- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0DT, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
184kW, 570Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 7.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XC
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD new car review
For some people, Jeep is a byword for four-wheel-drive, but the Grand Cherokee brand has never had the strength of Toyota, Nissan or Mitsubishi when it comes to sales.
However, that is changing. This year for the first time the Grand Cherokee has overtaken the LandCruiser in sales.
For two years the Grand Cherokee has been a category winner for Drive Car of the Year (4WD), thanks to its combination of value, ability and comfort. Earlier this year those traits were improved on, with an updated model that brought revised styling and some additional features.
What do you get?
We've always been impressed with the equipment levels on the latest Grand Cherokee and it has improved with this latest update, mainly on the safety front.
The new Grand still has seven airbags (dual front, front side, side curtain and a driver's knee airbag) and stability control, but in the flagship Overland we've tested ($71,000 plus on-road and dealer costs) there's also forward collision warning with auto brake, blind-spot monitoring and active cruise control to lock on to the car in front.
All models now also have an eight-speed auto, improving performance and fuel economy.
Add to that the impressive array of leather, powered front seats, heated seats all round, dual-zone air-conditioning, Bluetooth, powered tailgate, reversing camera, alloy wheels, keyless entry and start (disappointingly it doesn't work on the rear door handles), auto wipers, auto xenon headlights and a sunroof, and it all makes for a car with plenty of kit.
The larger touchscreen with a simple control system is a winner too, and cements the Grand as plenty of metal and technology for the money.
Those wanting to save some coin can do so by losing some equipment, including the 4WD system for the Laredo 4x2, and spending just $43,000. The cheapest 4WD model is the Laredo V6 at $46,000, while the better diesel ups that to $51,000.
There's also a leather-clad Limited in the middle and, for those after one of the fastest off-roaders on the market, the thumping SRT8, at $77,000 with a 6.4-litre V8 is available.
What's inside?
While many SUVs can seat seven or eight, the Grand is strictly a five-seater. But those five will be held in reasonable comfort, with good seat comfort and support up front and plenty of hidey-holes for everything from phones and sunglasses to a handbag.
You also get that classic commanding view of the road and a logical selection of controls, with the exception of the busy left-hand steering column stalk (there is no stalk on the right).
The attention to detail is strong too, with everything from the stitching on the dash to mood lighting that even fills the rear-door pockets.
Under the bonnet
The 3.0-litre V6 engine has had some minor tweaks to boost maximum power by 7kW, to 184kW. Torque, too, has risen slightly to 570Nm, but it's the eight-speed auto that makes the biggest difference to the way the Grand Cherokee responds.
With more ratios, it's easier to keep the engine spinning at an optimum speed, which translates to better performance.
The transmission also has the smarts to hold gears down a hill, aiding fuel consumption and braking. There's also a Sport mode that will shift down a gear slightly sooner and better aim to be in the right gear for performance motoring (the Sport mode even lowers the body by 13 millimetres).
Fuel use is another standout. Despite being a big, heavy machine at almost 2.4 tonnes, the Grand Cherokee is not too heavy on fuel. We kept it hovering around 10 litres per 100 kilometres, which is higher than its sticker figure of 7.5L/100km, but not horribly so.
On the road
Under way, the Grand quickly asserts itself as a quiet, comfortable way to while away the miles.
It's well shielded from wind noise and deals well with bumps, be they small suburban irregularities, large speed humps or off-road washouts.
Ultimately, though, there's no hiding the weight and the Grand Cherokee can feel cumbersome in certain situations. Tight parking or city turns, for example, mean plenty of twirls of the wheel, although at least the turning circle is relatively compact.
Although it will lean through corners slightly when driven normally, wind the pace up and you soon expose its dynamic limits - the Kumho tyres start to run out of grip and the nose will run wide if you keep motoring on. Thankfully, the electronics are well calibrated and quickly take over.
We didn't get to test the Jeep off road this time, but we have done so in the past (there have been no changes to this model in that area) and found it to be very capable.
The Quadra Drive 2 four-wheel-drive system has an electronically locking rear differential to apportion power to wheels with traction.
There are 205 millimetres of ground clearance, but the adjustable air suspension system allows that to be raised to 270 millimetres, ensuring there's little chance of a scrape with nature.
Verdict
The Grand Cherokee isn't perfect. Its on-road manners don't match those of some, but then again those rivals won't follow it into the scrub.
So for a compromise car that can tackle its fair share of sub-standard terrain in relative comfort at a reasonable price, the Grand Cherokee mounts a good case, and the updates in this latest version only help its cause.