With the popularity of the current generation Jeep Grand Cherokee rising, it came as no real surprise that Jeep has dropped the price of the base Laredo. The 2012 model will be $3,220 less expensive than the 2011 model year at $26,995. For that price, a buyer gets the all-new Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 and rear wheel drive. Unfortunately, they will no longer get a standard, eight-way power adjustable driver seat. It would also appear that certain options, such as leather seating, have increased in price. For $2,000 extra, a base Laredo can be fitted with Jeep’s legendary four wheel drive system and for an additional $1,695 a 5.7 liter, 360 horsepower Hemi V8 can be placed under the hood.
If purchased with the V8, a Grand Cherokee will come with a new-for-Jeep six speed automatic. Replacing the older and sort of confused five speed, the new transmission should allow for a slightly higher mpg rating on the highway. This assumption would go hand-in-hand with the V6 model’s higher rating for 2012: 23 mpg for both rear wheel drive and four wheel drive models.
Source: Cars.com
