WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE

N ONE of my earlier reviews I mentioned that there was a certain manufacturer that had lured an interior designer away from MercedesBenz and had tasked him with making Jeep interiors a little more, well I suppose… 21st century.

During the course of the launch, the Jeep mantra of not just selling cars but a lifestyle was put across at every opportunity and they are actually quite correct.

Yes, some of the top-end Jeep products do appeal to big bucks earners. In fact, manufacturers that attach a “leisure” label to some of their cars somehow believe it should demand a “premium” but our man from the land of Teutonic discipline and styling has managed to turn the inside of the new Jeep Cherokee into a touch of class.

Previous models gave you an option of black or some shades of black and the general appeal was a bit like sitting inside a large cardboard box. Not so much on the new model with premium touch and feel materials throughout, very comfortable leather seats and all switches and levers wellplaced. Spending time inside the cabin compares favourably with some of the most expensive machinery out there.

A large touchscreen dominates the fascia and is used to navigate, listen to the various audio options, vehicle information as well as climate control. You can even show your passengers your digital photos, but why you would want to do that I’m not entirely certain, although I’m sure there’s a youngster or two somewhere who are now shaking their heads.

In proper SUV style there’s ample space in the boot, despite a full-sized spare and lots of place for passengers to put things away in

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