1999-2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee

More than a decade ago, Jeep hit one out of the park with the unibody Grand Cherokee, a smoothly rendered, midsize sport/utility brought in alongside the basic-yet-popular Cherokee. But the original Grand was fraught with quality problems, jeered by jilted owners who grew tired of frequent recall notices, and steadfastly anchored at the bottom of the J.D. Power quality surveys.

Jeep unleashed a new Grand Cherokee for '99, dramatically restyled and effectively reengineered. It featured a 4.7-liter/235-horsepower, SOHC V-8 as the upmarket engine (replacing the aged 5.2-liter/220-horse V-8, better known as Chrysler's 318), joining the 4.0-liter/195-horse I-6 dating back to the last good Burt Reynolds movie. With a wider track, the Grand Cherokee was meant as a better on-roader to go with the marque's famous off-road abilities, which remained impressive thanks to the optional Quadra-Drive 4WD system.

The main theme was luxury that, apart from a still-trucky ride and somewhat slow steering, the Grand Cherokee followed closely. With the '99 redesign, the cabin grew and became much less plasticky. Initially, two trim levels were offered: Laredo and Limited. For '02, the Grand Cherokee received minor upgrades and a new trim level, Overland, featuring an uprated version of the 4.7-liter V-8 at 260 horsepower.

Jeep met part of the mandate for improved quality with the Grand. The V-8 driveline is sound, with the new SOHC engine universally praised for its smoothness, generous torque, and efficiency. The ancient six-in-a-row hasn't fared as well, with one recall noting a propensity for junk to gather between the manifolds, possibly leading to an engine fire. The chassis has been hit with recalls too numerous to list here, involving everything from the electrical system and seatbelts to steering gear and fuel tanks. Owners have complained of easily warped brake rotors and a noisy Quadra-Drive system. Plastic bits won't wear well, but the powertrain and chassis are generally nails tough.

Our advice? Skip the six in favor of either V-8, find a Grand with all the recall notices completed, hang a lucky rabbit's foot from the rearview mirror, and enjoy the ride. A Grand Cherokee will still outdo many other players when the pavement becomes dirt; it tows well, and a good one should prove a sound value.