GRAND DESIGN

Jeep’s flagship SUV has a handsome new look and a couple of aces up its sleeve

Jeep has given Australian buyers two more reasons to buy a Grand Cherokee. The brand is back in the seven-seater market after decades of selling only fiveseat versions of its flagship SUV. The new seven-seat Grand Cherokee L doesn’t skimp on space for third-row customers, either. A sliding second-row seat makes it easy to mix and match legroom, leaving enough room for seven regular-sized adults to be comfortable on shorter journeys

Third-row passengers have their own air vents, padded armrests, two USB ports each and individual reading lights. Jeep has stretched the five-seat Jeep by 50mm to liberate the additional space, leaving a decent-sized storage area behind the back pews. Bigger door openings also make it easier to climb in and out of the third row.

The extra room comes at a cost, though, as the 7-seat model kicks off at $82,250 for the Night Eagle model, climbing to $87,950 for the Limited and a steep $115,450 for the rangetopping Summit Reserve model. The sevenseater will arrive next month, before the fiveseater lands later in the year. A plug-in hybrid will follow early next year.

First impressions suggest the big American machine will make an impact in the showroom. It’s a handsome, square-jawed and broadshouldered beast that rivals Land Rover’s Defender for street presence.

Designers have pushed the wheels out to the corners to give it a wider, more aggressive stance.

Jeep says the new model will bridge the gap between mainstream and luxury segments. That’s a claim many make, but the interior of the top-spec Summit Reserve is genuinely luxurious. It’s a huge leap from the previous generation’s cabin, harmoniously blending hitech elements such as digital displays with attractive open pore wood highlights and diamond-stitched, embossed leather seats.

The vehicles we tested had up to five screens, including a dedicated display for the front passenger, allowing them to operate the satnav and the entertainment functions for the two screens mounted on the back of the front seats.

Standard equipment across the L range includes heated leather seats, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and an automatic tailgate.

Driver assist tech includes all the expected blind-spot, lane-keep and auto braking features, as well as drowsy driver detection and traffic sign recognition.

Cheaper models get a crisp-sounding Alpine system, while the Summit has a booming set-up developed specially for the car by US home audio specialist Macintosh.

Some specification details are yet to be revealed but the more expensive models have air suspension that allows you to lift the ride height by 75mm for off-roading.

Approach and departure angles have improved also.

Other off-road specific hardware includes a two-speed transfer case, active torque management to shift drive to the wheels with the most traction and a limited slip diff.

Drivers can choose specific terrain modes, with different tuning for rock, sand and mud. You can also disconnect the front axle for improved fuel efficiency on the highway.

Off-road, the Grand Cherokee is supremely capable, climbing huge boulders and dropping off rocky outcrops with ridiculous ease.

Despite its off-road prowess and chunky tyres, the Cherokee felt civilised on the black top compared with similarly off-road focused competitors.

Jeep has moved the car’s centre of gravity lower, while the wider track also helps it feel more balanced and planted through corners.

The sole engine available is the carried over 3.6-litre petrol V6, which puts out a respectable 210kW and 340Nm of torque through an eightspeed auto. It shifts the big SUV effortlessly and quietly, but is thirsty, particularly compared with diesel and hybrid rivals. We saw 12L/100km on freeway and country back roads, against a claimed average of 10.6L/100km.

Towing capacity is also down on diesel rivals at 2813kg, while the top-spec Summit Reserve is missing some standard equipment you’d expect would at the price, including wireless smartphone charging and a head-up display.

Overall, though, the new Grand Cherokee is a vast improvement over its predecessor.