Jeep Grand Cherokee: The North American Giant
The famous American manufacturer of off-road vehicles faces the German brands that dominate the SUV market in Europe. The Jeep Grand Cherokee competes against models such as the Audi Q7 or the BMW X5. The main advantage of this model over its German competitors is better off-road behavior.
The many variants of the Jeep Grand Cherokee
As with the Jeep Compass, the North American brand offers a wide variety of finishes for the Grand Cherokee. These are Laredo, Limited, Overland, Trailhawk, Summit, SRT, and Night Eagle .
Each of these variants includes more accessories and increases the level of luxury and comfort of the vehicle. The Laredo version is the most basic, and its standard features grow to the most luxurious version, the Night Eagle . Even so, the Laredo model is already quite complete, so the rest only means adding extras that improve the car, although without being essential.
Engines and aesthetics
All variants of the Grand Cherokee’s engines incorporate Multijet technology, developed by the FCA group. These have a displacement of 3 liters and powers that of 190 or 250 CV. The Laredo and Limited models only incorporate the 190 hp engine, while the rest of the finishes allow you to choose the version with the higher power engine.
In terms of exterior design, the 2017 model differs little from previous versions. The Grand Cherokee is built on a rugged aesthetic, offering a strong and rugged look. This aspect has been a success for Jeep for a long time, even more so in the US market, which explains its conservative stance on the matter.
The interior design has elements covered in Laguna Leather , which is commonly used on yachts or private planes. This detail reveals the luxurious character of this SUV.
The cabin has good soundproofing thanks to the suede upholstery and the design of the windshield and windows. All this reinforces the philosophy of the vehicle, focused on comfort for all travelers.
A drive for off the asphalt
As we have discussed, the main hallmark of the Grand Cherokee is its good off-road performance. Its gearshift in automatic mode works so smoothly that it is sometimes difficult to perceive the changes.
Another problem is that the gearshift paddles are located on the steering wheel controls, in an uncomfortable position for the driver. On the other hand, the suspension and steering make driving through steep areas more comfortable. When it comes to road driving, it’s worth noting that the Grand Cherokee doesn’t fall short on comfort. On good asphalt the car seems to float on the road.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among its main advantages, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has an unmistakable and very attractive aesthetic. In addition, its price / size ratio is quite interesting.
Do not forget that this SUV is dedicated to the American market. That is why it is, above all, a spacious and comfortable vehicle, as well as with good equipment.
Against it are its limitations in technology and design, which make it fall short of its European competitors. Despite being a luxury vehicle, the interior trim does not offer high quality materials, at least not up to the standards required for vehicles of this level.
It is also important to bear in mind that its high weight leads to considerable consumption. In addition, this consumption is aggravated by making use of the automatic transmission, available in all versions of the Grand Cherokee.
The sportiest version of this SUV
A particular variant of this American SUV is the Grand Cherokee SRT model. This brings a sporty touch, although this is difficult to achieve for vehicles of this format.
It has a 6.4-liter, 8-cylinder V engine, and an impressive power of no less than 468 hp. However high this power is, it is ridiculous for such a high displacement. This is common in large American vehicles, such as Hummers.
The reason for this low power-to-displacement ratio is that the Grand Cherokee SRT has a naturally aspirated engine, more focused on torque than efficiency and power.
This vehicle is not really practical at all, and it is limited to being a behemoth designed for those who want to mix an SUV with a muscle car .
