I have the automatic transmission because I really didn't care for the clutch in the new ones, my wife can't drive a standard (tried to teach her in my TJ but that didn't go over well), and my middle aged fat ass likes to be pampered with the remote start.
The stability thing made me wonder too, but the JKU has a slightly wider stance than the Grand- According to Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Grand_CherokeeThe '99 Grand has a width of 72.3" and the '13 JKU has 73.7"
The '99 Grand has a ground clearance of 9.1" and the '13 JKU has 10.2"
So the JKU is an inch or so higher, but also an inch or so wider- while I'm not certain that necessarily cancels eachother out, I'd say the '13 JKU is likely the more stable of the two, especially when you consider the weight difference- 3,879lbs for the Grand and 4,269lbs for the JKU.
I suppose this is the problem with "internet experience." It doesn't look right to me, has anyone actually towed at or near capacity with either (or better yet, both) of these trucks? I seem to recall seeing a photo on Jeep.ca with a JKU towing a tandem axle trailer with a CJ on it, which had to be close to or beyond 3500lbs, assuming approximately 2600lbs for a CJ (again, weight sourced from
Wikipedia) and another 1000lbs or so of trailer.
So to recap, power is greater on the JKU, stability is the same or better with the JKU, greater traction/contact with street in the JKU, frame is stronger in the JKU... so unless the transmission is made from sun dried dog poo, I am just as, if not more confused than before.
Def