Review: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep’s op en wakker Grand Cherokee has been given a further wake-up with the introduction of two new petrol and diesel powertrains.
The oil-burner, a 2,7-litre Mercedes-Benz-derived OM 612 common-rail turbodiesel is quieter and more powerful than the 2,5-litre unit it replaces. Built in Stuttgart, Germany, the engine boasts double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a variable geometry turbocharger, and with 120kW power and 400Nm torque it’s up by 17Kw and 16Nm on the previous Italian-sourced unit. The factory claims the Grand Cherokee CRD can gallop along at 190kph, and reach 100kph within 11,2 seconds of blast off. Along with the engine comes a brand new five-speed electronically controlled wide-ratio auto transmission.
For those wanting a high-output petrol engine, there’s the new 190kW 4,7-litre V8 fitted to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. The 0kph to 100kph dash is over in less than 8,5 seconds and a top speed of 206kph is good enough to get you locked up for a couple of months if you get caught too often. The 16% power and 8% torque increase over the standard 4,7-litre V8 was achieved by installing pop-up pistons and raising the compression ratio, as well as modifying the cylinder heads, connecting rods, crankshaft and inlet manifold. Stereo knock sensors were also added. The engine is built at Chrysler’s Mack Avenue engine plant in Detroit, Michigan.
The Grand Cherokee Overland is distinguished by five spoke 17 x 7,5 alloy wheels, body-colour exterior fascia panels, a body-colour grille, rock rails to protect the door sills, heated door mirrors and a bright-finished exhaust pipe. Interior trim is also upgraded.
Apart from numerous minor model changes, all Jeep Grand Cherokees this year feature standard side-curtain air bags front and rear, and a rain-sensitive windscreen-wiper system. Service intervals are 12 000km for petrol models and 10 000km for diesel, and a 60 000km/three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty applies.