American automaker Jeep has finally unveiled the fifth-gen Grand Cherokee in a new two-row avatar. It is expected to hit our shores in 2022 via the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route.
The biggest highlight of the 5-seater Jeep Grand Cherokee is its powertrain options. It will be offered with three engine choices in America: a 3.6-liter V6 petrol (297PS/352Nm), a 5.7-litre V8 petrol (362PS/529Nm), and a new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol with a plug-in hybrid system (381PS/637Nm) that comprises two electric motors – – one for the starter generator and the second mounted on the transmission. It gets a 17kWh battery pack that can deliver up to 40km of range on pure electric mode.
All these engines will get an automatic transmission that will send the power to all four wheels. However, their off-road capabilities will vary depending on the variant. That said, the off-road-focused Trailhawk trim of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee will come with some all-terrain specific upgrades over the standard model. These include better approach & departure angles, increased ride height, adaptive air suspension, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres, a rear electronic limited-slip differential (only with hybrid variant), switchable sway bar, a Selec-Speed control system to maintain the vehicle speed without any throttle input while off-roading in 4WD Low Range only, and lots of red exterior elements and tow hooks to give it a different appeal. However, in the case of a hybrid powertrain, the Trailhawk will come with blue colour inserts.
In terms of design, the 5-seater Grand Cherokee SUV possesses a shorter body, distinctive bumpers and LED headlamps & tail lamps compared to the Grand Cherokee L. Inside, it is largely similar to the three-row L with notable features including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the centre, connected car tech, a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, a digital driver’s display, an optional 10.25-inch interactive display for the front passenger, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with seatback massage function, ventilated & heated seats, multi-zone climate control, in-vehicle wi-fi, full-color heads-up display (HUD) and hands-on-wheel eyes-on-road automated driving assistant.
Safety features onboard include multiple airbags, a night vision camera with pedestrian & animal detection, a 360-degree view camera, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, intersection collision assist, drowsy driver detection, and park assist.
As mentioned above, the fifth-gen Jeep Grand Cherokee is scheduled to be launched in India as a locally assembled model in 2022. Once launched, it will rival the likes of Mercedes Benz GLE, BMW X5, and Lexus RX.
