Bakersfield Life

Step into luxury and durability

By: Olivia Garcia

      I’ve always been an admirer of Jeeps. They’ve always carried this rugged persona, a sort of toughness that you see in people like rock climbers, soldiers and cowboys.

 

     It’s no wonder Jeep drivers carry this sense of confidence and comfort as they haul boats or other outdoor equipment, or maneuver through whatever weather nature throws at them.

 

      Rain, snow or a dusty gust. Bring it. These Jeeps were made to charge through anything.

 

      I felt that attitude recently when I test-drove the 2011 4x4 Jeep Cherokee Limited Edition.

 

      I’m usually a worrywart when it comes to driving in bad weather. I turn into a rather slow, overly cautious driver with my face practically touching the front windshield and my hands gripping the steering wheel as if my life depended on it. You’ve probably passed me up, shaking your head and wondering what goofball gave me a license a drive.

 

      The recent rains had me worked up. It was a good thing I was driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee. I wasn’t straining. By contrast, I felt pretty relaxed even a bit bold. “Go ahead, rain, give me what you got,” I said to myself. “I’m in a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Fear no more.”

 

The new Grand Cherokee

      There are two things to know about the 2011 Grand Cherokee. One, it’s still built as robust as it’s always been. Two, it looks a bit sleeker, easily competing with smaller luxury SUVs.

 

      With that in mind, the Grand Cherokee could easily serve bachelor or married couple, with or without kids or pets, who love the dual lifestyle: Having a car that is professional and stylish by day and ready for the rugged outdoors on the weekends.

 

      One of my boys was more interested in the backseat power hook-up, however.

With the 115-volt power outlet, you can easily power on a laptop or videogame system and chill in the backseat. He already imagined playing his Xbox360 system on family road trips.

 

     Even sweeter are the wireless headphones. Parent translation: We could listen to our music, news or sports station of choice in the front seat while the video game noise happening on the backseat screen could be move through your teenager’s headphones. 

 

      That can be pretty handy.

 

      A neat safety feature is the backup camera and sensor. I’m not the greatest parallel parker. Most cases, I avoid the challenge.

 

      But since I was late to meet with the Dining Divas at this month’s review: the Belvedere at the Padre, I knew I had to find a parking spot fast. So there it was, the open parallel spot, waiting for my move. “OK, I can do this,” I told myself.

 

      Once I hit reverse, the backup camera turned on and gave me the insight via the front 6.5-inch touch screen. A bonus was the virtual lines that appeared on the screen, showing me how much space I had to back in and leaving enough cushion for the car behind me. If I went too far, it would let out a sound, instructing me to readjust.  It was by far one of the easiest parallel parking that I have done.

 

Music to my ears

      If you love music like me, you’ll enjoy the system in the new Jeep Cherokee. Sure, passing motorists off the 99 looked at me sort of funny as I sang Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” at the top of my lungs. But hey, if you could feel the beat jump out of the seat like I did, you’d be my singing partner. Thank you, Jeep and Sirius/XM radio. Got to appreciate the Alpine audio system of nine speakers, subwoofer, 506-watt amp and surround sound.

 

      Sometimes we just need to let our inner voice out.