2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a vacation hero

This is the first iteration of the fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it's bigger and better than ever.

If that wheelbase and overall length look longer than expected, that's because they are. This is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and that L means this is a long-wheelbase model.

Riding atop a new chassis, this is the first Grand Cherokee model to carry a third row.

This is the range-topping Summit Reserve model, and it's seriously posh.

Check out that finely stitched Palermo leather, and the vast, artfully curved expanses of open-pore waxed walnut.

Everything feels as good as it looks in here, plus there's a lot of tech.

The Grand Cherokee L's look is evolutionary, but handsomely so. This is a design that should age well.

This particular model is powered by parent-company Stellantis' Pentastar V6. In this application, the engine is tuned to deliver 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. 

If you'd rather have a V8, you can opt for a 5.7-liter Hemi with 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. A 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain is due for the platform in the winter of 2022, but it's not immediately clear if it will be offered on this larger L variant.

Roadshow hit the start button this Grand Cherokee L and drove it from Detroit all the way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

This fully loaded Summit Reserve features Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension. Hit the switch and you'll get up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance, enough to ford 2 feet of water.

Lower-spec Grand Cherokee L models will do battle against more carlike three-row crossovers, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas.

Step up to higher-end models like this, and this Jeep becomes a surprisingly legitimate rival for luxury three-row models like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.

Keep clicking or scrolling for dozens more images of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve.