Car Reviews > Jeep > Grand Cherokee > Jeep Grand Cherokee Car Review
The high spec version of the rival to the Discovery may be Jeep’s best model to date
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the first model off the show room floor to celebrate what is the 70th anniversary of this legendary American brand. This all-new addition to their revamped range is designed to take on heavyweights in Europe including the likes of the Volkswagen Touareg and the Land Rover Discovery and is a top of the range four-wheel drive model that could well be the classiest and most desirable Jeep ever created.
Buyers in the United Kingdom have just one option to choose from when it comes to the engine of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee – the brand new 3.0 litre V6 CRDi diesel that is the creation of Fiat, the parent company of Jeep. The 3.0 litre V6 CRDi diesel engine produces no less than 237 bhp while emitting strikingly low CO2 emissions of just 218g per kilometre.
The vehicle may be sharing its underpinnings with the yet to be released Mercedes M Class but on the outside at least, no one could mistake this model as being anything other than a Jeep. The iconic chrome grille remains at the front of the car, while the trademark squared off wheel arches remain on the flanks. On the inside of the Jeep, the cabin is intelligently laid out and is as aesthetically pleasing in style as customers have come to expect. On the downside, while the top of the range Overland features lots of real wood and leather trim, most of the materials seem to be of a surprisingly low standard for what is normal in this sector. The plastics are shiny and cheap looking compared to those found in most of Jeep’s rivals in Europe, while switching gears is lacking when it comes to crispness and precision. All that being said however, the standard kit is generous with such features included as a 30GB music hard drive, reversing camera, and GPS device.
There is a reasonable amount of space on offer in the interior as well, with the rear in particular offering passengers plenty of both head and legroom, while the tailgate, which is electrically powered, lifts off to reveal a luggage bay that is 782 litres in size.
It is when the Jeep Grand Cherokee actually hits the road that it really begins to impress however, being a big step up from its predecessor. While the V8 oil burner can sound a little harsh when it is extended it still serves up some very strong acceleration and again, while the 5-speed auto box appears to have a rather slow reaction time, the shifts nonetheless are handled very smoothly indeed. When it comes to corners, very tight corners can see the front end wash rather wide, but on the other hand the steering provides good grip and is very accurate. Selecting the Sport setting sharpens the response of the throttle and automatically lowers the standard air suspension by as much as 15 millimetres, while the Comfort setting gives a steady ride, albeit one that is still bothered by the occasional bump and pothole.
Less refined than its rivals but competitively priced, the Jeep Grand Cherokee will be an attractive prospect to most consumers.
by Autoweb
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