THE GRAND SUV

WE SAMPLE THE NEW, THREE-ROW, SEVEN-SEATJEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L, AHEAD OF ITS AUSTRALIAN RELEASE LATER THIS YEAR

- CHRIS COLLARD

JEEP USA has pulled the wraps off its new three-row, premium 4x4 wagon, the Grand Cherokee L. More than just a Grand Cherokee with some added booty and a third-row seat, this is an all-new vehicle that replaces the Mercedes-Benz derived platform of the current GC with a new architecture borrowed from the Fiat stable and adapted to a large off-road capable wagon.

The Grand Cherokee L is due to go on sale in Australia in Q4 of 2021 as a 2022 model, with local specification and pricing to be announced closer to that launch date.

In the USA, the Grand Cherokee L starts at US$38,995 through to US$63,995, so it’s cheaper there than a LandCruiser 200 Series. There are four specifications offered in the USA: Laredo, Limited, Overland and Summit. The Grand Cherokee L is the first new vehicle to come out of Jeep’s three-million square-foot Mack assembly plant, the first new auto manufacturing in Detroit in 30 years.

In creating this new chassis, Jeep incorporated 70 per cent high-strength steel to improve rigidity and reduce mass. The use of aluminium in the bonnet, tailgate, suspension, steering knuckles and engine cradle reduced weight further; more than 100kg total. To lower the centre of gravity and accommodate the new body lines, the engine sits deeper in the bay and is now attached to the front drive axle. This configuration allows for increased ground clearance and reduces noise and vibration on the road.

ON-ROAD

WE put this new technology through its paces during a half-day road trip to the Chelsea Proving Grounds, Michigan.

Our drive was in a GCL Summit model fitted with the 266kW and 528Nm 5.7litre Hemi V8 engine. The base engine is the venerable 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, producing 216kW and 348Nm.