With a lifespan of 31 years that spans five generations, Jeep's Grand Cherokee has cemented its place within the off-road-ready family SUV segment, We had a go in the fifth-generation model recently.
The fifth generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee launched recently in South Africa, joining its Grand Cherokee L sibling to complete the Jeep brand’s local product offering. We took a Grand Cherokee from Pretoria to Limpopo recently as part of its national media launch to experience its capability both on and off-road. Looking at buying a Grand Cherokee but need to sell your current car first? AutoTrader can get you an Instant Offer!
Dimensions
The latest Grand Cherokee is based on the FCA Giorgio platform which underpins several products such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio as well as the Maserati Grecale. The modular nature of the platform means that various wheelbases can be implemented, which is why there is a Grand Cherokee L and a regular Grand Cherokee. Looking at the two in terms of dimensions, the newcomer is 127mm shorter in terms of its wheelbase and 289mm shorter overall, but the same width and height as the L model while offering five seats instead of seven. This makes the Grand Cherokee 4 912mm long, 2 149mm wide, 1 797mm tall and a wheelbase of 3 091mm.
Grade walk
There are three Grand Cherokee derivatives available, with the base model Limited getting items such as 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry/start, electrically-adjustable front seats, heated front/rear seats, heated steering wheel, electrically-operated tailgate, Quadra-Trac I 4×4 system, roof rails, a sunroof, a rear-facing interior camera (Fam Cam) and privacy glass. There is also a 10.1-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an Alpine audio system, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, front and rear USB ports (A &C), LED headlights, taillights, DRLs and fog lamps, a 360-Degree Surround View Camera, Blind Spot and Rear Cross Path Detection, a Parksense system as well as 8 airbags.
Moving up to the Overland model there is an adaptive air suspension, a head-up display, a McIntosh sound system, 20-inch alloy wheels, a dual panoramic roof, heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a park assist system and the Quadra-Trac II 4×4 system. The flagship Summit model gets 21-inch alloy wheels, leather door trim, Berber floor mats, a cargo mat, window shades in the second row of seating, a leather and wood-trimmed steering wheel, illuminated side sills, quad-zone climate control, a night vision camera heated/ventilated second-row seats, massage function on front seats, wireless charger and Drowsy Driver Detection.
The figures
The Grand Cherokee range is powered by a 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine that produces 210kW and 344Nm of torque which is paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels. Claimed fuel consumption is 9.9 L/100km and the 0-100km/h sprint should be dispatched in around 8.5 seconds. Looking at its off-road ability, the Limited model, which does not have air suspension, has a ground clearance figure of 215mm, a wading depth of 530mm and approach, breakover and departure angles of 20.5, 26.6 and 19.1-degrees respectively. The models fitted with adaptive air suspension provide up to 276mm of ground clearance, 610mm wading depth, approach, breakover and departure angles of 30.1, 28.4 and 24.0-degrees along with a braked towing capacity of 2 813kg for all models.
Safety features
The product includes a raft of semi-autonomous driver aids such as Full-Speed Collision Warning with Active Braking and Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist. Flagship models also get niceties such as a Night Vision Camera, Intersection Collision Assist, and Drowsy Driver Detection. The Grand Cherokee was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, where it achieved a 5-Star rating.
Driving Cherokee
Our driving route over the course of two days included around 400km of city, highway, gravel and hardcore off-road driving, allowing us to test the full breadth of abilities our Overland-spec press car possesses. The first stint included some open freeway driving, where we managed a fuel consumption figure of 9.8 L/100km as the Grand Cherokee sailed along, ticking away at below 2 000 r/min at the national limit, providing excellent sound insulation and impressive levels of comfort. The look and feel of the interior add to the impression of luxury as the Cherokee has taken a noticeable leap forward in terms of its offering as a premium large SUV. The superb McIntosh sound system is also worth mentioning as it might just be the best in-car audio system we have experienced, particularly at this price point and below.
We then headed onto a long section of gravel where we activated the sand driving model which raises the ride height. The Cherokee could potentially have been more complaint on the gravel section had it been fitted with smaller wheels and tyres, or if we had reduced the tyre pressures for the short stint. From the gravel section, we proceeded to the Serendipity Eco Trail for some off-road activities where we tackled mud, rocks and some reasonable deep water crossings, all of which the Jeep took in its stride, as one might have come to expect from a Grand Cherokee. Our various off-road excursions meant that our fuel consumption increased to 12.2 L/100km by the end of the day
Verdict
The latest Grand Cherokee is a big improvement in all areas but one versus its predecessor. It is more capable, safer, better equipped, more refined, more comfortable and indeed, built better. However, its V6 powertrain is very much the same as before and despite its smooth operation and pleasing soundtrack, it seems dated in what is otherwise an impressive modern SUV package.
Pricing
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 3.6L 4×4 8AT: R1 329 900
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L 4×4 8AT: R1 539 900
Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 3.6L 4×4 8AT: R1 735 900
All Grand Cherokee models include a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan and a 5-year/100 000km warranty.
Keyword: Jeep launches latest Grand Cherokee!