The Grand Cherokee diesel is part of Jeep’s future portfolio for India, which consists of only SUVs. It’s the brand’s flagship model, which, besides being a fully equipped off-roader, is a proper luxury SUV too. However, it can seat only five persons in comfort.
Among the most rugged-looking SUVs in its segment, the Grand Cherokee has a really commanding presence in the flesh. The sense of solidity continues into the inside as well. Once you climb into the high cabin, you can feel the doors shut with a well-weighted thud. The cabin is well-insulated from road noise, the dual-tone dash and the driver-centric centre console look like they belong in a premium luxury SUV, the controls are logically laid out and the infotainment system is intuitive to use too. Materials used here are of good quality, and there’s use of leather all around. However, there are some cheaper-looking plastic bits in the cabin, for instance, around the gear-selector knob.
At the rear, the bench is slightly low-set, but is nevertheless a comfortable place to be in. Apart from the generous amount of space and properly-cushioned leather seats, you also get two remote-controlled screens, two USB ports, a 12V outlet and heated seats at the back. The car also has a massive panoramic sunroof.
However, the best seat in the house is the driver’s; the electrical adjustments for the seat and steering allow you to get into a comfortable driving position, while the high perch offers a properly commanding view of the road. The steering is well-weighted and adds to how well this big SUV drives.
It’s powered by a punchy 3.0-litre diesel, which produces a generous 240hp. Thanks to the power on tap, overtaking at any speed is just a matter of flexing your right foot; the punch from the smooth V6 pushes you hard in the back. The car is capable of achieving 100kph from standstill in 9.02 seconds, which is quick for its size. After all, it is a full-size SUV. Its eight-speed gearbox shifts smoothly, but takes a bit to respond though.
To aid driving, the car features five different drive modes – Snow, Sand, Auto, Mud and Rock – that adjust the way the SUV performs, depending on the road surface. Jeep has even equipped the Grand Cherokee with air-suspension, so you can automatically adjust the car’s height to suit the kind of road you are driving on. In most cases, ‘Auto’ works just fine, but you can select from mud or sand if you wish to drive on such surfaces, specifically. The icing on the cake is that the Grand Cherokee comes with a proper ‘4WD low’ setting, which will be handy, should you decide to venture off-road. This remains a feature that very few SUVs in this segment have. Under the skin, the Grand Cherokee is the same as the Mercedes M-Class (Now the GLE), but it’s been toughened up to give the Jeep its off-roading capabilities.
The ride quality is very good and the SUV absorbs bumps and potholes with aplomb. You won’t even feel smaller ruts on the road, and the only time undulations are felt is when you drive over extremely broken surfaces. Thankfully, the car dismisses them quite deftly too. Also true to its American roots, the Grand Cherokee is schooled at cruising on unending highways all day long. These characteristics put together will make for a near-perfect adventure-touring experience. However, if you wish to drive it around in the city, you need to get used to its sheer size.
Jeep India is expected to launch the Grand Cherokee in India this September, and we expect this five-seat SUV to be priced around the Rs. 80-lakh mark. But that is big money, especially since similarly priced SUVs like the Audi Q7 offer the convenience of seven seats.
While the Jeep won’t be the most value-for-money proposition when it goes on sale in India, what you’ll get for your money is an SUV that’s guaranteed to get you noticed, and comes with some serious off-road cred. It is a Jeep after all.
Engine size: 3.0-litre V6 diesel
Price: Rs. 80 lakh (estimated ex-showroom)
Power: 240hp at 3600rpm
Torque: 569Nm at 2000rpm
Gearbox: 8-speed auto
0-100kph: 9.02sec
