REVIEW
Gavin Foster
Jeep Cherokee Sport, R229900Jeep Cherokee Limited Edition, R266900
Unlike many luxury 4x4s, Jeep products always offer top class performance even in the worst off-road conditions. The Jeep Cherokee has been with us for the best part of two decades and has been a class leader throughout that time, even though its styling had become heavily dated of late.
Now the new Cherokee is here and it offers much more than just a pretty new face.
New petrol and diesel engines lurk under the bonnet, and independent front suspension is now standard a solid rear axle still ensures that off-road ability is not compromised.
As is usual for Jeep the vehicle is very well equipped in terms of electronic gizmos, making long freeway hauls a pain-free operation.
A lot of trouble has gone into making the most of interior space for example, the backs of the front seats are severely concave, making for extra knee room for rear-seat passengers and despite the smaller appearance of the new model it’s actually bigger in terms of accommodation than its predecessor was.
The Cherokee offers two engine/ transmission options. A 155kW 3,7 litre V6 petrol unit, based on the 4,7 litre Grand Cherokee V8, is matched to a four-speed auto transmission and Chrysler’s tried-and-tested Select-Trac full-time four-wheel drive.
Top speed is 180kph and 100kph can be reached in 10,8 seconds. Torque is 312Nm at 3800rpm.
If you prefer diesel, there’s a four cylinder 2,5 litre 16 valve direct injection common-rail turbodiesel that churns out 105kW at 4000rpm and a healthy 343Nm at just 2000rpm, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. And, for those interested in that sort of thing, 164kph and 15,3 seconds are the corresponding figures.
I got to drive both petrol and diesel versions of the Cherokee at the launch, on-road and off DaimlerChrysler had constructed a very interesting 4×4 course in Durban especially for the occasion.
In both environments the Cherokee did brilliantly.
Thanks to the short overhangs, healthy ground clearance, bags of torque and the low-range transmission, off-road driving is a cinch, while the high specification levels and gutsy engines made on-road travel a pleasure.
The Jeep Cherokee comes in Sport and Limited Edition guises.
Pricing starts at R229900 for the 3,7 litre Sport and goes up to R266900 for the 2,5 litre turbodiesel Limited Edition.
For that price and what they have to offer they give very good value indeed genuine off-road capability in a classy, powerful luxury package.