Jeep Grand Cherokee 4×4 (2011 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

Despite its size and US origins, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the most understated large 4×4s on the market. Yes, the trademark seven-slot grille is perhaps chrome-heavy but the rest is surprisingly subtle, its bumpers and wheel arches are free from rugged protective cladding. Overall the Grand Cherokee is less aggressive-looking than rivals such as the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport, opting for a more subtle look like the Volkswagen Touareg. This will attract some, while others may find it a little bland.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

The best interior Jeep has ever made. The company has made huge investments in cabin quality and nowhere is that more apparent than in here. It’s still not up to the very high standards set by its German rivals but the gulf that once existed is now a narrowing gap. Touches such as the chrome-ringed dials and leather-trimmed dashboard on top Overland models lift the overall ambience. However its clunky touch-screen navigation system and cheap-feeling buttons and switches make it feel a little old-fashioned.

Our rating: 3

3. Practicality

It doesn’t feel quite as spacious as some rivals inside but still has more than enough room to serve duty as a family car. The boot is one of the largest in its class, with a capacity of 994 litres with the rear seats up, compared to 833 for the Mercedes M-Class and just 620 litres in the BMW X5. Folding the rear seats is a brilliantly simple, one touch operation and liberates a massive 1,945 litres of space.

Our rating: 5

4. Ride and handling

The Grand Cherokee rides well, particularly with the height-adjustable air suspension system fitted to the top-spec models. It’s comfortable and isolates those inside from even the biggest bumps. The steering is light – perhaps a little too light for some – but it is accurate and makes the car easy to place on the road. The BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport are more fun to drive, the Jeep feeling a little vague during fast cornering. There is plenty of grip though and it’s never anything other than safe and predictable. Being a Jeep, it’s virtually unstoppable off-road with a host of mechanical and electronic aides helping it to seemingly defeat the laws of physics.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

While entry-level petrol versions are available elsewhere, only the thriftier 3.0 CRD diesel Grand Cherokee is sold here. With 238bhp and 406lb/ft of pulling power, performance is reasonably swift, with 0-62mph acceleration taking 8.2 seconds. However the V6 engine is too noisy when compared to its rivals. The engine itself wouldn’t be such an issue if it were fitted to a better automatic gearbox. The old-fashioned five-speed unit is jerky, slow to react and constantly feels to be in too low a gear, exacerbating the noise issue. The lack of a sixth gear means the engine revs unnecessarily quickly when cruising on the motorway, affecting both refinement and fuel economy. If economy really isn’t a concern, you can order the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 SRT model, tuned for sports car acceleration and impressive handling. Its 465bhp muscle gets it to 62mph in 5.1 seconds and on to a rude 159mph top speed.

Our rating: 2

6. Running costs

The Grand Cherokee is considerably cheaper than similarly-sized European rivals, only being undercut on price by the Kia Sorento and Hyudai Santa Fe. It will lose more of its value over three years than the German models, however. The diesel’s 218g/km CO2 emissions mean a VW Touareg 3.0 TDI SE is only a little more expensive to buy and sits a tax band lower.

Our rating: 3

7. Reliability

Jeeps are renowned for their ruggedness but aren’t as highly-rated in customer satisfaction surveys as some rivals. However, with such an obvious focus on improving the build quality of its latest cars, the Grand Cherokee has the potential to rewrite its reputation.

Our rating: 3

8. Safety

The Grand Cherokee has been subjected to a test by Euro NCAP, in which it earned four stars, but there were some concerns. In particular, Jeep has promised to work on worries that, in a frontal impact, the driver’s head could strike the steering wheel, because a seat rail almost broke in two.  Otherwise, the Grand Cherokee doesn’t look too bad, with stability control and a driver’s knee ‘bag standard across the range, and Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning on most models.

Our rating: 4

9. Equipment

All Grand Cherokees are well equipped, with a touch screen infotainment centre as standard, with all but the Limited and Limited-S model featuring leather upholstery. The range-topping Overland Summit is fitted with every extra including electric, heated seats, wood trim, 20-inch polished alloy wheels and parking cameras. The SRT version has also has 20-inch alloys, but of a different design, as well as a body kit, carbon fibre trim and steering wheel mounted gear shift paddles.

Our rating: 4

10. Why buy?

Handsome, understated looks and good value for money plus that all-American image.

Our rating: 3