Its Introduction
The latest Jeep Grand Cherokee was introduced to South African consumers earlier in 2022 by Jeep South Africa.
It is a large SUV that can seat seven people and comes with a long variety of options as a basic requirement. After the widely anticipated introduction of the Jeep Rubicon Gladiator pickup, the brand-new SUV finally made its debut (bakkie).
The United States of America has a longstanding reputation for producing high-quality large family automobiles. The new Grand Cherokee with seven seats is without a doubt the most impressive large family vehicle that our industry has to offer. When it came to large SUVs, Jeep was an early pioneer, as seen by the production of the very first V8 Grand Cherokee. They have, without a doubt, spared no expense in the development of this brand-new, massive V6 beastie.
Let’s Speak of Size
The model that we will be examining is the L version, which is currently the only one offered. It has enough room to comfortably accommodate seven passengers and still has a large amount of capacity (436 liters) for cargo in the back. This indicates that it is quite broad and surely quite a bit lengthy (5.20m).
It’s All About the Space
Did we mention the spaciousness, including the room for your legs and shoulders, the height of the Stetson roof, the large comfy touring seats, and the large windows? The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a stunning vehicle from every vantage point, both inside and out, as well as front and behind. The dashboard is without a doubt one of the most attractive and well-designed ones that we have ever used. The quality is judged to be quite excellent. The act of driving itself is relaxing and enjoyable, but finding a parking spot in one of those tight spots or garages may be entertaining.
When you look inside, the first thing that catches your eye is the seats, which have eight different electronic adjustments, are heated and ventilated, and have a memory feature. In addition, the headrests have four different positions. In addition, there is a 10.1-inch touchscreen Uconnect entertainment system, a 10.25-inch immersive display for the front passenger, and a 10.25-inch instrument panel with a choice between analog and digital instrumentation. The driver also has the option of selecting digital instrumentation.
The New Features
In addition to having various components, the heated leather-wrapped steering wheel also incorporates paddle shifters. This is the first manufactured Jeep car to feature a digitalized rear mirror, which is a significant advantage because it enables the driver to load the vehicle to its utmost capacity while still maintaining visibility behind them. Additionally, there is a camera that allows the driver to monitor the activity in the vehicle’s backseats. With rows two and three folded in half, there is a total of 2,396 liters of room available in the trunk of the vehicle, allowing you to bring your entire home with you for the weekend. A simple push of a button allows you to adjust the height of the seats in the third and second rows of the vehicle.
The Overlander model features a McIntosh audio system with 19 speakers, 950 watts of power, a subwoofer, and effective sound isolation as part of its audio setup. Nappa leather is used for the seats and door trim, there is a three-zone climate control system (the second row of seats has its control systems), heated seats are included in the second row, there are numerous cup holders, and, wait for it, there are 12 USB Type A and Type C ports spread throughout the car. The legroom available in the third seat is in a league of its own. The seats in the back are for actual grownups.
The frontal display in full color is not only remarkably efficient but also extremely modifiable. We had no trouble figuring out how to utilize Bluetooth and the entertainment system at all.
The Road Capacity
Steering
When you’re behind the wheel of this vehicle, you have the sense that the designers and engineers have incorporated all of the best features from Jeep and the Stellantis Group as a whole, which also includes Citroen, Opel, Peugeot, and Fiat. This Jeep is maybe the most “urban” version ever. Don’t get us wrong—it is equipped with everything necessary to perform extremely well away from well-traveled paths; nevertheless, we believe that the majority of Grand Cherokees will spend the majority of their time driving on paved roads. Off-roading is possible thanks to options for rock, snow, gravel, and adventure trails, among other terrains.
Petrol Consumption
The classic aluminum 3.6-liter V6 naturally aspirated Pentastar gasoline engine can be found inside the engine compartment of this fifth-generation vehicle. This engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and generates 210 kW and 344 Nm of torque. It is reasonable to anticipate a petrol consumption of 13.0 liters per 100 kilometers, which drops to approximately 9.0 liters per 100 kilometers when traveling on wide roads at 110 km/h but rises to 15.0 liters when driving in urban areas.
Suspension
The Quadra-Lift Air Suspension provides an excellent ground clearance of 277 millimeters, which can be adjusted either higher or lower depending on the conditions. The Grand Cherokee lineup is equipped with so many different safety features that it would be impossible to list them all. Fortunately, the more obtrusive features may be disabled or turned down to a lower volume. The braking system for emergencies operates effectively. Unknowingly, we put it to the test when a kid ran in front of the car as we were turning a corner. The result was positive. Instantly, it brought the vehicle to a halt.
Personalization
The instrument panel and displays offer a great degree of personalization, are uncluttered, and are simple to operate. The actual dials and knobs, which are made of real metal and fit comfortably in the hand, are a desirable feature.
The Overland variant comes standard with front seats that may be heated or cooled, as well as a heating element in the steering wheel. The lighting in the interior may be customized to meet your preferences, and when you exit the vehicle, both the lighting and the primary beams will continue to shine for the period that you choose.
Larney Features
We’re not sure, but we guess the ‘L’ could stand for ‘Larney’ in addition to ‘long.’ For instance, when you approach the vehicle in the dark, the door handles will be lit for your convenience. Both the steering wheel and the driver’s seat may be raised to make getting into the vehicle much simpler. Your screen configuration can be tailored to the preferences of multiple drivers at once, and this goes on. The finest details of luxury.
Acceleration and Control
The acceleration is quick, both when starting from a standing start and while passing other vehicles. When you give her what’s owed to her, the V6 beams with happiness. The admittedly large car does not have the slightest hint of wafting, which may be attributed to the fact that it has air suspension. It handles sharp turns and speed bumps with ease, and it has no problem coping with other types of road obstacles. The ride elevation can be adjusted using any of the six different steps, however, we found that step two worked best for driving around town.
The Grand Cherokee is a fun vehicle to pilot thanks to its excellently calibrated and balanced controls for the throttle, steering, and brakes. Both the eight-speed manual transmission and the V6 engine generate consistent power throughout the whole driving experience. It is the ideal large vehicle for families and meets all of the criteria.
Is This Going To Cost Me an Arm and a Leg?
The base model, the Limited, can be purchased for R1.2 million, the one that we looked at, the Overlander, for R1.5 million, and the most expensive edition, the Summit Reserve, for R1.7 million. It appears to be somewhat pricey but take into account that they are extremely well equipped, so there is no need to purchase any further equipment. You are provided with a guarantee that is good for five years or 120,000 kilometers and roadside support, in addition to a maintenance program that is good for five years or 100,000 kilometers.