The Jeep Grand Cherokee L provides a uncommon mixture of area, luxurious, and off-roading chops
2 hours in the past
Jeep is within the midst of a shift. You would possibly even name it an try at climbing the impediment that’s going from a mainstream model to a high-end luxurious model. One can’t simply do this by bedazzling the Wrangler, the Renegade, and the Compass although. There should be large clear pictures over the bough of others within the area if anybody goes to take Jeep severely.
The Grand Cherokee L is a kind of lethal critical SUVs. This technology arrived early in 2021 as the primary all-new Grand Cherokee since 2010. It had a variety of work to do to catch the Grand Cherokee nameplate up with fashionable rivals. All stories recommend that it’s made that headway and extra however we hadn’t had the prospect to check it ourselves – till now.
Because the title would possibly recommend, the Grand Cherokee L is the lengthy model of this SUV and sports activities a 3rd row that the traditional Grand Cherokee doesn’t. Jeep provides each in no less than eight completely different trim ranges all with various options and obtainable choices. For a deeper dive into these trims see our explainer right here. The particular mannequin that we’re testing is the Summit trim, one away from the very prime and it options an MSRP of $73,515.
Consideration To Inside Particulars
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Jeep nailed the large issues in terms of the inside of the Grand Cherokee. The front-row seats appear to be they may’ve been pulled out of some swanky lawyer’s workplace. They characteristic excellent adjustable bolstering, an extendable thigh cushion, a massaging operate, and distinctive distinction stitching. From these seats, the sprint is a mix of cues from the Wagoneer and distinctive touches. Sure, there’s manner an excessive amount of low cost piano black plastic however Jeep has additionally added actual wooden trim too.
The middle management stack contains a near-perfect mix of bodily buttons and knobs together with a big easy-to-use touchscreen interface. This instance even has the optionally available $1,095 interactive passenger show. It permits the front-seat passenger to regulate media, test on rear-seat occupants, load a navigation plan, and even hook up and play a third-party gaming system like XBOX. The motive force’s data show is large and vivid and even has small slits on every finish with actual ambient lighting (not a part of the digital show) glowing from contained in the sprint.
The second-row seats aren’t something to sneeze at although as a result of they’re captain’s chairs with their very own distinction diamond-patterned stitching. A big heart console gives a helpful armrest together with a really intelligent storage bin. It opens in two alternative ways for these second-row passengers offering two layers of storage and we’ll come again to its get together trick in a second. Forward of that console are the rear-seat local weather controls that are bodily buttons as a substitute of a touchscreen. Beneath which are extra energy factors. The home windows get sunglasses too. Shy of getting large screens within the second row, that is about as good because it will get at this worth level.
Extra: 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Holds The Line On Worth Will increase
It’s the third row although the place the Grand Cherokee L would possibly stand out as the very best within the enterprise. I’ve not pushed or ridden in each single three-row SUV on the market so perhaps I’m lacking one thing however I do know these to be the very best third-row seats I’ve ever skilled.
Not solely are they individualized seats however they’re supportive, well-positioned, and really spacious. No Cadillac Escalade, Ford Expedition Max, or Dodge Durango I’ve been in can compete on the mix of headroom, legroom, and hip room discovered within the third row of the Grand Cherokee L. I’m six-foot-six for reference.
Let me additionally say that they don’t simply really feel good or match properly, they give the impression of being higher than most second-row seats in different vehicles. There are two USB energy ports on all sides of the cabin too so every individual will get their very own. All sides has its personal local weather vent too. Lastly, there’s the get together trick I discussed above.
The second-row heart console really has hinges on the entrance in order that third-row occupants can open it from again there. It’s a quite simple resolution that empowers third-row passengers. The third row is so good that it feels nearly deliberately made for adults, not children. In fact, the children that do discover their manner again there would possibly benefit from the little Jeep easter eggs within the home windows and so they received’t be preventing over who will get the charging port both.
Storage behind the third row is stable at 17.2 cubic ft. In fact, that expands to over 80 as soon as the second and third-row seats are folded down. That course of is fairly easy too due to buttons within the cargo space that drop or elevate the third row. You may drop the second-row too however you’ll want to return as much as it to boost it manually.
The Go-Wherever-In-Consolation Crew Transport
Jeep makes use of the identical 3.6-liter V6 engine as the idea for each Grand Cherokee however there are a few optionally available ones that we didn’t get to check. These embody the 4xe hybrid powertrain present in solely the traditional size GC and the 5.7-liter V8 that’s solely obtainable on the Summit and Summit Reserve trims. Whereas both of these would’ve been enjoyable and attention-grabbing from contained in the cockpit, the V6 was surprisingly ample.
Whereas Jeep seemingly hides how a lot energy this engine makes on its web site (actually, have enjoyable discovering it there), it looks like greater than the 293 ponies claimed. A few of that comes all the way down to the buttery clean eight-speed computerized gearbox. No matter is happening beneath the hood is considerably overshadowed by the chassis and trip management although.
It drives extra sharply than any Jeep I’ve piloted earlier than. The steering gives properly weighted suggestions and the accelerator pedal is simple to modulate. Physique roll is saved to a really acceptable degree for a automobile of this dimension and it’s straightforward to see out of as properly. That doesn’t imply that there aren’t just a few areas worthy of enchancment although. The brake pedal isn’t very linear which means that at about 30 p.c engagement there’s a tipping level the place much more stopping energy is available in. It was onerous to finesse that within the few days we had with the Grand Cherokee.
The suspension is usually compromised too. Some bumps within the street translated extra vibration into the cabin than we anticipated nevertheless it’s price mentioning that they have been considerably few and much between. Typically talking, the Grand Cherokee felt confidence-inspiring on the street and really comfy. In fact, the Grand Cherokee has one thing in its arsenal that few SUVs wanting a Land Rover Defender can declare: actual off-road functionality.
This instance has Jeep’s Quadra-Trac II, a semi-automatic 4WD system with a two-speed switch case and a limited-slip rear differential. It may possibly ship energy to only one wheel if it must and whereas we by no means received wherever near being caught it was comforting understanding that the Jeep might doubtless pull itself out of absolutely anything.
In our mixture of freeway, metropolis, and dirt-road driving we ended up with 19.3 mpg which is under the EPA estimate of 21 mpg mixed however not sufficient that we’re complaining. We didn’t get an opportunity to tow with the Grand Cherokee however when correctly geared up with the V8 it’ll tow as much as 7,200 kilos.
The opposite bit price discussing right here is how properly Jeep’s driver-aid package deal does its job. The adaptive cruise management is correct and really clean and the lane-keep help retains the SUV in its lane on the freeway with ease. One other characteristic is evening imaginative and prescient, which reveals up within the gauge cluster and actually works nice by means of using yellow indicators when it sees an individual or animal within the discipline of view. These tiny touches make piloting the Grand Cherokee much less of a chore than its dimension might need you imagine.
Claiming New Territory
Take a fast look across the automotive market and also you’ll discover that the Jeep Grand Cherokee and this, the longer L model, have few direct rivals. Certain, plenty of SUVs value this a lot, some provide this degree of high quality, and others present extra energy however what number of mix honest off-road functionality with this degree of luxurious?
Jeep additionally contains three full years of complimentary upkeep to sweeten the deal. By way of rivals, the Land Rover Discovery or Defender are in all probability the closest and so they’re merely not as posh inside because the Jeep is. Some would possibly choose the design aesthetic of the Brits however go take a look at the second and third rows after which come again and inform us. Which might you favor to take your bougie buddies tenting in? We’re taking the Grand Cherokee.