Jeep launches R1.3-million Grand Cherokee 5-seater in South Africa

Jeep has launched the five-seater Grand Cherokee in South Africa at a starting price of R1,329,900.

Previously, the premium SUV was only available in three-row Grand Cherokee L guise with seating for six or seven passengers.

With the introduction of the two-row body style, the line-up now offers a total of six derivatives.

Standard equipment

As with the models introduced last year, the Grand Cherokee is available in Limited, Overland, and Summit Reserve trim grades and boasts in excess of 110 advanced safety and security features.

Standard equipment on all models comprises a 10.1-inch driver’s display, 8.4-inch infotainment system, 16-way electric front seats with length-adjustable cushions, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, customisable LED lighting with daytime/night-time settings, a digital rear-view mirror, a wireless charging pad, a 10-inch heads-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and TomTom navigation.

Safety systems are plentiful, too, and include full-speed collision warning with active braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, active lane management, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, advanced brake assist, blind-spot monitoring, a back-up camera, and rear park assist sensors.

On the pricier Overland, customers can expect five-colour ambient lighting, heated and ventilated functions for both rows of seating, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and a 10.1-inch central touchscreen.

On top of this, the range-leading Summit Reserve brings front-seat massaging, Palermo leather upholstery, 21-inch alloy wheels, a night vision camera with pedestrian and animal detection, intersection collision assist, a drowsy driver detection system, parallel and perpendicular park assist, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

Optionally, buyers can get a segment-first 10.25-inch screen for the front passenger, a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, four-zone climate control, and the Active Driving Assist (L2) system with “hands-on-wheel and eyes-on-road automated driving.”

Most 4×4-capable Grand Cherokee ever

The fifth-generation Grand Cherokee is touted as being the “most 4×4-capable Grand Cherokee ever” thanks to innovative new features and an “award-winning” V6 powerplant.

The engine takes the form of a 3.6-litre, naturally-aspirated unit generating 218kW and 352Nm, and it’s mated to a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.

Around 90% of the torque is available from 1,800rpm all the way up to 6,400rpm for smoother towing up to a maximum of 2,812kg, and an engine start-stop system is now integrated for additional fuel savings, netting it a combined consumption figure of 10.6l/100km.

Honing its 4×4 capabilities, the Grand Cherokee in Summit Reserve spec features model-exclusive Quadra-Lift air suspension with electronic damping that delivers a maximum 287mm ground clearance and a 610mm water fording depth.

Additionally, the entire family gets the Selec-Terrain traction management programme with Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Mud/Sand modes.

This system “electronically coordinates the 4×4 torque split, braking and handling, steering and suspension systems, throttle control, transmission shift, transfer case, traction control, stability control, anti-lock braking system (ABS), and steering feel for optimum off-road performance,” said Jeep.

Another new ability is front-axle disconnect that automatically switches the Jeep into rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive mode depending on the surface conditions.

The two-row Cherokees then benefit from slightly smaller dimensions than their three-row counterparts.

While the width remains the same at 2,150mm, the five-seater Cherokee’s wheelbase is now 127mm shorter for a total of 2,964mm, and in length it shrunk by 289mm for a total of 4,910mm.