The original, classic Jeep served military forces well as a “go-anywhere” workhorse. Later civvy models such as the Wrangler were popular with farmers, ranchers and the adventurous.
Banking on these credentials, Chrysler entered the premium SUV segment about two decades ago with the first Jeep Grand Cherokee, an upmarket mega-Jeep that combines genuine 4×4 capabilities with executive saloon comforts.
Sized for fast-food loving Americans and equipped for fussy Asians.
With total sales of almost four million units since then, the Grand Cherokee has firmly established itself as America’s answer to the Range Rover. That “answer” gets louder with this latest Jeep flagship, which is a quantum leap forward from its predecessor.
For starters, the newcomer has a modern yet imposing demeanour. It is still recognisably a Jeep, but with the presence of a true high-end SUV (that stands high, of course).
Enough space for a game of Little League baseball, but only three players are allowed to sit here.
Keeping with the family heritage is the massive, seven-slot grille shiny with chrome, while the oblong shape of the headlamps has always been reserved for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Look closer and you will see that the inner lamp has a centrepiece carrying the iconic Jeep logo – a designer touch with a nod to tradition.
The brawny body sits on huge 20-inch wheels, housed inside fenders with just the right amount of muscle in their metal. Plastic cladding (ready to rough it out) for the front chin, side skirts and rear valance completes the Jeep’s beefy appearance, which looks equally at home in the city as it does in what little countryside Singapore has.
The exterior is predictable, but the interior is nothing less than a revelation. Accustomed to hard and plasticky Chrysler-Jeep interiors, I am surprised by the new Jeep Grand Cherokee’s cabin, which is grander than ever. Much effort has gone into upgrading the quality and equipment, especially in the top-spec Overland variant tested here.
Soft-touch plastics, genuine wood panels, well-stitched leather upholstery and a leather-bound steering wheel give the cabin a classy ambience. Large, thickly padded seats and plenty of room take care of the occupants, who can also look up to the sky thanks to the panoramic dual-pane glass sunroof, appropriately called CommandView.
Dominate the immediate environment, however challenging, with this “bighorn sheep” device.
Despite its size, the Jeep Grand Cherokee does not provide three-row seating for seven. The upside of being a five-seater is that the luggage area is large, with a volume of over 780 litres. The tailgate is electrically operated and features a glass section that opens separately, making the cargo hatch even more user-friendly.
The front seats are ventilated, offering a choice of cool conditioned air (for tropical isles) or warm air (for winter wonderlands). Also standard is an Alpine sound system with nine loudspeakers, a subwoofer, a 506-watt amplifier and full surround sound. Easy iPod connectivity completes the impressive audio package.
Too bad factory-fitted satellite navigation is not available in Singapore, due to licensing and other issues. But there is an integral rear view camera, which helps make reversing this big Jeep that much safer. Children or furry friends will be easily visible on the display, as will inanimate objects such as rocks or low stone walls.
Enabling the Jeep Grand Cherokee to negotiate natural and man-made obstacles alike is the all-new engine under the hood. Named Pentastar, the 3.6-litre V6 is a vast improvement over the old 3.7-litre. It even has flexible-fuel capability, although our market is unlikely to witness service stations dispensing ethanol anytime soon.
Unlike its 201bhp predecessor, the 286bhp Pentastar revs freely and doesn’t sound strained near its rev limit of 6350rpm. Maximum torque of 347Nm arrives at a high-ish 4300rpm, but the shape of the torque curve is actually rather flat, so the V6 pulls strongly from as low as 2000rpm.
The 0-100km/h run is done in 9.1 seconds – a decent figure when you bear in mind that this “truck” weighs a hefty 2191kg. Top speed is just over 200km/h, which is probably limited by the weight and square-cut silhouette of the vehicle.
On the go, the first and most lasting impression is of sheer strength. The car feels indestructible and safer than having your own platoon of Marines on sentry duty. Incidentally, the vehicle is the result of a joint exercise with the German “army” – the Jeep Grand Cherokee shares its basic chassis with the Mercedes ML, part of a leftover project from the days of DaimlerChrysler.
Jeep claims, however, that its GC has greater structural rigidity than the ML and other rivals such as the BMW X5 and Lexus RX. Compared to the earlier Jeep Grand Cherokee, the successor is said to be 146 percent stiffer. This car not only offers a feeling of solidity on the move, it also feels its size. While not exactly clumsy in urban areas, it cannot be described as agile by any stretch of the imagination.
Pentastar 3.6 V6 is more powerful than the previous 3.7-litre unit, yet up to 10 percent more economical.
And, like most outsized SUVs, steering response is leisurely at best. But in its designated role as a luxury SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a success – refined when cruising through town, steady in suburban areas and capable of conquering concrete jungle and serious forest alike.
Making it possible to trek in absolute comfort is the Quadra-Lift air suspension system. It can raise the car by up to 99mm for a best-in-class ground clearance of over 270mm, or lower the car by around 50mm for easier cabin entry and exit. The normal ride height is a generous 205mm, which is enough to clamber over kerbs.
Not the most nimble vehicle around, but it is an urbane cruiser that can shove its way through traffic.
Quadra-Lift works closely with Selec-Terrain to take the Jeep Grand Cherokee off the beaten path and back home again in one piece. A convenient console array allows the driver to select one of five different settings – Auto (the general-purpose default), Sport (for better on-road handling), Snow (to play as a snow plough), Sand/Mud (for you-know-what) and Rock (for mountain expeditions).
The Selec-Terrain system tweaks the 4WD differentials, suspension, transmission, throttle, stability controls and possibly the Nat Geo Channel to suit the situation.
America’s “Range Rover” is out to conquer suburban terra firma in style.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee will appeal to those who like full-size, full-fat SUVs and actually go off-roading every other weekend. It’s a gung-ho driving machine for macho people – or maybe just macho-looking people.
It isn’t yet in the same league as the Range Rover, but the big Jeep has a massive price advantage – the “lowest” Rangie costs almost 100 grand more. That would buy you a tonne of National Geographic magazines.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6 (A)
ENGINE 3604cc, 24-valves, V6
MAX POWER 286bhp at 6350rpm
MAX TORQUE 347Nm at 4300rpm
GEARBOX 5-speed automatic
0-100KM/H 9.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 206km/h
CONSUMPTION 8.8km/L
PRICE INCL. COE $230,000
Check out the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee
