Jeep started life in World War II as the G.I's best friend. So, with a Jeep being our topic on this Christmas Day, I couldn't help but think of Bing Crosby's '43 Yuletide classic, written as a soldier's letter home: "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

But, lemme tell ya, had that rugged little Jeep — long on utility but bereft of amenities — returned home after the war looking anything like a 2012 Grand Cherokee, Bing might instead have sung, "How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paree?"

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a sumptuous five-passenger luxury wagon that cossets passengers in available leather-and-wood décor over available air-suspension comfort while, properly equipped, retaining Jeep off-road chops.

Look out Land Rover.

Offered in base Laredo trim, the mid-level Limited we drove and the ultra-plush Overland — oh, there's also a hot-rod SRT8, but that's a different beast all together — this new Grand can be motivated by either a 290-hp V-6 or the optional 360-hp V-8 we had. The former mates to a five-speed automatic, the latter to a revised transmission that provides five gears in auto mode, but adds a sixth ratio in manual mode. In addition, the Grand can be had with rear drive or one of three 4WD systems.

Quadra-Trac I is all-wheel drive with no low range and zero driver involvement. It's fully automatic.

Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, the latter with an electronic limited-slip rear differential, boast low range grunt, along with a driver-selectable, multi-mode transfer case Jeep calls Selec-Terrain.

Selec-Terrain, controlled via a rotary knob on the console, provides five modes, allowing the driver to tailor throttle response, transmission shift points, traction- and stability-control intrusion, brake response and more to optimum settings for a given situation.

The modes are Sand/Mud (low traction surfaces; limits traction control for a bit of dig-out wheel spin); Sport (a rear-drive feel, less stability control intrusion); Auto (daily driving); Snow (what it says); and Rock (best off-road performance, maximum suspension height if equipped with the height-adjustable air suspension).

It all sounds complicated as radar, but actually it's as easy to use as an egg-timer. Just point the selector at the desired icon and you're good to go.

Our V-8 Quadra-Trac II Grand proved potent but thirsty at 13 city/20 hwy. In 250 miles of mixed city/hwy driving, we registered 17.5 mpg. But the 290-hp V-6 should be plenty for everyone save those with serious towing needs. It's rated 16/23 in 4x4 trim.

Interior room is great up front and decent in back.

Finally, looks, amenities, safety and capability aren't the only differences between this Jeep and its war-hero granddad. That returning veteran cost $1,090 in its CJ-2A civilian guise. The 2012 Grand Cherokee starts at $27,820. Our nicely turned out Limited rang the register at $43,775.

And Merry Christmas!