Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 full 9 point review
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Performance
Buyers have a choice of one petrol engine and one diesel. The 6.1 V8 has an astonishing 420bhp and 420lb ft of pulling power but running costs are astronomical. The 3.0 V6 turbodiesel is a better bet financially, and it's still impressively muscular.
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Ride & Handling
The Grand Cherokee has the necessary hardware and ground clearance to tackle virtually any terrain. It’s capable on the road, too, but the ride is fidgety and it can’t match the composure of key rivals. The light steering helps when you’re parking or crawling through town. The 6.1 V8 has a revised set-up for sportier on-road handling.
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Refinement
The Grand Cherokee isn't as hushed as the class leaders. Road- and transmission noise are too audible on the motorway, while the diesel engine is gruff at low speed.
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Buying & Owning
Keen pricing is one of the Grand Cherokee’s key strengths, and it undercuts most rivals. However, resale values aren’t as high as those of its BMW and Land Rover counterparts. Running costs are high for all versions – even the diesel returns less than 28mpg. Both models sit in the top 35% company car tax band.
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Quality & Reliability
The Jeep feels sturdy and the mechanical parts to withstand tough use. The interior feels solidly put together but appears low-rent, with materials that wouldn’t look out of place in a sub-£10,000 supermini. This is not good enough for a car that costs this much and has prestige rivals.
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Safety & Security
Every Grand Cherokee has permanent four-wheel drive that reapportions power if any wheel starts to slip. Stability control also helps limit any unruliness through bends and works to lessen the chance of a rollover accident. Front, side and head airbags are standard.
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Behind The Wheel
There are too many ergonomic faults in the Grand Cherokee. The seat has a good range of movement, but the steering wheel adjusts for height only and the transmission tunnel is intrusive. Headroom isn’t generous and the bulky front pillars obscure the view forwards.
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Space & Practicality
The cabin has decent space for four, but it’s not as roomy as you’d expect. The low-slung seats create an awkward seating position, while headroom is not overly generous in the front and there’s no seven-seat option. Also, the central rear passenger straddles a wide but low transmission tunnel. The boot is large and sensibly shaped but there's an unusually awkward high floor.
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Equipment
Limited is the base trim, but includes pretty much everything you could need: an auto gearbox, climate control, alloy wheels and electric seat adjustment, along with part-leather upholstery, steering wheel audio controls, rain-sensing wipers and parking sensors. Overland models have bigger wheels, a CD autochanger and sat-nav, while SRT-8 models have privacy glass and bucket seats.
Grand Cherokee rivals
Grand Cherokee used car reviews
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 3.0 V6 CRD Limited 5dr
This is our pick of the range, as it has the best engine in a Grand Cherokee, and all of the kit that you could want, including climate control and side airbags.
Read review
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