At first glance, the Grand Cherokee L kinda looks like the production version of the Wagoneer concept we saw last year, isn’t it? But it is not the Wagoneer; it’s a three-row version of the 5th generation Grand Cherokee that’ll arrive at the Jeep dealerships in the second quarter of 2021. The two-row and its 4xe electrified versions are scheduled to debut later this year.
The Grand Cherokee L will be available in four trims: Laredo, Limited, Overland and Summit. The photos here feature Overland and Summit Reserve; the latter is a package that gets more features. The design, especially the front fascia with slim headlights and grille, reminds me of the Wagoneer concept, while the rest of the vehicle has Jeep-typical design elements — the upper chrome window line that loops the rear windscreen, for example, is reminiscent of the one in the Compass. The LED headlights come standard on all trims. The Summit Reserve package gets 21-inch wheels.
As for the dimensions, the Grand Cherokee L measures 5,204 mm in length, 2,149 mm in width (mirrors included) and 1,815 mm in height with standard suspension. With air suspension, the overall height is 1,817 mm. The approach, breakover and departure angles also vary depending on the suspension. Full tech specs here.
Which then brings us to the air suspension, which is branded as Quadra-Lift. It offers five height settings: Normal Ride Height (NRH) — 8.3-inches (212 mm) of clearance, Off-road 1 — additional 1.6-inches from NRH, Off-road 2 — additional 2.4-inches from NRH, Park Mode — lowers 1.8-inches from NRH, and Aero Mode — lowers 0.8-inches from NRH. The vehicle will also lower to Aero Mode when in Sport Mode.
When opted for the Off-Road Group package, the Trail Rated Overland 4×4 model boasts up to 24-inches of water fording capability, high-strength steel skid plates, electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle, and 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped with all-season tires.
As for the fit and finish, the Grand Cherokee L takes help from lasers to minimize panel gaps. Each vehicle at the newly built Detroit Assembly Complex passes through a measurement cell that combines laser light with radar to check body-panel geometry. As for durability, Jeep says that the body structure employs Generation 3 steel.
As we can see, there’s no shortage of space in the cabin, thanks to a generous 3,091 mm wheelbase. For better access, the second-row doors open wider compared to previous generations. The second-row comes with standard “tip-and-slide” captain seats (optional bench) and 7-inches (180 mm) of fore/aft travel. A power-folding third-row is optional. The cargo volume when the second- and third-row seats are folded flat is 2,395-litres (84.6 ft³). The SUV offers a total of 12 USB Type A and Type C ports for all three rows.
Jeep has loaded the Grand Cherokee L with a ton of tech, including Uconnect 5 touchscreen (8.4- or 10.1-inch), wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, Alexa functionalities, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, 10.25-inch frameless digital driver display, a digital rearview mirror, rear seat monitoring camera, four-zone climate control, seat back massage with five customizable profiles, and a bunch of options including a HUD and 19-speaker McIntosh audio system.
The Selec-Terrain system offers five modes to play with: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow and Mud/Sand. As for 4×4 systems, depending on the trim, there’ll be Quadra-Trac I with a single-speed transfer case or Quadra-Trac II with a two-speed transfer case. The Summit model gets Quadra-Trac II with rear eLSD as standard.
As you might expect, safety and driver assistance systems include all the usual stuff, such as Full-Speed Collision Warning with Active Braking and Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection; Rear Cross Path detection; Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go; Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist; and Blind-spot Monitoring. Summit models get few more systems such as Drowsy Driver Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition and Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist.
The Active Driving Assist (L2 capable) is available on Overland and standard on Summit models, while the Hands-free Active Driving Assist (L2) will be available in late 2021 for 2022 model year Grand Cherokee L Overland and Summit models. A Night Vision Camera is available on Overland and Summit models.
As for the powertrains, there’s a 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar to begin with, which develops 216 kW (294 metric hp) at 6,400 rpm and 348 Nm (257 lb-ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm. It’s only the 4×4 models that get the option of a 5.7-litre V8 HEMI engine with 266 kW (362 metric hp) at 5,150 rpm and 529 Nm (390 lb-ft) of torque at 4,250 rpm. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The 4×4 models get front axle disconnect function for better fuel economy.
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments that are unrelated to the post above get automatically filtered into the trash bin.
