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Overview

Of Jeep's many SUV offerings, none so effortlessly blends the brand's off-road ethos with refined road manners quite like the Grand Cherokee.

To accommodate every lifestyle, Jeep offers a wide variety of Grand Cherokee models, from the affordable Laredo to the classy Summit trim.

The standard V-6 should suit most buyers' needs, but for those who want a little more grunt, Jeep offers a potent 360-hp V-8.

Those with adventure on their minds should consider the Trailhawk, which comes with a two-speed transfer case, an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential, hill-descent control, Kevlar-reinforced tires, and an air suspension that provides additional ground clearance.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee offers a comfortable cabin with room for four adults over two rows of seats.

A touchscreen infotainment system and plenty of connectivity features help the GC feel current, but Jeep's driver-assistance tech is mostly optional, even though several of its rivals offer such features as standard.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Jeeps offers a Grand Cherokee for every taste and budget. The Limited includes a good amount of luxury items, such as leather seats (heated in front), Uconnect infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces, and 18-inch wheels.

I'd consider ordering the new Sun and Sound package to get the panoramic sunroof and upgraded Alpine stereo system. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but Jeep purists can opt for all-wheel drive for between $2000 and $3000 more, depending on the trim level.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Your Grand Cherokee will come with a V-6 unless you opt for the V-8, available only on Limited trims and above. The base engine pulls strongly and transmits very little vibration into the cabin, so it's the power-plant I prefer.

It's well matched to the Grand Cherokee's heft, and it does an admirable job of motivating this SUV around town and on the highway. No matter the configuration, the Grand Cherokee has brawny towing capacity—6200 pounds for V-6 models, 7200 pounds with the V-8—that kicks its usefulness up another notch.

There's nothing sporty about this utility vehicle, though. Rough stretches of pockmarked pavement send shivers through the chassis and into the cabin.

The optional air suspension appears to remedy this, which provided a more refined ride. The steering is precise and has a nice heft to it.

The Jeep tracks straight, which makes for laid-back highway cruising. Soft in its first couple inches of travel, the Grand Cherokee's brake pedal firms up quickly, and performance is on par with the rest of the class.

For those seeking the ultimate in GC performance, check out the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, which I will review separately.

Fuel Economy

With the V-6 under its hood, the Grand Cherokee is fuel efficient by SUV standards. The V-8 may have greater towing capacity, but it's noticeably thirstier.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Stepping into the Grand Cherokee's cabin provides either a sense of ruggedness or luxury depending on the model.

The contoured dashboard houses an infotainment touchscreen atop chunky redundant buttons and controls, and a 7.0-inch LCD display in the instrument cluster is flanked by analog gauges.

Jeep designers use soft-touch materials and leather where it counts—armrests, upper door panels, the dashboard—but hard plastic persists elsewhere. Behind its second row of seats, the Grand Cherokee has space for 11 carry-on cases.

That count expands to 24 when the rear seat is folded, which splits in a 60/40 fashion; the operation is neat and tidy, too, requiring just one action to release the headrest and flop the seat down to its flat position.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Jeep's excellent Uconnect infotainment system is one of my favorites for its ease of use and snappy response times. A dinky 5.0-inch display is standard.

I'd recommend stepping up to the large 8.4-inch touchscreen. Available rear-seat entertainment and in-car Wi-Fi make the Grand Cherokee a movie theater on wheels.

A six-speaker audio system comes standard, with the option of SiriusXM satellite radio. An array of more advanced setups—including a six-speaker Boston Acoustics stereo, a nine-speaker Alpine system, and a 19-speaker Harman/Kardon arrangement—are available on certain trims.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Grand Cherokee did not perform well in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small-overlap front crash test, but it still offers a comprehensive list of driver-assistance features.

Unfortunately the only active safety feature that comes standard is blind-spot monitoring.

Key safety features include:

Available automated emergency braking
Available lane-departure warning
Available adaptive cruise control
2021 Jeep Cherokee
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Jeep's warranty is nothing special. The Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe both provide much better plans, including 10-year power-train warranties and five years of bumper-to-bumper coverage.

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Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles

Power-train warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years on Overland, Trailhawk, High Altitude, and Summit models.
2021 Jeep Cherokee

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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

2020 Audi S4 Review

Overview

Based on the already dynamically pleasing 2020 Audi A4, the 2020 S4 adds horsepower and a sport-tuned suspension to the mix to dial in the performance.

All-wheel drive is standard and the S4 is powered by a 349-hp turbocharged V-6 engine that hustles this four-door along—how's 4.3 seconds to 60 mph sound?

The S4 has the moves, too, and it's never met a twisty stretch of road it couldn't conquer. This sports sedan means business—serious business.

And that's why it's not my favorite, despite its capability. Driving it feels a bit too clinical

It's lacking the emotional appeal that makes great cars exciting to drive, qualities that make rivals such as the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia more appealing.

Still, when it comes to being a well-made, very quick, well-rounded sports sedan, the S4 is one of the best on sale today.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Upgrading from the base Premium model doesn't add more horsepower or driving excitement, but the $2500 leap to the mid-range Premium Plus does add a handful of luxuries that buyers in this segment may feel are essentials.

Among them are a wireless smartphone-charging pad, keyless entry with push-button start, the Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

All S4s ship with a 349-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that syncs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.

The engine response and exhaust sound—both hugely important characteristics of a sports sedan—are less visceral than expected.

Despite its subdued engine character and lack of manual transmission, the V-6 delivered substantial thrust on demand, seamlessly transitioning between relaxed and responsive.

