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2011 Four Wheeler of the Year

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Lexus GX 460 vs. Land Rover LR4

By Sean P. Holman, Photography by Four Wheeler Staff

GENERAL
Vehicle/model 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 2011 Land Rover LR4 2010 Lexus GX 460
Base price/Price as tested $41,910/$45,185 $47,650/$62,115 $51,970/$57,619
Options as tested Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat exterior paint ($225); Off-Road Adventure II package ($275); 5.7L V-8 MDS VVT engine ($1,995); destination charge ($780) Heavy Duty Package ($750); rear seat DVD entertainment system ($2,500); Vision Assist Package for LUX ($1,200); 7 Seat LUX Package ($9,165); destination ($850) Convenience Package ($800); Hard disk drive navigation system ($1,990); Comfort Plus Package ($1,770); cargo-area tonneau cover ($150); cargo net ($64); destination ($875)

ENGINE
Type OHV V-8 with MDS DOHC V-8 DOHC V-8
Displacement (ci/liter) 345 / 5.7 305 / 5.0 281 / 4.6
Bore x stroke (in) 3.92 x 3.58 3.64 x 3.66 3.70 x 3.27
Compression ratio 10.5:1 11.5:1 10.2:1
Intake Sequential, multi-port, electronic Sequential direct injection Sequential multi-port fuel injection
Mfg.'s power/torque rating @ rpm 360 @ 5,150/390 @ 4,250 375 @ 6,500/375 @ 3,500 301 @ 5,500/329 @ 3,500
Mfg.'s suggested fuel type Regular unleaded Premium unleaded Premium unleaded

DRIVETRAIN
Transmission 545RFE 5-speed automatic ZF HP28 6-speed automatic Aisin A760F 6-speed automatic
Ratios: 1st 3.00:1 4.17:1 3.52:1
2nd 1.67:1 (upshift) 1.50:1 (kickdown) 2.34:1 2.04:1
3rd 1.00:1 1.52:1 1.40:1
4th 0.75:1 1.14:1 1.00:1
5th 0.67:1 0.87:1 0.716:1
6th N/A 0.69:1 0.586
Reverse 3.00:1 3.40:1 3.91:1
Axle ratio 3.47:1 3.54:1 3.90:1
Transfer case MP 3022 full-time 2-speed Full-time 2-speed VF4BM full-time 2-speed
Low-range ratio 2.72:1 2.93:1 2.57:1
Crawl ratio 28.3:1 43.3:1 35.3:1

FRAME/BODY
Frame Steel uniframe Integrated Body-Frame Steel perimeter
Body Steel Steel Steel

SUSPENSION/AXLES
Front Short- and long-arm independent, coil springs, gas-charged twin-tube coilover shock absorbers, upper and lower control arms, stabilizer bar/ZF 9.1-inch Independent, double-wishbone, with air springs/Dana 7.9-inch Double-wishbone, coil springs, stabilizer bar/Toyota 8.1-inch
Rear Multi-link, coil springs, twin-tube shocks (including load leveling for towing), aluminum lower control arm, independent upper links (tension and camber), plus a separate toe link/Mercedes 8.9-inch/ZF ELSD Independent, double-wishbone, with air springs/Dana 8.3-inch Four-link rigid axle with coil springs/Toyota 8.2-inch

STEERING
Type Power rack-and-pinion Power rack-and-pinion Power rack-and-pinion
Turns (lock-to-lock) 3.67 3.32 3.0
Ratio 18.9:1 (on center), 15.7:1 (full lock) 19.3:1 (straight), 14.3:1 (on lock) 18.4:1

BRAKES
Front 12.9-inch vented discs, two-piston calipers 14.2-inch vented disc, twin-piston calipers 13.3-inch vented disc, four-piston calipers
Rear 12.6-inch solid discs, single-piston calipers 13.8-inch solid discs, single-piston calipers 12.3-inch vented discs, single-piston calipers
ABS Four-wheel Four-wheel Four-wheel

WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels (in) 18 x 8.0 19 x 8.0 18 x 7.5
Tires P265/60R18 Michelin Latitude Tour P255/55R19 Continental 4x4 Contact P265/60R18 Bridgestone Dueler H/T

FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city/highway 13/19 12/17 15/20
Observed city/highway/trail 12.61 14.47 15.34

DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES
Weight (lb) 5,210 5,833 5,305
Wheelbase (in) 114.8 113.6 109.8
Overall length/width/height (in) 189.8/76.3/70.0 190.1/85.7/74.1 189.2/74.2/74.2
Track f/r (in) 63.9/64.1 63.2/63.5 62.4/62.4
Minimum ground clearance (in) 8.6 (standard), 10.6 (raised) 7.3 (standard), 9.4 (off-road mode) 8.1
Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft) 37.1 37.6 38.0
Approach/departure angles (deg) 26.3 (standard), 34.3 (raised)/ 26.5 (standard), 29.3 (raised) 32.2 (standard), 37.2 (off-road mode)/ 26.7 (standard), 29.6 (off-road mode) 28.0/25.0
Breakover angle (deg) 18.8 (standard), 23.1 (raised) 22.8 (standard), 27.9 (off-road mode) 21
GVWR (lb) 6,800 7,143 6,600
Payload (lb) 1,590 1,325 1,464
Maximum towing capacity (lb) 7,200 7,716 6,500
Seating 5 7 7
Fuel capacity (gal) 24.6 22.8 23.0

PERFORMANCE
0-60 mph (sec) 7.97 N/A 7.74
Quarter-mile (sec @ mph) 16.05 @ 88.20 N/A 16.14 @ 88.52
Braking 60-0 mph (ft) 138.20 N/A 129.95
Ramp Travel Index 302 (standard), 265 (raised) N/A 435

By Sean P. Holman
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sirjaysmith
At least Jeep was proactive and fixed the issue that lead to the failure, Landrovers will still roll off the line with heat prone air suspensions, and toyotas with inadequate everything else (hope you don't tear your Xfercase out from under it).
XJ6600
So the only vehicle to NOT suffer a mechanical failure comes in third?  Sorry but I'll take reliability over "dashboard styling" when choosing an off-highway vehicle.
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