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| Laredo 2WD, Overland V6 Diesel, SRT 6.4 V8 |
2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE REVIEW
What’s hot: Eight-speed auto, potent engines, and priced to surprise.What’s not: Fuel efficiency, the SRT knows thee not; pricey diesel option.
X-Factor: It’s different, not your average SUV, with muscular style and genuine off-road capability.
| Variants Reviewed | |||
| Model | Engine | Fuel use listed | Tested |
| Laredo 4x2 | 210kW/347Nm 3.6 petrol V6 | 10.1 l/100km | 12.7 l/100km |
| Overland 4x4 | 184kW/520Nm 3.0 diesel V6 | 7.5 l/100km | 10.7 l/100km |
| SRT 4x4 | 344kW/624Nm 6.4 petrol V8 | 14.0 l/100km | (not recorded) |
| Note: all models equipped with ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. | |||
OVERVIEW
If we have a tendency to ran awards for ‘most improved in class', Jeep’s Grand Cherokee would have patterned over once within the past few years.The last model was actually higher than nearly everybody expected; one among the stand-out buys in truth within the giant SUV sector.
It’s taken four generations, however Jeep’s huge SUV has gone from a floppy, flexy lump, to Associate in Nursing imposingly tight, fascinating premium SUV buy: that’s the new 2013 Grand Cherokee.
And it comes with a styling attractiveness and ‘street presence’ that anyone would be happy to parade past the neighbours.
Muscular, brash enough however not discourteously ostentatious, the new Cherokee conjointly carries a wise feel within and a really cool eight-speed car – with paddles at the wheel – as normal across the vary.
And here’s the clincher: the new vary starts at $45,000 on-road for the port of entry 4X2. That’s modest cashola for lots of plucky, well-equipped family wagon.
The new auto Grand Cherokee is additionally, as we have a tendency to discovered, a really tight drive. Whichever wheel in whichever model you decide on to plant yourself behind, you’ll realize lots to love during this automobile.
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| Laredo 2WD, Overland V6 Diesel, SRT 6.4 V8 |
THE INTERIOR
Certainly nothing amiss here. Right across the vary, the inside appearance and feels good.
The seamed dashboard high, neat metal and polished wood feature-trims, and extremely nice three-spoke wheel set out a robustly designed and nicely titled interior.
Tactile surfaces square measure solid and appealing to the bit, doors and armrests square measure cushiony, and wood and metal garnishes match tightly and appearance sensible.
The seats, whether or not cut in animal skin or material, square measure munificently sized and formed, and each driver and traveler get power eight-way adjustment and heated front seats across the vary (plus heated rear seats in middle and up-spec models).
With a reach and rake adjustable wheel, it’s simple to induce well set at this work bench. one among the most effective options, and additionally customary across the vary, may be a absolutely configurable electronic instrument-cluster show.
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| Above: the dash of the top-shelf SRT model. |
All models additionally escort a Harman-developed touchscreen ‘Uconnect’ system group action GPS, voice recognition, Bluetooth, audio and diversion systems into the one platform.
Rear-view camera is additionally commonplace across the vary, as is dual-zone climate management.
Safety systems embody commonplace ABS, stability management, traction management, change mitigation, and 7 airbags together with curtain airbags for front and rear.
All models additionally embody hill begin assist and descent management, still as tyre-pressure watching, and rain-sensing wipers.
Up-spec models add collision warning, blind-spot watching, rear cross-path detection and adaptive cruise-control.
The 2WD port of entry after all misses out on the Quadra-Trac II 4X4 system featured on all 4 wheel drive models (Laredo 4X4 is $46k and on-roads) as is that the switchable ‘selec-terrain’ system.
The up-spec land models additionally escort air-lift suspension (for once stepping over rocks or through deep streams) and electronic restricted slip diff (LSD).
