What is it?
IT’S the refreshed Jeep Grand Cherokee for model year 2014 – a full-size SUV possessing abundant road gravitas.
A cursory glance would miss a raft of cosmetic enhancements and technological improvements compared with the previous model.
Laredo, Limited, Limited Plus, Overland and Summit models make up the range, all of which use the 3.0 litre V6 diesel, offered in two states of tune.
The power plant is well matched to the new ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. For more enthusiastic driving, there are steering wheel paddle shifters.
Fuel economy is improved by around 11% over the previous model thanks largely to the spread of eight ratios on the new gearbox and the inclusion of a selectable ‘eco’ driving mode which optimises gear shifts and activates the stop/start system.
Inside, all models get a new Uconnect infotainment system operated via an 8.4-inch touchscreen. A new 7-inch TFT liquid crystal instrument panel shows the basic driving information and can be tailored to suit the driver’s needs.
Externally, all models include the narrow, bi-xenon adaptive and directional headlamps with LED daylight running lamps. Pronounced chrome trim treatment is given to the lower front facia, which also encompass new fog lamps and binnacles.
More chrome along the side, and the rear is dominated by dual rectangular exhausts and lower body cladding.
So that’s the updated Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s likely to appeal to small business owners who want to run the car privately but have the benefit of a large prestigious SUV for business meetings. With such high CO2 emissions, though, it won’t win over many company car drivers.
