Jeep Grand Cherokee

Big Daddy

Indians love cars like the Toyota Fortuner and the Mahindra Scorpio, and that’s because they both have two things in common — great road presence, and go-anywhere abilities. And if there’s an SUV that does this better, it would be the Jeep Grand Cherokee (we’re sorry G-wagon :P). The Grand Cherokee has the kind of road presence many Indians will adore, and of the full-sized luxury SUVs, it also looks the most butch. Interestingly, it also significantly undercuts rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, and the Volvo XC90, and is priced just a shade under the Audi Q7. So, if you are willing to trade in brand value, is the Grand Cherokee your de-facto pick of the lot?

Jeep Grand Cherokee Pros and Cons 

Jeep Grand Cherokee Exterior Design 

Have you ever seen a gym bro with big muscles in a tight suit? The Grand Cherokee looks a bit like that. Butch and muscular have always been a part of its DNA, but in its latest guise, the Grand Cherokee looks sophisticated too — a look many will prefer. The nose up front is as vertical as it gets, and from there on, everything is very rectangular. In fact, if you see a white coloured Cherokee on the street, we would forgive you for thinking it was an industrial-sized block of cheese. And the seven-slat chrome grille up front? Well, that’d be your cheese grater. 

It isn’t readily apparent from the outside that the Grand Cherokee is designed to be a great off-roader first, and a luxury car second. It looks more like a gas guzzler that has little to no capabilities, and would be at home on the well paved streets of the Middle Easy. Think that however, and you’d be mistaken, because the Grand Cherokee can take on pretty much every conceivable road and trails. Perhaps the only thing that could stop its party would be its massive width.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Interiors 

The inside paints a somewhat similar picture as the outside, however, here the muscularity is also backed by ruggedness. The sophisticated bits are present on the inside too. The upper, more visible half of the cabin is finished in premium materials, including some soft touch finishes, leather inserts, and metallic panels. A large 10.1-inch infotainment screen paired with a larger, more horizontal aspect ratio 10.25-inch ‘entertainment’ screen for the passenger, the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a heads-up display add a dash of modernity to the cabin. Lower down though, you’ll find many hard plastics which don’t feel as premium, but are more suited for cleaning out the mud you brought in with your shoes after spending a day in the wilderness. Thankfully the all-black interior still feels airy thanks to large windows and a panoramic sunroof. 

Jeep Grand Cherokee Comfort 

The Grand Cherokee’s grandeur are its seats — 8-way power adjusting front seats are generously comfortable, offer heating, ventilation, and ample support and bolstering. Interestingly, along with the seats, the steering wheel also gets a heater function. So, for people who plan to take this up to places like Ladakh in the winter months, will definitely appreciate this feature. The driver’s view out is also as ‘commanding’ as you’d expect, and extended drives in the Cherokee won’t have you making frequent stops. The rear bench too is comfortable, with a reclining backrest and supportive bolstering helping its cause. The massive width of the car also makes it easy to accommodate three passengers at the back. And interestingly, the outer two rear seats also get a heating function! No seat ventilation at the back though, and there’s no third row of seats either, which would’ve made it a more capable rival for the similarly priced 7-seater Audi Q7. The soft suspension also beautifully complements the comfortable seats, offering great bump absorption.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Performance and handling

When you realise that this two tonne, mammoth, luxury SUV has a 2.0-litre engine under its hood, it is bound to leave you feeling that Jeep perhaps missed an opportunity by not giving this vehicle a great powertrain. However, you’d be wrong to think that, because this rather low displacement engine isn’t short on power or torque. Yes, it has the weakest figures amongst its rivals, but the engine still does a more than adequate job. The power unit is refined and smooth, and has a very linear power curve. The strong mid-range gives it the ability for high speed cruising too. However, take turns at a high speed and you will be reminded of the heft of this vehicle. The low end grunt from the engine also helps in off-roading.

It is off-road where the Grand Cherokee is most at home. The soft suspension allows you to be reasonably comfortable even on a beaten down path, and its sophisticated Quadra-Trac 1 four-wheel-drive system transforms it into an off-road virtuoso, eagerly tackling challenging terrains with finesse. The Selec-Terrain modes, including Auto, Mud/Sand, and Snow, also allow a more versatile adaptation to diverse landscapes. Whether navigating through mud-laden trails, sandy dunes, or snow-covered paths, the Grand Cherokee demonstrates a prowess that extends beyond the asphalt. 

Jeep Grand Cherokee Key specifications 

Jeep Grand Cherokee Safety Features

The Grand Cherokee looks like a tank, and perhaps to an extent it is also as safe as one. When tested by the Euro NCAP, the Jeep Grand Cherokee scored a very impressive 5-star crash test score, making it one of the safest cars in the segment barring perhaps only the Volvo XC90. It is also important to note that Euro NCAP has a more stringent crash test regime than the Global NCAP, meaning its 5-star score is pretty much as good as things can get for the Jeep. Eight airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, TPMS, hill start, and standard electronic nannies are a part of the kit. It also gets Level 2 ADAS features including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic braking, and cross-traffic alert, enhancing overall safety.  

Jeep Grand Cherokee Technology and Infotainment

As you’d expect from a car that costs as much as a small house in Mumbai, the Grand Cherokee is loaded with features. The dashboard features as many as three screens! There’s obviously a standard infotainment screen which is a 10.1-inch unit that gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay — pretty standard stuff. A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is also a part of the package, making for an even better experience. But again, this is not unheard of. What makes things interesting is the third screen dedicated solely to the front passenger; yet another 10.25-inch unit that can allow you to play content via HDMI. However, this screen isn’t paired to the 9-speaker Alpine sound system, meaning the passenger will have to use their own bluetooth or wired audio device. 

Speaking of interesting, the infotainment screen has a few tricks up its sleeve too. It shows off-road information, and temperatures for things like the oil, engine, and even the transmission. The Cherokee also features a 360-degree camera feed and the front and rear cameras from the system are also equipped with washers that’ll come in handy on a slushy day. Also amazing is the sheer quantity of ports and charging solutions on offer — two USB type-C ports, two USB type-A ports, wireless charger, an HDMI port, a 3.5 mm AUX port and a charging socket in the front, and two type-C ports, two type-A ports, and a three-pin socket at the rear.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee for you?

Getting a car with commendable off-road capabilities usually involves sacrifices like outright comfort and fit and finish quality. All this is evidenced in various serious off roaders like the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, Mahindra Thar, Mercedes G-Class, and even Jeep’s very own Wrangler. However, there are a select few like the Fortuner and the Scorpio-N,  that give you off-road abilities with minimal drawbacks. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is like the latter two, and it now provides an ideal upgrade for someone looking to replace any of these four off-roaders for something a little more luxurious. Even if you don’t seek off-road abilities, the Grand Cherokee still has plenty in store with amazing exteriors and tech-laden interiors. And if all of that isn’t enough to compel you, it is an arm and leg cheaper than almost all of its rivals.