Dear Truck Trend,
I liked your response to the writer who talked about too much chrome on the upper-level trims of the new Grand Cherokee, but I have a question a bit more relevant to the wallet. I noticed in your review of the two Cherokees comparing them with the 4Runner and I believe the Land Rover. It seems you paid more for the lower-line Laredo V-6 than the better-trimmed upper-line Overland with the V-8 Hemi. I realize the base prices of these Cherokees were less for the Laredo model, yet several of my friends and I are wondering who in his right mind would consciously pay more for a less luxurious, less powerful vehicle? I know Ford is trying that idea out on the new Explorer, and I hear they're going to put the V-6 EcoBoost in the F-150 at a premium price, but do you think people will go more for the Pentastar V-6 in the Cherokee Laredo than they would the V-8 Hemi in the Overland? For the couple mpg difference, you give up a lot.
Lt. Col. Foessett, USAF
Via the Internet
Dear Reader,
Fortunately, not all V-6-powered Laredo Grand Cherokees cost more than the V-8 Overlands, but the Laredo we got was fully loaded (except for the engine, of course), so the Overland ended up costing less. The base price of the Laredo was $39,600, and the way that vehicle was equipped, it also had a DVD player in the second row, luxury package, and 20-inch wheels. The Overland had none of those extra features, and if it had, its price would've been closer to $50,000. Also, the EcoBoost isn't as expensive as we'd feared -- that engine should only cost about $750 more than the 5.0-liter V-8.
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