Jeep Grand Cherokee
Let's face it: it might seem like a bit of a tough ask. You want a car that's tough, goes anywhere, fits everyone in the family and still looks pretty good parked on your driveway. You've considered several options. Now it's time to consider the Jeep Grand Cherokee.Well, the Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a big tick for being good-looking enough. You wouldn't be at all ashamed to park this one in your driveway. While it still shows some traces of its military past such as the squared-off back end and the high stance, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has very modern touches like the round halogen headlights and the aerodynamic slant of the windscreen. And, of course, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has the signature Jeep grille that's always very eye-catching.
But looks aren't everything - you know that. What you want is a chance to do something adventurous with the kids and give them a love for exploring and the outdoors. So you need a 4x4 that can do more than just cruise up to a skifield. Once again, it's thumbs-up for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The generous ground clearance enables the Jeep Grand Cherokee to tackle rugged terrain with ease, and this capacity is enhanced by the Quadra-Trac active four-wheel drive system. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a low ratio setting (standard in all models except the 3.7 litre V6 and optional in the 4.7 litre Laredo) to boost the torque when you need it, and the superb Electronic Limited Slip Differential system front and rear. The Jeep Grand Cherokee's ESP system and traction control give grip and stability when you need it, and can make it up or down a slope of 23.3 degrees approach and 20.0 degrees departure. But while you're doing all this, you won't get bounced around too much - only enough to make the trip thrilling - thanks to the Jeep Grand Cherokee's SLA front suspension and the five-link suspension in the rear.
But you don't go off-road everyday unless you're lucky. Even going on holiday means you're going to spend a fair bit of time on the open road. And you're going to need to tow things from time to time. Once again, a tick for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow up to 3,500 kg with ease - more than enough for the boat, horse trailer or caravan. The exact amount of torque and power in your Jeep Grand Cherokee will depend on the engine option you select. The 3.7 litre V6 engine packs a punch of 148 kW at 5000 rpm, and has a top torque of 315 Nm at 3900 revs. This 3.7 litre engine has a five-speed automatic transmission, but does not have the low ratio capacity that other models of Jeep Grand Cherokee have. The diesel-powered 3.0 CRD V6 motor delivers a top torque of 510 Nm throughout the low range of 1600-2000 rpm and a maximum power of 160 kW at 4000 rpm. The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel engine features a state-of-the-art fuel injection system, making it extra efficient. The Jeep Grand Cherokee also has two other engine options: the 4.7 litre petrol (170 kW at 4500 rpm; 410 Nm at 3600 rpm) and the massive and mighty 5.7 litre HEMI V8 that features Jeep's clever MDS (which turns off four cylinders if you don't need all eight) and packs a colossal wallop of 240 kW at 4500 revs and 500 Nm of torque at 4000. You might think that that's enough power. That would be fair to say, but wait there's more! Consider the Jeep Cherokee SRT8, as this is one hot 4x4. The SRT8 runs a big 6.1 litre V8 petrol motor under the hood. This size means that a mean 313 kW and a massive 569 Nm sits underneth the Cherokee bonnet. All the power is at the ready to rip the tarmac to pieces if so desired.
Most of us will have had a ghastly family holiday experience involving long trips, bored kids and uncomfortable seats. You won't get one of these in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. There's tons of room in backs seats as well as in the front, and the cargo area fits 978 litres - enough for the dog, the beach bags, spare clothes, fishing gear? and you'll find utility hooks and tie-down loops there, too. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo has a six-speaker radio/CD sound system to keep everyone entertained, comfy cloth-trimmed seats with 4-way power adjustment for the front passenger and 8-way power adjustment for the driver, manual air conditioning and a tyre pressure monitoring lamp. The luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited also features leather trim, heated front seats, a crystal-clear six-disc audio system, dual-zone climate control and a memory function for the driver's seat, mirrors and the radio station. Both models of Jeep Grand Cherokee have super-comfortable lumbar support, retractable cupholders in the rear, two power outlets and tinted glass. And safety's all catered for with multistage driver and front passenger airbags, and curtain airbags.
So if you're looking for something that will rough it outside while you aren't roughing it inside, it's hard to go past the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It'll go anywhere and do anything, and with plenty of style while it does it.
Current model series include:
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Turbo Diesel
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo V6 3.7
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo V8
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Hemi V8
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited HEMI V8 6.1 SRT8
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Turbo Diesel
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited V8 4.7
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