With design cues straight from the mammoth Grand Wagoneer, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee looks bold and imposing and will be offered in either 5- or 7–seater guise. As far as trim levels go, there will be at least 7 for the American market including Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Trailhawk, Summit and Summit Reserve.
nside, the cabin is smart-looking and luxurious with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and similarly-sized instrument cluster as well as a 10-inch head-up display. An optional 10.25-inch screen can also be fitted ahead of the front passenger. Driver assistance features include emergency braking with collision warning and pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, active lane management, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, active brake assist and blind-spot monitoring, to name a few. In terms of engines, the Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 soldiers on, and in this application it develops 216 kW and 348 Nm.
The engine we suspect most will go for is the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 which pumps out 266 kW and 528 Nm. But that’s not all, Jeep will also offer a new 4xe plug-in hybrid derivative comprising a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, 2 electric motors and 17 kWh battery pack. Total output is pegged at 280 kW and 637 Nm with an all-electric driving range of 40 km, An 8-speed automatic gearbox is a standard across the range. If you’re an offroad enthusiast, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will offer the most capability and comes equipped with a Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension that can raise the vehicle’s ground clearance to over 280mm.
Using a Quadra-Drive II active transfer case in conjunction with an electronic limited-slip rear differential and sway bar disconnect system (for better suspension articulation), the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will be able to tackle tough terrain. The new Jeep Grand Cherokee 5- and 7-seater is expected to arrive in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2021 and local specification and pricing has yet to be confirmed. We will keep you updated as and when we receive further details. s.
