2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review: First Drive

With four doors, a spacious cabin, and 4WD, the Grand Cherokee makes for an excellent option for road trips and even when you run out of tarmac in your quest for adventure. A perfect family SUV then?

There is no doubt that the Grand Cherokee has a strong and rich heritage. In India, however, it’s only been around for one generation. But now, the new iteration of the Cherokee is here, and so we are confronted with the question – who is the target audience? So, we spent a day with it to find out who this American SUV is trying to woo. And while it may have American roots, Jeep is making this fifth-generation Grand Cherokee right here in India, which means that you can take one home for ₹77.5 lakh (ex-showroom), for now.

Not in Your Face

The Grand Cherokee has subtle, subdued styling. It’s close to 5 metres in length and 2 metres in width and stands stall at just under 1.8 metres. So, there is no doubt that it’s a big SUV. But what’s interesting about its design is that Jeep has not used styling elements on the side ostentatiously, giving it a very minimalistic and subdued appearance.

At the front, it gets the seven-slat grille with a traditional Jeep design, but it’s not blocked out like that of the Compass. Just like the front end, the rear design elements are sleek and slim. Overall, the design works in its favour. And while the Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t try to flaunt itself, people nonetheless stop and take notice, given its size and the Jeep badge.

Ambience

A two-tonne luxury SUV has to have its cabin ambience as its top priority, and it very much is. As you step inside, you are greeted by elegant leather upholstery in black. The roof liner and pillars are finished in a lighter shade, offering an excellent contrast. The front seats are big enough for most adults, but the rear seats seem to be a tad bit small in terms of the seat-base length. But more on them later, as we think there is a method to this madness. The panoramic sunroof is large and offers a nice view of the night sky – a must-have, especially when you are catering to your adventurous self and exploring in your Jeep.

Features Galore

Now, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is an expensive SUV, regardless of your vantage point. You will end up spending a bit short of `1 crore to take one home, so, needless to say, you’d expect it to be filled with goodies to the brim. And, well, it is!

The Grand Cherokee gets three screens – a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a separate passenger display – all of which crisp in terms of quality and are highly customisable. The touch response of both the central and the passenger touchscreen is excellent and quite intuitive. The steering wheel and the ORVMs are heated, while the front seats come with both heating and cooling features. The rear seats, on the other hand, only get the heating feature, which seems to be a miss, for cooled rear seats would have added to the overall appeal of the cabin. There is a 360-degree camera, which helps you park the behemoth of a machine in tight spots. The IRVM has a camera feed, which shows you a wider angle than a regular mirror. Jeep has also retained the traditional mirror just in case the camera feed doesn’t work for you.

Keeps You Safe?

In terms of safety, Jeep has not left anything to chance. The Grand Cherokee gets eight airbags inside the cabin to protect occupants. Then there are ESP and hill-hold assist. And yes, the electronic parking brake does not automatically disengage if you are not wearing your seat belt. The Grand Cherokee also gets full-time 4WD, so you don’t have to worry about traction. For braking duties, it gets disc brakes on all four wheels. Plus, there is a seat belt reminder, which warns you even if a rear passenger has not put on their seat belt.

The Drive Experience

If I were to use one word to describe the drive experience, it would be ‘comfortable’. The Jeep Grand Cherokee can be easily driven by anyone. The size of the SUV sort of shrinks while you are driving, and the cameras all-around help a lot. There’s only a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine on offer, and while some might call it a little small for an SUV this big, that actually is not the case – in fact, it’s quite enough and does what it’s supposed to do effectively. The engine is responsive when you put your foot down, and getting to triple-digit speeds and beyond is a quick affair. Yes, the performance is not hair-raising, but, then, you don’t want it to be when you are sitting in a two-tonne SUV.

You see, the ride is plush and keeps everyone comfortable, regardless of how broken the road is. Now, if you brake too hard at high speeds, things are bound to get nervy inside the cabin. And therefore, the Grand Cherokee comes across as an SUV that wants you to take it easy – you know, something that you can drive with a hand on the wheel in a laid-back fashion. However, when it comes to covering distances, it munches miles more quickly than a man participating in an eating contest. The only thing that will leave you wanting is the fuel efficiency, which during our test drive ranged from 5 – 8km/l.

Verdict

It’s simple – the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a family SUV. It’s supposed to be driven with your significant other sitting next to you and the kids in the back seat. And frankly, as a family SUV, the Grand Cherokee ticks all the right boxes. So, now we have the answer – the Grand Cherokee is trying to woo the family man and make him a tad bit adventurous.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee CKD launched at Rs 77.5 lakh