The Grand Cherokee has long been the top-tier luxury offering from the legendary brand. Skillfully combining a luxury interior and competent offroad engineering, the new Overland long-wheelbase model is now available in SA. We test this new defining model.
In this article:
Bring it on!
It can be said that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the OG SUV. First released back in the 60’s with the Wagoneer, Jeep has pioneered the comfortable offroader with successive models following the recipe. Build a solid offroad chassis, add power and comfort and you end up with a vehicle that can go just about anywhere in relative comfort.
The latest iteration is bigger and better, now featuring a third row of seating and upping the level of convenience and tech. The new L derivative is exactly that, Longer and Larger and is packed to the roof rails with features that rival the best in the segment.
Styling
The new Grand Cherokee is big and brash and oozes American styling. Clad in metallic sparkle black paint and trimmed in chrome, the Jeep looks menacing Due to the longer wheelbase, the L takes up the same space as a double cab bakkie and has similar flat sides with large up and down surfaces.
A large set of 20″ alloy wheels fill the arches while the privacy glass conceals the interior once again lending a menacing governmental appearance. Opposed to the American norm, the Cherokee has slim line lighting front and rear tying the entire package together.
Unlike other Jeep products, there is a lack of easter eggs on the Cherokee L, Easter eggs are small hidden pieces of artwork that can be found all over the vehicle which are fun little tidbits to discover.
Space & Interior
The exterior dimensions can give an idea of the interior space but it is still rather surprising to find the acres of leg and shoulder room present in the Cherokee. As mentioned before there is now a third row of seating available with the second and third-row seats being controllable from a switch panel in the boot. Dropping the third row expands the 1326l boot to a massive 2396l.
There is plenty of space to seat 7 adults with a number of storage compartments to house their necessities. The Cherokee is also fitted with a panoramic sunroof that fills the vehicle with light when opened making the Jeep look even more spacious. Jeep has offered up 12v outlets, 220v AC outlets, and USB charge points all over the vehicle to allow everyone to charge a device.
Is Jeep Grand Cherokee good for families?
Comfort & Convenience
Zoned climate control is on hand to keep everyone comfortable while the front passenger gets their own viewing screen to watch movies or control the infotainment system while the driver is busy. The Overland spec Cherokee gets a McIntosh surround sound audio system with Apple Car play and Android Auto connectivity and driver and passenger get heated and ventilated front seats.
The overall dimensions of the vehicle should not be a handling problem as the vehicle is equipped with PDC’s (Park Distance Control) and a reverse camera.
Performance
Like most of the Jeep range, the Cherokee is powered by the rock-solid 3.6l V6 Pentastar petrol engine. The unit develops 210kW and 344Nm and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that is super slick when shifting.
Jeep has perfectly matched the power delivery and performance to the size of the Grand Cherokee ensuring that the L never comes across underpowered even when offroad.
Fuel Economy
Jeep claims the Grand Cherokee will return 10.6l / 100km but on a combined cycle we returned a steady 13.8l / 100km over our test period.
Safety
With the Jeep Grand Cherokee being the top-tier offering it comes as no surprise that it is loaded with safety features. Vehicle systems include ABS, EBD, TSC and Hill Assist and Decent controls. Fitted with 8 airbags passenger safety is of utmost importance so ISOfix is standard in the second row.
You also get adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, tyre pressure monitoring, offroad angle display and heads up display so that you dont have to take your eyes of the road.
Price
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 3.6 4×4 Limited | R 1 299 900 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 3.6 4×4 Overland | R 1 479 900 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 3.6 4×4 Summit Reserve | R 1 679 900 |
Competitors
The Jeep Grand Cherokee in its Overland spec goes up against the Land Rover Defender 110 and Toyota Land Cruiser 300. They are all in the same ball park price wise and all offer outstanding offroad ability. The competitors however lack a 3rd-row seating option.
Verdict
The Grand Cherokee is a fantastic drive and is very well equipped for your next adventure. It brings the famous Jeep offroad ability and a host of features that are sure to make your next adventure that much more fun. It is a solid all-around package and will well suit a family with an active lifestyle, just make sure it fits in your garage first!
Lawrence MinnieLawrence has been involved with motorsports for almost 30 years. Whether it's two wheels or four, if it has an engine, he will try to race it. This love of motor vehicles has led him to ride, drive, film, photograph, and write about his passion. Freelance for a while but now a permanent fixture on the AutoTrader team for over 7 years, Lawrence contributes written, photographic, and video content for AutoTrader and AutoTrader Bikes.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Jeep Grand Cherokee L 3.6 4x4 Overland (2022) Review