, SUVs of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s caliber are a dying breed. However, with its brilliant offroad capabilities, remarkably handsome aesthetic and emboldened engine, this new 2011 Grand Cherokee is something of a revelation, a spark of life in a slowly stagnating sector of the automotive industry. This is the best iteration of the Cherokee Jeep has ever offered thus far, but it doesn’t come cheap. Our Grand Cherokee Overland came with an as-tested price of $43,845, roughly 2 grand more than its base price of $41,120.

The current generation Toyota Tacoma was first introduced in 2005. Since then Toyota has continued to refine the Tacoma with incremental improvements each year.

Key features of our 2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab test truck included the dependable 4.0L V6 which delivers 236 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm and the “TRD Sport Extra Value Package.” The package improves the base Tacoma by adding a sport suspension with Bilstein shocks, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, fog lamps, a sliding rear window with privacy glass, and totally different seats.

The Tacoma’s bulletproof reliability makes it the best work truck in its class.

Take a few minutes to learn more about this reliable and dependable truck by watching the video.

YouTube link: 2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

Our complete editorial review is available by following this link: 2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Review

The Toyota Tacoma has been – like most Toyotas – a steady, reliable vehicle that has built a cult following over the years.  But, given all the attention showered on Toyota’s full-size Tundra pickup, and the loudmouthed, showy nature of that segment in general, the Tacoma has labored quietly, at times anonymously.

But given the current trend towards smaller, more economical vehicles that make more sense, we thought it was time to revisit Toyota’s other truck.  We found it to be just as capable as its big brother, and far more entertaining.

The Tacoma is obviously much lighter than the Tundra, and with 236 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm on tap from its 4.0L V6, it’s got plenty of spunk.  If that’s not enough, there is always the TRD supercharger, available through Toyota dealerships, which will bump your six-cylinder Tacoma up to 304 horsepower and a massive 334 pound-feet of torque.

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Our double-cab 4×4 V6 test truck was loaded, with the bigger motor (there’s also a 2.7-liter four with 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque) and a 5-speed automatic.  We also got the $3,355 “TRD Sport Extra Value Package,” which is an absolute must.

The package (which was the only major option to speak of) endows the Tacoma with a sport suspension with Bilstein shocks, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, fog lamps, a sliding rear window with privacy glass, and totally different seats (sport seats with driver’s lumbar support and sport fabric trim replace the standard bucket seats).

Our truck also got a backup camera, better sun visors, an overhead console with a compass and temperature gauge, and a host of visual upgrades to give it a much more menacing appearance (hood scoop and color-keyed grill surround, bumpers, mirrors, door handles and overfenders, smoked headlight trim, and TRD Sport graphics).

There was also a $650 towing package, which beefs up the Tacoma’s towing capacity to 6,500 lbs.  Tube steps added $439, and floor mats and door sill protectors added $199.

The starting MSRP of our test truck was an easy $26,575.  All of the options beefed the price up to $30,013, including a $950 discount for the value package.  And that (excepting a $4500 TRD supercharger) is probably the most you’re going to spend on a Tacoma.  Consider that for a moment.  A loaded Tundra will cost you upwards of $40K.  And if you’re not using all of the bigger truck’s manly utility, the Tacoma is probably a better choice.  It still hauls 6500 lbs, which is enough for most people, and it is rated at 16 city mpg and 20 highway mpg, bettering even the more fuel-efficient (and much slower) V6 Tundra by 1 mpg in each category.

The bigger, V8-powered Tundra may be your hard-hat fantasy truck, but we live in different times now.  People don’t look as kindly on excess as they used to, and the Tacoma is a better real-world truck for most of us.  It is the best-selling truck in its segment, with a crushing lead over the former champ, the Ford Ranger.  It’s also the safest, being the only truck in its class to achieve a “good” rating in the IIHS test of small trucks due to its side airbag system.  In 2009, the Tacoma earned IIHS’s “Top Safety Pick” award.  It scored four out of five stars on the rollover tests, and five out of five on each of the other front and side tests.

The Tacoma is brawny, practical, and quick.  What more does a civilian pickup truck buyer really need? The Tacoma’s bulletproof reliability makes it the best work truck in its class.