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Jeep rode the Grand Cherokee to its strongest-ever Australian gross sales ends in the early 2010s.
Backed by a catchy promoting marketing campaign (you got a Jeep?), the final Grand Cherokee outsold the Toyota Prado to high its gross sales phase throughout 2014, and was one of many best-sellers in its class within the years surrounding it.
What occurred? It has struggled to service its clients because the gross sales growth, ending forward of solely Mitsubishi and Kia within the 2019 JD Energy Buyer Satisfaction Survey. Issues with elements availability and repair pricing have been properly documented.
Kevin Flynn, Jeep’s native boss, is adamant its customer support methods have now been overhauled, and there’s a wave of recent vehicles coming Down Beneath led by this Grand Cherokee L.
The brand new Grand Cherokee L is being pitched as a extra upmarket, refined beast than something we’ve seen from Jeep earlier than.
The Restricted variant on take a look at right here doesn’t lay the luxuries on fairly as thick because the Summit Reserve flagship, nevertheless it additionally undercuts it by near $20,000.
Does the Grand Cherokee L really feel suitably luxurious? And does the Restricted symbolize the candy spot of the vary?
Table of Contents
How a lot does the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted price?
The Grand Cherokee L sits proper on the intersection of top-end mainstream nameplates just like the Hyundai Palisade and entry-level massive, luxurious SUVs just like the Volvo XC90.
The L Restricted is the mid-range mannequin, nevertheless it’s a whopping $27,000 inexpensive than the range-topping Summit Reserve.
It sits simply above the range-topping Hyundai Palisade Highlander Diesel AWD ($79,900) and Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L 4WD ($77,890), and slightly below the bottom Volvo XC90 Plus B5 ($92,990).
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L pricing:
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L Evening Eagle: $82,250
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted: $87,950
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve: $115,450
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted like on the within?
In a phrase, it’s huge. The driving force and passenger sit in numerous postcodes, separated by an enormous transmission tunnel, and the view over the remainder of the world is commanding.
The design is fashionable and enticing, with a clear dashboard housing a high-resolution touchscreen infotainment system, and a slick-looking transmission tunnel that wouldn’t be misplaced in a German luxurious SUV. It’s a disgrace it feels poorly assembled in locations, although.
Arduous plastic traces the edges of the transmission tunnel, and the edges of the dashboard don’t really feel very stable. The lower traces and joins are a bit nasty in locations, whereas the indicator stalk feels brittle and low cost. For all of the visible sizzle, the GC L feels undercooked in a couple of key locations.
Jeep is way from alone in laying on the gloss trim too thick, however the Grand Cherokee has probably the most fingerprint-prone cabins on the market for the time being.
On the plus facet, the Uconnect 5 infotainment system is superb. The interface is slick, the menu construction is straightforward, and it responds shortly to inputs such as you’d anticipate of a brand new, flagship system in 2022.
Wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored reliably, and the combo of contact and bodily controls for issues just like the local weather is good. Jeep reserves its highest-end sound system for the Summit Reserve, however even the Alpine system within the Restricted packs critical punch.
The digital instrument cluster is much less of successful. It’s high quality, however the animations are sluggish relative to what’s on provide elsewhere, and the actual fact it minimises the fake full-sized analogue dials each time it has a warning – moderately than simply displaying it the place the journey laptop would normally sit, like each different model – it reveals extra refinement is required.
The pinnacle-up show is much more disappointing. It may possibly’t be set to a peak that allowed colleague Mike Costello or I to truly see it correctly, suggesting it’s near ineffective for anybody taller than about six-three.
A minimum of the driving place is lanky-person pleasant. The Grand Cherokee L has greater than sufficient area for long-legged pilots to get snug on lengthy journeys, and greater than sufficient cupboard space to accommodate every thing you want for an extended drive with children on board.
House within the second row is strictly what you’d anticipate from such a giant beast. There’s acres of legroom again there, and the bench is broad sufficient to accommodate three children in consolation.
