Jeep previews Grand Cherokee L range
Promising exceptional levels of luxury, comfort, space and functionality when it arrives in Australia midway through 2022, the Grand Cherokee L range will also break new ground for Jeep in being the first seven-seat variants the brand has ever offered.
According to Jeep, the addition of a third row of seats won’t be at the expense of existing occupant capacity, with abundant second-row legroom and easier entry and exit, thanks to larger rear door openings.
Defined by extensive use of premium materials and an exacting attention to detail, Jeep says the all-new Grand Cherokee L substantially raises the bar in terms of on-road composure and dynamics compared to the previous generation Grand Cherokee, for what the manufacturer describes as a supremely refined driving experience.
All this comfort and luxury won’t be at the expense of off-road capability, with Jeep’s established Quadra-Trac I and Quadra-Trac II 4x4 setups, Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain traction management system available.
To meet the unique conditions of the Australian outback, this off-road componentry benefits from Jeep’s local testing programme that has, so far, racked up more than 60,000km in Aussie conditions.
“As the most refined and technologically advanced model we’ve released to date, the arrival of the all-new Grand Cherokee L represents another landmark Jeep moment and sets the new standard for our brand,” said Kevin Flynn, Jeep Australia Managing Director.
“The added versatility of its seven-seat layout goes hand-in-hand with an entirely new architecture, myriad safety and assistance systems, exceptional material quality and the latest advancements in our famed 4x4 capability, making the Grand Cherokee L a truly premium offering in every sense of the word.”
Three to Choose
The upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee L seven-seater will be available in three grades – Night Eagle, Limited and Summit Reserve.
Each grade will be powered by the same 3.6-litre ‘Pentastar’ naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engine producing 210kW and 344Nm, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 5.7-litre petrol V8 that’s available on the Grand Cherokee L in North America will not be offered here, but a 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain option is expected to be added later this year.
In terms of the four-wheel drive system, the Night Eagle and Limited grades both get the Quadra-Trac I active 4x4 system, but the Limited adds an active single-speed transfer case and Selec-Terrain traction management system with Rock, Sand/Mud, Snow, Auto and Sport modes.
The Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve upgrades to the Quadra-Trac II active 4x4 system and adds Quadra Lift air suspension to the Selec-Terrain management, as well as upgrading to a two-speed active transfer case with low range. So, in terms of 4x4 capability, the Summit Reserve is the pick of the three.
Beyond the four-wheel drive systems, other variations across the trio come down to wheels, trim and standard appointments, with the Summit Reserve the most comprehensively equipped. A handful of options are available, mostly limited to the upper two grades and including features like a head-up display, dual-pane sunroof, wireless phone charging, front passenger infotainment screen and the ‘Night Vision’ forward-facing camera.
Using thermographic technology to identify pedestrians and animals up to 200 metres away, Night Vision can “see” potential hazards that may be obscured from headlight view and warns the driver with an alert on the instrument screen.
All Grand Cherokee L variants feature a new unibody construction which increases rigidity by using lightweight, high-strength aluminium and steel, and incorporates a number of enhancements to improve the ride quality, handling and comfort, while at the same time increasing efficiency and reducing noise and weight.
Luggage capacity is up to 2395 litres and braked towing capacity is 2813kg range-wide.
Standard safety and security features include instrumentation that’s easier to see and improved collision-avoidance capabilities, thanks to the latest Uconnect 5 system with on-board operating speeds five times faster than the previous generation.
As the most well-equipped Grand Cherokee L variant from the factory, the Summit Reserve is also the most expensive, at $115,450, while the Night Eagle and Limited list for $82,250 and $87,950, respectively (all pricing excludes ORCs).
Jeep Grand Cherokee L Night Eagle – basic features
Standard features on the Night Eagle grade include 20-inch alloy wheels, auto LED headlights, a height-adjustable power tailgate, leather-trimmed seats on all three rows, with heating, 8-way power adjustment and 4-way power lumbar adjustment on the front seats.
The centre console screen for the Uconnect 5 infotainment system is 8.4 inches, with the multi-view instrument display 10.25 inches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless phone charging and a 6-speaker sound system are all standard.
Safety tech includes Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Active Lane Management, Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (with cyclist detection), Drowsy Driver Detection and Traffic Sign Recognition.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited – basic features
Aside from the aforementioned 4x4 system enhancements, additional and upgraded equipment in the Limited is mostly confined to the interior and includes premium Capri leather for the seats, a memory function for the driver’s seat, heating for the second-row seats and pull-down window shades for the second row, too.
The centre console screen is upgraded to 10.1-inch size and the sound system upgraded to 9 speakers. Ambient LED interior lighting is added, too.
Externally, the Limited features polished instead of black 20-inch alloys, as well as identifying badging.
Safety tech is the same as the Night Eagle.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve – basic specs
The upgrade to the Quadra-Trac II system and addition of the Quadra Lift air suspension and two-speed transfer case are the Summit Reserve’s key mechanical differentiators over the lower two grades.
Other differences come down to appointments and trim, starting outside with 21-inch alloys, a black painted roof and a hands-free power tailgate.
Inside, the Summit Reserve is plusher, with quilted Palermo leather seats available in two colours, with ventilation, a massage function and 12-way power adjustment added to the front seats, as well as a memory function for the front passenger seat.
Waxed walnut trim features on the dash, steering wheel and doors, while the in-cabin comfort and lighting is enhanced with four-zone climate control and multi-colour ambient lighting. The sound system is upgraded to a McIntosh high-performance stereo with a 760-watt amplifier and no less than 19 speakers.
On the safety front, the only addition over the Night Eagle and Limited is a 360-degree camera.
Aussie Arrival
Due for local release in mid-2022, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L will be available in Bright White, Velvet Red, Diamond Black, Silver Zenith and Baltic Grey colours initially, with more to be added.
For further details ahead of local launch, see your Jeep dealer. Pricing is as follows.
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L pricing*
Grand Cherokee L Night Eagle - $82,250
Grand Cherokee L Limited - $87,950
Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve - $115,450
*list pricing, includes GST and LCT, excludes on-road costs.
