Flagship Jeep Launched in Europe: Jeep Grand Cherokee
When Jeep offered the Wagoneer for sale in 1963 it effectively invented the premium off-roader segment. Then, in 1992, Jeep re-invented the concept for the modern age when it launched the first Grand Cherokee. Now, more than 4 million sales later, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is setting new standards in the luxury SUV segment by offering a class-leading combination of off-road ability, on road manners, performance, economy, high specification and exceptional value.
The all-new Grand Cherokee's exterior has been crafted to combine modern good looks with traditional Jeep design cues (note the 7-slot grille and trapezoid wheelarches) while also optimising aerodynamics (its drag co-efficient drops from 0.40 to 0.37) to improve efficiency and refinement. The body, which is 146 percent stiffer than the old model, has been stretched by 7cm overall, with 6.8 cm of extra width and 13cm extra in the wheelbase, to ensure that all occupants benefit from proper luxury-car roominess. They are also treated to new high-quality materials, new instruments and switches (including the new Selec-Terrain panel), a new multi-function steering wheel and sumptuous new seats.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee's chassis has also been completely redesigned to strike a superb balance between comfort and handling, while the new Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system can vary the ride height by up to 10.5cm (offering up to 27cm of ground clearance) across five different settings. The Selec-Terrain system also has five settings to optimise the vehicle’s engine, transmission, traction and suspension systems depending on the driving situation.
Two 4WD systems are offered, both with a two-speed transfer case. The Quadra-Trac II transmission, standard on Laredo and Limited models, can route up to 100 percent of the torque to either axle when a loss of traction is detected and can also be locked 50:50 during extreme off-roading. The Quadra-Drive II system, standard on the Overland, boasts an additional rear Electronic Limited-slip Differential (ELSD) to improve on-road cornering and off-road traction. Hill Descent Control and Hill-Start Assist systems are standard on all Jeep Grand Cherokees and, with the front air dam removed, it boasts a 34.3° approach angle, a 27.3° departure angle and 23.1° breakover angle, underscoring its true all-terrain credentials.
Under the bonnet there's an all-new, 3.0-litre, V6 turbo-diesel engine which produces 241 hp and 550 Nm of torque. Thanks to Fiat Powertrain's Multijet II technology this VM engine delivers more power and torque (up 10 and eight percent respectively) while fuel efficiency is boosted by 20 percent and emissions cut by an astonishing 28 percent. Its combined-cycle economy figure is now 8.3L/100km and its CO2 emissions are 218g/km, which place it in VRT Band F. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models and its towing capacity has increases to 3,500kg, while a low-ouput version (190hp and 440Nm) is standard on Laredo models. The 286hp 3.6-litre V6 and 352hp 5.7-litre V8 petrol engines will not be offered in Ireland.
Safety features offered in the new Jeep Grand Cherokee include smart airbags, ESC, roll mitigation, trailer-sway control, ABS with rough-road detection, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, blind-spot detection, xenon headlamps, daytime running lights and automatic wipers, all of which helped it earn an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 'Top Safety Pick' award when it was launched in the U.S.
The entry-level Laredo model is fitted with bi-xenon headlamps with washers, 18-inch alloy wheels, electric front seats, keyless entry, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and the low-output diesel engine. The Limited model adds a reversing camera, parking sensors, leather trim, memory front seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel, seat heaters front and rear, Bluetooth, a premium stereo with nine Alpine speakers and the high-output engine. The top Overland models add the Quadra-Lift air suspension, Quadra-Drive II transmission, 20-inch wheels, a power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, a leather-trimmed dashboard, a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel and a front seat cooling system. Prices have not yet been confirmed but are expected to range from the mid-€40s to the mid-€50s.