A few weeks back, I wrote about the new Ford Explorer, one of the few midsized, three-row SUVs available in a segment dominated by car-based crossover SUVs.

The Explorer is rear-drive and offers four-wheel drive, as opposed to the usual crossover FWD/AWD layout.

This week's review is about one of the few remaining midsized, two-row SUVs in the same size class that is available with something the Ford doesn't offer:

A two-speed transfer case and 4WD low-range gearing.

Plus massaging seats.

Plus something else.

What It Is

Unlike the Ford Explorer, which became a crossover for a while, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always been an SUV.

It is now the only SUV in this class that's still available with a V8 engine.

So equipped, it has much more towing capacity (7,200 pounds) than other SUVs in the class like the Ford Explorer and the Toyota 4Runner — and far more off-road capability than the crossovers in this class that look like SUVs.

Prices start at $37,785 for the base rear-wheel-drive Laredo trim; opting for four-wheel-drive raises the sticker price to $39,785.

A top-of-the-line Summit Reserve, which comes with massaging seats, wood and quilted leather trim and an additional LCD touchscreen built into the front passenger's side of the dashboard for independent watching of streaming TV shows and such, lists for $63,760.

In addition to that, there's also a 4x4 plug-in hybrid option on deck for later this year. This version of the GC will be able to travel about 25 miles on battery power alone.

What's New

The '22 GC gets a major redo after more than a decade in its prior form largely unchanged. Most of the obvious changes revolve around tech — and luxury — including the above-mentioned 10.2-inch front seat passenger-side LCD screen and Amazon Fire TV, an available fully digital/configurable main gauge cluster for the driver, 19-speaker McIntosh audio system and those multimode massaging seats.

What's Good

Not just 4WD. Multiple 4WD systems, each varying in capability.

Available V8 engine.

Opulence — and capability — without compromising either.

What's Not So Good

V8's availability is limited to the Trailhawk, Overland and Limited trims.

Standard V6 isn't as strong as some rival's standard turbo'd fours.

Under The Hood

The GC's standard 3.6-liter V6 engine makes 293 horsepower and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Rear-wheel drive is standard.

Uniquely among its rivals, the GC is available with several 4WD systems. The lighter-duty Quadra-Trac system works like AWD, routing power front to back as needed — but unlike most AWD systems, it is rear-drive biased and features auto-decoupling (all of the engine's power is sent to the rear wheels if no slip is detected).

The Quadra-Drive II system boasts a 47.4:1 crawl ratio in 4WD Low.

The optional 5.7-liter V8 makes 357 horsepower and is paired with the same eight-speed automatic — and 4WD, though you get to pick which.

Equipped with the V8, the GC has a best-in-class max tow rating of 7,200 pounds.

On The Road

When it snows — really snows, as it did during the week I was test driving the GC — you come to appreciate having an SUV with 4WD and low-range gearing in the driveway, as opposed to a FWD/AWD crossover. Eight inches of unplowed drift didn't faze the GC anymore than a vertical cinderblock wall presents an impediment to the upward travel of a skink.

The GC's snow-fording capabilities can be further augmented by specifying the available Quadra-Lift air suspension, which lifts the rig on command via a toggle switch on the center console, increasing the available underbody clearance to 11.3 inches.

If you get stuck, it's probably not the Jeep's fault.

At The Curb

The new GC is slightly longer (193.5 inches) than its predecessor (189.8 inches) and slightly roomier. Jeep says a bag of golf clubs will fit inside the rear cargo area sideways now. But these differences are hard to tell if you don't look closely.

The obvious differences are right in front of you. Especially if you're the front seat passenger, who faces his or her own independently operating LCD touchscreen. It is part of the available Entertainment Group, which also includes individual touchscreens for the backseat occupants. These can be used to stream movies from any of the services you have at home, such as Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

Trackhawk models get additional closed-circuit camera feeds for the wheels, so you can see where they are in relation to obstacles off-roading without having to get out to have a look.

The Rest

If you do need three rows of seats, Jeep has you covered.

The GC is also available in "L" (long wheelbase) form, with the extra room for an extra row. And if you don't want all the latest stuff, thanks very much; you can still get last year's GC brand-new. It's available as the Grand Cherokee WK and is priced a bit lower because it's older.

If you need something a little bigger, with three rows standard and the same V6 and V8 engine choices, there's the Jeep's shared-platform cousin, the Dodge Durango.

The Bottom Line

There's probably a kitchen sink in here someplace.

View the Jeep Grand Cherokee this week.

Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.