Youngsters will admire the USB ports there, together with the air vents and fold-down central armrest.
Even with the usual sunroof there’s loads of headroom, and the sliding bench means you may select to prioritise second-row legroom or area within the boot/third-row seats.
Though the Grand Cherokee L is 200mm longer than a Hyundai Palisade, it doesn’t essentially characteristic more room within the third row.
It’s probably the most snug massive SUVs again there, with ranges of area approaching what’s on provide in a correct folks mover.
Adults will really feel cramped however the boxy physique affords the Grand Cherokee L respectable headroom, and the sliding second row means it’s potential to suit taller youngsters again there with ample legroom.
Folding or elevating the third row is simple, and the boot flooring is flat when these further seats aren’t in use.
Complete baggage area behind the third row is 487L. That’s significantly extra cavernous than the likes of the Palisade (311L), Kluger (241L), CX-9 (230L) and Discovery (258L).
Drop the third row and cargo area expands to 1328L, whereas there’s a complete of 2395L with each the second and third rows folded.
The Grand Cherokee L has 12 USB shops in whole, with 4 USB shops – two USB-A, two USB-C – for each row of seating.
There’s additionally a 12V outlet within the entrance row and one within the boot, whereas Restricted and Summit Reserve fashions additionally characteristic a 230V outlet.
What’s below the bonnet?
All variations of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L in Australia are powered by a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre petrol V6 with 210kW of energy at 6400rpm and 344Nm of torque at 4000rpm, mated to an eight-speed automated transmission.
The Evening Eagle and Restricted use Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I energetic four-wheel drive system with a single-speed energetic switch case. The Restricted additionally will get the Selec-Terrain traction administration system.
Mixed cycle gas financial system is a claimed 10.6L/100km, though we noticed nearer to 12.5L/100km on our week behind the wheel. All fashions have a hefty 104L gas tank.
Strategy, break over and departure angles are 20.6, 18.2 and 21.5 levels, respectively, on the Restricted. Working clearance and wading depth are 215mm and 530mm.
With the turbo-diesel V6 and petrol V8 engines gone, probably the most braked towing capability the Grand Cherokee L can muster is 2813kg.
How does the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted drive?
It’s uncommon for such a giant automobile (particularly one pitched as a luxurious automobile) not be supplied with a turbo-diesel possibility. It’s much more uncommon when you think about the bottom petrol engine isn’t an environment friendly turbo four-cylinder, however a naturally-aspirated V6.
Though it’s not fairly the torquey, relaxed beast we’d hope down low, the V6 gives respectable efficiency whenever you lean on it.
It’s relaxed in metropolis driving, slurring by the decrease gears easily, and the eight-speed auto doesn’t fall into the entice of regularly looking for the best ratio.
It’s quiet whenever you’re simply tiptoeing round city, though because the revs rise you get an old school V6 roar within the cabin. Some homeowners will adore it, others will yearn for a bit extra peace and quiet.
Peak torque comes on faucet at 4000rpm, so the engine must be pushed moderately onerous to ship its finest, and even along with your foot welded to the firewall it’s by no means going to be greater than adequately fast – particularly with a household and their baggage on board, or a trailer approaching the 2813kg braked max.
It’s a disgrace there’s not a extra succesful engine within the Grand Cherokee portfolio domestically, as a result of the automobile is in any other case fairly a pleasant factor to drive – the US market gives a beefier 266kW/530Nm Hemi V8, nevertheless it’s not coming right here.
The steering is properly weighted, with the correct amount of heft and linear responses off-centre, and the suspension errs on the facet of consolation.
Even with out the tough air suspension within the Summit Reserve it does a superb job filtering out smaller bumps at metropolis speeds, and retains the physique properly managed at freeway velocity whenever you hit crests or dips.
The trip really felt barely higher on the Restricted than within the air-sprung Summit Reserve, little doubt thanks partially to the actual fact the costlier mannequin rides on larger alloy wheels.
