Item: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Grand Cherokee is not a cheap car, but it does cost less spec-for-spec than its main rivals. Average clamed economy of 37.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 198g/km are competitive, but depreciation is likely to be steeper than on rivals such as the BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery. The SRT8 is predictably expensive to run but, given the performance on offer, its premiums aren’t unjustified.

We’d recommend going for an Overland model if you can stretch the budget, because the air suspension it has makes a big difference to the way Jeep handles and drives. It has more kit, too.

The Jeep scores fairly well with regards to safety. It has front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, plus various systems to warn you if you’re about to have an incident. However, it’s disappointing that the car scored only four stars out of five in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Jeep scored poorly in our most recent reliability survey, however, coming 35 out of 37 manufacturers tested. The warranty’s a conventional three-year, 60,000-mile affair, but you do get three years’ roadside assistance, too.

The 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine is available in two power outputs. The 188bhp version is available only in entry-level trim, while the rest of the range gets 247bhp. The lower-powered version provides ample pull but, besides only being available in the entry-level Grand Cherokee Laredo, we’d recommend going for the more flexible 247bhp engine if you can.

All models get four-wheel drive and a slick eight-speed auto transmission. The gearbox does a good job of keeping the diesel engine in its strong mid-range and is particularly effective in relaxed cruising. There’s also the flagship 6.4-litre petrol SRT8 version, which is devastatingly quick but predictably expensive to run.

Laredo and Limited models sit on steel springs, which give a decent-enough ride over eroded Tarmac but allow a lot of body movement and can be jarring over bigger intrusions. Higher-spec models get air springs, which deliver tighter body control and good ride comfort. Even so, slow steering and a hefty kerb weight combine to make the Jeep feel fairly cumbersome.

All diesel models get full-time four-wheel drive and an active off-road system that adjusts the systems to suit different terrains, but the Overland, Summit and SRT8 versions get more advanced and capable four-wheel-drive systems. In any specification it’s a very capable off-roader, though, as you’d hope for a Jeep.

The Grand Cherokee isn’t the quietest car in its class, though. Substantial engine noise creeps into the cabin at motorway speeds or even under moderate acceleration, although neither wind nor road noise are much of a problem.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a big, spacious and well-equipped five-seat SUV that has some serious off-road credentials. Previous generations of the Grand Cherokee didn’t fare so well on road, nor were they particularly well built, but this model is a much more modern and enjoyable affair.

Engine options include a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with either 188bhp or 247bhp, and a phenomenally powerful naturally aspirated 6.4-litre V8. Five trim levels are offered but even the basic Laredo model gets electric seats, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and an 8.4in touchscreen media system with DAB and Bluetooth.

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Rivals include the BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery, both of which cost more than the Grand Cherokee. It’s also a viable alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Touareg, which again is more expensive than the Jeep.

If price, kit and off-road ability are more important than an upmarket finish and impressive on-road manners, then the Jeep Grand Cherokee could well be worth a look.

Big, armchair-like seats make it easy to find a comfortable seating position in the Grand Cherokee, and the dash is entirely dominated by a huge colour touchscreen that’s reasonably intuitive to use. Simple climate control buttons sit beneath the screen, whilst a crisp, clear digital driver display can show a bewildering array of information. There are plenty of storage points and visibility is acceptable.

All models come with dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers and lights, cruise control, a media system with 8.4in screen, USB connectivity, Bluetooth, DAB radio, and electric seats. Limited versions add front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, leather upholstery, a powered tailgate, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, and a stereo upgrade, while the Limited Plus adds sat-nav.

Overland is even more generously equipped, with a sunroof, blindspot monitor and adaptive cruise control. Summit gets a 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, along with various style upgrades and even noise-cancellation technology. We’d go with the Overland if you can, though, because it feels more upmarket and features some desirable upgrades, without being overly expensive for what it is.

Despite neat touches like a huge 8.4-inch touch screen and digital instrument display for the driver, however, the Jeep still falls short of the sense of quality that sets apart the best premium SUVs, however. For example, what might look like metal trim is actually just shiny silver plastic. It’s all in the details.

Jeep only makes SUVs, but it has plenty of them for you to choose from. So, whether you want something rugged enough to ford streams and climb mountains, or a more luxurious and family-friendly car, it has something to suit you.

Despite its all-American image, Jeep is actually owned by Fiat, meaning Jeeps often share parts with cars from the Italian giant; the entry-level Renegade, for example, has plenty in common with Fiat’s 500X.

However, perhaps the most widely recognised Jeep is the Wrangler, a model that has a dedicated fan base and which closely resembles the original Jeep which saw service in World War 2.

The brand’s future plans include new small and large SUVs, plus the introduction of fully electric models.

JEEP

GRAND CHEROKEE

Well equipped and well priced, but not as practical or classy inside as it should be

There’s generous head- and legroom for tall adults in the front and rear seats, and plenty of space for five adults in the cabin. That said, it’s a shame that there’s no option for seven seats, whereas many rivals offer the option of seven.

A little consolation comes from the fact that the cabin is otherwise well thought out with regards to practicality; it features big door bins, cupholders, a central storage compartment and a decently sized glovebox. Not exceptional, by any stretch, but enough to prevent any frustrations in daily use.

The 782-litre boot is usefully large and squared off. Its opening is wide, too, and there’s no lip to lift things over. It is quite high off the floor, though, and isn’t as deep as you might expect. That’s as a result of the full-size spare wheel beneath the floor. That said, the boot’s far bigger than that of, say, a BMW X5.

The rear seats fold away entirely, however, leaving you with a vast amount of storage space. There’s some underfloor storage, too, which is ideal for stowing valuables or loose items.

Well equipped and well priced, but not as practical or classy inside as it should be

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee review

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Buying advice for the Jeep Grand Cherokee covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

The Grand Cherokee is not a cheap car, but it does cost less spec-for-spec than its main rivals. Average clamed economy of 37.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 198g/km are competitive, but depreciation is likely to be steeper than on rivals such as the BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery. The SRT8 is predictably expensive to run but, given the performance on offer, its premiums aren’t unjustified.,We’d recommend going for an Overland model if you can stretch the budget, because the air suspension it has makes a big difference to the way Jeep handles and drives. It has more kit, too.,The Jeep scores fairly well with regards to safety. It has front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, plus various systems to warn you if you’re about to have an incident. However, it’s disappointing that the car scored only four stars out of five in Euro NCAP crash tests.Jeep scored poorly in our most recent reliability survey, however, coming 35 out of 37 manufacturers tested. The warranty’s a conventional three-year, 60,000-mile affair, but you do get three years’ roadside assistance, too.,

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