Jeep Grand Cherokee

The interior cabin of the Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t feel as dated as of the exterior design of the SUV, however, it is the lack of many new-age features and old fashioned screens for instrument console and infotainment system which show that it is actually an old vehicle to be in. One can have the Jeep Grand Cherokee in a choice of one of the eight different upholstery options to choose from, and in all of them, the use of open-pore wood accents in door panels and dashboard is common.

The driver’s cockpit, comprising of a 3-spoke leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel and a three-pod instrument console with a MID in between, looks neat. And so does the center console, where the large squared touchscreen infotainment system holds the center stage, flanked by large vertical AC vents on either side, and a cluster of buttons for the climate control below it. This entire center console is housed in a T-shaped housing, which extends all the way down to the floor console, which accommodates the transmission lever and cup holders, along with buttons for off-road drive functions. 

Being a seven-seater SUV, space and comfort levels are taken care of pretty much in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and while it does gets some premium features like heated front and second-row seats, powered front seats, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof and active noise cancellation, it still misses out on a number of features for a full-size flagship expensive SUV.

There is no doubt about how powerful the stance of Jeep Grand Cherokee looks – the big dimensions and squared-off design with crisp lines certainly make it look the part. However, the overall design is now in existence for almost a decade now, with limited changes all these years, which make it look a bit old school.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has got a simple looking front end, consisting of a seven slat grille with rectangular seven slats and chrome surrounds for them. The block-shaped small headlamps on either side of the grille come with simple projector bulbs and characteristic daytime running LEDs covering the borders of the headlamp units. 

The side profile of the Jeep Grand Cherokee looks smart and purposeful, with quintessential upright stance having a combination of good ground clearance, heightened front bonnet and almost squared design with angular pillars and large window panels. The trapezoidal wheel arches over the large 20-inch satins silver alloy wheels look smart.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a sober-looking rear end with a set of tail lamps which mimic the design of that of the headlamps at the front, and get LED inserts in the same design which the daytime running LEDs get in the main headlamps. The slightly tapered design for the large windscreen adds some substance at the rear, while the chrome garnish at the bottom of the boot lid and rear bumper makes it look premium. 

Being the best and most expensive Jeep vehicle on sale, the ride and handling balance of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is pretty much sorted. The flagship SUV gets selec-terrain traction management system with five different drive modes, quadra-lift air suspension system and trail-ready Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system with electronic limited-slip differential for an effortless driving experience off the road as well.

While the Jeep Grand Cherokee is available with a host of engine options overseas, the SUV in Singapore is being offered with just one petrol automatic powertrain – a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This engine here makes healthy performance numbers of 285 PS of maximum power output and 347 Nm of peak torque output.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is loaded with safety features and justify its premium positioning here, with the list comprising of the front, side, curtain and knee airbags, electronic stability control, front and rear park assist system, adaptive cruise control, trailer sway control, blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, electronic roll mitigation, selec-speed control, ABS with EBD and brake assist, traction control, rain-sensing wipers, forward collision warning with crash mitigation and auto headlamps.

Being a flagship SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is one vehicle which can make you feel pampered despite being missing on a number of features and the novelty value. However, the SUV looks and feels luxurious in and out, and the comfortable experience it offers on both front and rear seats is a wonderful one.