For all of the polish in the way it drives, the brake pedal is wood and uninspiring. It’s onerous to modulate at low speeds, and doesn’t encourage any confidence at excessive speeds when it’s time to cease this huge, heavy bus.
Whereas it by no means feels lower than large, the well-tuned steering and respectable physique management means the Restricted may be positioned confidently.
The commanding driving place gives a superb view of the automobile’s extremities, whereas the reversing digicam and parking sensors make it simpler to fit into metropolis parking areas.
Why Jeep thinks it’s okay to order a surround-view digicam for the range-topper, with a price ticket within the $120,000 vary, is tough to know. It must be normal throughout the vary.
As regards to energetic driver assists, the adaptive cruise management within the Grand Cherokee L is clean, however the lane-keep help is just too energetic.
You’re at all times near the sting of your lane in a automobile as vast because the GC, however no-one instructed the lane-keep laptop which beeps incessantly whenever you’re even barely off-centre on some roads.
Regardless of its love of excellent lane positioning, the Restricted misses out on energetic lane-centring regardless of it being normal in considerably cheaper seven-seat rivals.
What do you get?
Grand Cherokee L Evening Eagle highlights:
- 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels
- 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect 5 infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Wi-fi cellphone charging
- 6-speaker sound system
- DAB digital radio
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Twin exhaust shops
- Leather-based upholstery
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Eight-way energy entrance seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated entrance seats
- Keyless entry and begin
- Energy tailgate
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Tilt/telescope steering column
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- Automated reflector LED headlights
- LED daytime working lights with parking/cornering operate
A single-pane sunroof is a $2450 possibility.
Grand Cherokee L beneficial properties:
- 20-inch polished alloy wheels
- 10.1-inch touchscreen Uconnect 5 infotainment system
- 9-speaker sound system with 506W amplifier
- Off-Street Information Pages
- ‘Capri’ leather-based upholstery
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Driver seat reminiscence
- Heated second-row seats
- Energy tilt/telescope steering column
- Automated high-beam
- Ambient lighting
The $4250 Imaginative and prescient Group package deal provides a panoramic sunroof and head-up show.
Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted protected?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L has but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
Normal security tools consists of:
- AEB with Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
- Lane-keep help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver fatigue detection
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Reversing digicam
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Entrance, front-side, entrance knee, curtain airbags
Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve provides:
- Freeway Help
- Lively Driving Help
- Encompass-view cameras
How a lot does the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted price to run?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is backed by a five-year, 100,000km guarantee.
Servicing intervals are 12 months or 12,000km – whichever comes first. The primary 5 companies are capped at $399 every.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Restricted
The Grand Cherokee L is an attention-grabbing different to mainstream-branded SUVs just like the Hyundai Palisade, in addition to premium household haulers just like the Volvo XC90.
It’s undoubtedly one to think about, nevertheless it’s not a knockout. For one, its workmanlike petrol engine gives ample punch however nothing extra in such a giant automobile.
Jeep says folks ought to “rethink their wants” earlier than writing it off; however we’d argue it must rethink that technique and prioritise getting a extra fashionable turbocharged or hybrid possibility Down Beneath.
Then there’s the cabin which, for all its lavish supplies and flashy screens, nonetheless feels poorly assembled in some high-profile locations.
Small misses just like the unfastened dashboard trim and brittle indicators undermine what’s in any other case fairly a cultured inside, and one thing you’ll discover in one thing just like the extra inexpensive Hyundai Palisade.
If you’re a Grand Cherokee L, the Restricted shapes because the good purchase. It’s not an excessive amount of costlier than the Evening Eagle and brings with it loads of further luxurious tools, and sits a cool $27,000 under the Summit Reserve.
It’s straightforward to see the attraction within the GC L, nevertheless it’s not fairly the house run it may very well be. Right here’s hoping Jeep continues to refine the formulation, and brings out the very best in what’s a stable seven-seater.
Click on the photographs for the total gallery
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