What’s hot
- The Grand Cherokee is uber-comfortable, roomy and spacious
- Jeep’s investment in NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) reduction is evident, resulting in a quiet and refined ride, throughout the power band.
Wonderfully comfortable, and well speced too – all models get the Uconnect system which controls media, comfort and climate, sat nav, phone and vehicle settings - With a starting price of £37,000 for the well-equipped Laredo, it deserves strong consideration for those wanting the full-size SUV life-style the marketing chaps depict.
- The switchgear is tangibly better than previous and all controls fall ergonomically to place for the driver.
- The overall ride and drive quality is good. Cornering dynamics are well improved with much less blancmange under seat than before.
- Strong, torquey diesels which deliver their best work at around 2000 rpm.
- The ZF 8-speed auto box is smooth, precise and hunt-free and changes are almost indiscernible, delivering calm, fuss-free progress.
- Fuel efficiencies are improved by 11% thanks in large to the new gearbox and accompanying ‘Eco’ mode.
- New centre console and instrument cluster adds class and elegance to the overall mix.
- Quadra-Trac II permanent AWD is standard on Laredo, Limited and Limited Plus variants, while…
- Quadra-Drive II, with its limited slip differential with central transfer case, is offered on the Overland and Summit models.
- All models come with a myriad of preventative, active and passive safety systems.
What’s not
- Steering is a tad vague to dead ahead and while cornering dynamics are much improved, there’s little feedback from the black stuff.
- Visibility is restricted by bulky ‘A’ pillars and the increasingly irritating trend to place a bulky batch of electronic sensors behind the rear view mirror, which inevitably results in the intrusive lowering of said mirror.
- Not ideal as a mode of business transport – it’s inherently costly to run.
- While a full band lower than previous Grand Cherokee models, emissions are a lofty 198g/km, resulting in annual road tax of £475 and percentage company car tax in the middle thirties.
- It remains a bit of a beastie, weighing in at around 2500kg. Reducing excess fat resulting in efficiency gains should be Jeep’s next priority.
