Car Reviews

By Jim Bray

Tuesday, June 7, 2005

Can a Hemi engine turn a venerable SUV into a sports car? Can a new V8 turn a longtime Japanese favourite into a Hemi beater?

Those are just two of the questions I asked myself during back to back weeks driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and Toyota 4Runner V8 Sports Edition. Both of these SUV’s are nothing if not world class, both have been around for years in one form or another, and both are capable off roaders.

Jeep says the Grand Cherokee is all new for 2005 and is "reclaiming its legendary class-leading status" while offering "countless improvements" including new steering, front suspension, and QuadraDrive II.

Toyota, meanwhile, says the 2005 4Runner features a brand new V8 engine offering "more power than ever before" and "an extensive array of stability and traction management technologies for outstanding off-road capability, on-road comfort and all-weather safety."