Also impressive is its automatic gearbox, which has reactions that seems so perceptive. Looking at the numbers, the S4 ranks above most competitors in performance.

Still, the experience lacks the emotion and sharp handling responses of top rivals. Its chassis is its greatest strength, with tautly controlled body motions and compliant damping that make it equal parts sports and luxury sedan.

The S4 is very precise and easy to control; its accurate steering, excellent cornering stability, and tenacious grip on the tarmac boosts confidence to torpedo on-ramps—but it also cruises calmly around town.

Although the brakes are tremendously responsive, they are touchy at city speeds. The fluctuating feedback also interrupted the fun on curvier sections of road where the brake pedal could feel too soft.

Fuel Economy

The EPA estimates the 2020 S4 will earn 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Those numbers are down from the previous model year when the Audi was rated at 21 mpg city and 30 highway.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Audi is a benchmark of interior quality, and the S4 is further evidence of this.

Every cabin is trimmed with marvelous materials and standard features such as diamond-stitched sports seats with massage features.

Along with impeccable fit and finish, the interior is racy and luxurious. The flat-bottomed steering wheel, straightforward controls, and highly adjustable seat provide an exceptional driving position.

Despite having a 13-cubic-foot trunk—tied for smallest in its class with the Mercedes-AMG C43 sedan—the S4 holds an impressive number of carry-ons.

While its interior storage is average, the sedan can store a variety of loose items and personal belongings provided that they're not too big.

Compared with the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, the Audi is a much better travel companion. I only wish the S4 had a more versatile center console.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Audi fits every S4 with a 10.1-inch center infotainment screen and ample infotainment options. Along with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, the MMI system we tested responded quickly to commands and had user-friendly controls.

While it's within the driver's line of sight, certain areas of the display require leaning forward to reach.

Thankfully, the rotary knob on the center console is user-friendly to operate and makes the system easier to navigate.

Driver-Assistance Features

The sports sedan does include several standard driver-assistance features, but other options such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are only offered on the more expensive Prestige model.

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Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
Available blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
2020 Audi S4

Warranty and Maintenance Covera

Apart from its short complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage, the S4 has an ordinary warranty that aligns with most competitors.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
Power-train warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles.
2020 Audi S4

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Monday, September 21, 2020

2021 Audi S6 Review

Overview

Packaged in a soberly styled four-door body, the 2021 Audi S6 is a stealthy sport sedan that won't be immediately noticed for its performance potential.

Based on the 2021 A6 luxury sedan, the S6 heats things up with a 444-hp twin-turbocharged V-6, a performance-tuned suspension, and standard all-wheel drive.

It will keep up with the rivals such as the BMW M550i and the Mercedes-AMG E53 on a twisty road and also looks quite handsome pulling up to the valet stand on date night.

Inside, the S6 offers the same space and features as the A6, so passengers will find plenty of space and amenities to make them comfy on long trips. Not slick looking enough for you?

Audi also offers the mechanically similar S7, which features a racier fastback roofline—and the bonkers RS6 Avant station wagon, which is pumped up with even more power to go along with its increased utility.

What's New for 2021?

The 2021 S6 now comes standard with 21-inch wheels with summer tires, Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display, and carbon fiber trim. The Premium Plus model's optional Executive package now includes adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Upgrading to the Prestige model costs a little more but it unlocks a lot of the S6's best features, including a semi-autonomous driving mode, a head-up display, matrix-design LED headlamps, automatic high-beams, soft-close doors, a power-operated trunk lid, a leather-wrapped dashboard and center console, an in-cabin fragrance diffuser, and heated rear seats.

I'd add the 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system and the cool night vision feature that helps identify animals and pedestrians in the dark.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

While the last-generation S6 was powered by a throaty 450-hp 4.0-liter V-8, the 2020 model comes with a more complex power-train.

The standard 2.9-liter V-6 is twin-turbocharged and uses a 48-volt hybrid system to power an electric supercharger for additional boost. Altogether, the system pumps out a robust 444 horsepower.

An eight-speed automatic and Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system are standard. Audi claims the car can leap to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds but I think that number is fairly conservative

The S7—the S6's shapelier counterpart—manages to blast to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. On curvy roads, the S6 is a lovely partner especially with the optional rear-wheel-steering system.

Fuel Economy

As expected, the S6's fuel economy has improved over the outgoing model's.

The new car earned EPA estimated ratings of 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined—an increase of 2 mpg, 4 mpg, and 4 mpg, respectively, over the old V-8-powered S6.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Like that of the A6, the S6's interior serves to highlight Audi's tech-driven luxury ethos. The design is sleek and modern, highlighted by fine materials, soft leather, and genuine wood trim.

Four-zone automatic climate control is standard, as are a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, adjustable ambient lighting, diamond-stitched leather upholstery, and 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats.

Going with the top-spec Prestige model adds the Extended Leather package, which wraps the dashboard, armrests, and center console in supple leather.

I expect it will hold the same amount of stuff as the 2021 A6—that is, six carry-on suitcases inside the trunk and a total of 20 cases with the rear seats folded.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The S6's dashboard is dominated by digital displays. The main 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen rests above a secondary 8.6-inch display.

The upper screen handles functions such as navigation, audio controls, and other entertainment features while the lower one provides access to vehicle settings, climate control, and the like.

All S6 models come standard with Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are also included.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

While neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have tested the 2020 S6 at the time of writing this post but they both have tested the A6, and it passed with flying colors.

In fact, IIHS named the A6 to its Top Safety Pick+ list for 2020 because of its available driver-assistance features. Those same features are offered on the S6, too.