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2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L revealed: All-new family SUV gets seven seats

The new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L has been revealed, showing the next-generation SUV that will come to Australia – and, for the first time, there is room for seven occupants across three rows.


  • 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L revealed, 10 years after outgoing model debuted
  • Seven seats and three rows for the first time
  • V6 and V8 engines for the US, though Australian details have yet to be locked in
  • Australian launch expected August or September 2021

Codenamed 'WL75', the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L will be sold alongside the current 'WK2' Grand Cherokee we currently have in Australia, but the SUV you see here is an all-new model on a new platform.

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In comparison, the current five-seat Jeep Grand Cherokee stretches back to 2011, and is expected to stay in global showrooms for up to two years. After that time, the five-seater Grand Cherokee will move onto the new platform.

Built at a new facility in Detroit, Michigan, the new Grand Cherokee follows similar design cues as Jeep’s Grand Wagoneer luxury SUV, which was revealed late last year in concept form.

While this American reveal doesn’t highlight specifics around driveline and specification details for Australia, Drive understands that the new ‘WL75’ Grand Cherokee could land in Australian showrooms as soon as August or September 2021.

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Tracie Stoltenburg, head of corporate communications at Jeep, reiterated: "The product specifications of the Grand Cherokee L revealed today are specific to North America. We will provide more information on the timing and specifications of the Grand Cherokee L for Australia closer to the local launch."

Powertrain options for the Grand Cherokee L are also still yet to be confirmed. While the American market has initially 216kW/350Nm 3.6-litre 'Pentastar' V6 and 266kW/530Nm 5.7-litre Hemi V8 petrol engines, Jeep Australia will naturally be keen on a diesel powertrain for our market.

Drive understands up to six different powertrains will be available with the new Grand Cherokee (including electrified models), but it remains unconfirmed how many will make it to Australia.

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The new platform is touted to be stronger and lighter than the fourth-generation WK2 Grand Cherokee, with over sixty per cent of the body comprising high-strength steel, held together by over 6500 welds.

Jeep has also highlighted other details for the new Grand Cherokee, including more ground clearance and a better wading depth, compared to the current generation model.

Off-road hardware comes in three varieties, ranging from a single-speed transfer case up to a 2.72:1 low-range reduction and rear electronic limited-slip differential.

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There is more off-road ground clearance and water fording capability compared with previous generations, and Jeep’s own ‘Quadra-lift' air suspension is touted to return, joined by adaptive dampers to improve on-road and off-road dynamics.

The Quadra-lift system will also improve off-road ground clearance through an adjustable ride height, with up to 277mm in its highest mode.

A 36mm wider wheel track will improve the stance of the Grand Cherokee L, as well as benefitting off-road stability. However, 21-inch wheels for higher specification models won't be as well suited to off-road driving.

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On the inside, the Grand Cherokee L is set to be loaded with technology: digital rear view mirror, 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 10-inch infotainment display, heads-up display and up to twelve USB-A and USB-C power outlets.

The 10-inch screen runs FCA's Android Automotive-based Uconnect 5 infotainment system, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 19-speaker sound system are also on offer.

Available safety technologies on offer with the new model include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera and a 360-degree camera.

Having room for seven on-board, along with an all-new platform, will allow the Grand Cherokee L to take on established and popular competition like Toyota's LandCruiser and Nissan's Patrol.

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Sam Purcell

Sam Purcell has been writing about cars, four-wheel driving and camping since 2013, and obsessed with anything that goes brum-brum longer than he can remember. Sam joined the team at CarAdvice/Drive as the off-road Editor in 2018, after cutting his teeth at Unsealed 4X4 and Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures.

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