In the '90s, the Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer and other SUVs fueled a boom that changed the landscape of American roads. Things move quickly in the automotive world, though, and Grand Cherokee competitors like the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy have since been discontinued. The upcoming 2011 Explorer, meanwhile, will move from its truck-based roots to a new car-based unibody platform.

But despite sticking with a formula it's used for years — unibody construction with an integral frame and true off-road capability — the 2011 Grand Cherokee has managed to change with the times, too. We hope reliability improves with this generation, but impressive on-road manners and stylish looks inside and out make the Grand Cherokee a model that must be on your test-drive list if you're shopping for a new SUV — even if you don't plan on taking it off-road.