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The first impression

So which brand created the ‘grand luxury 4X4’? Jeep claims that it was them, but let’s not forget about the 1970’s classic Range Rover. Dates and facts aside, the well-heeled and adventure seekers are eternally grateful for the elevated luxury and sheer driving ability of these types of vehicles.

The Grand Cherokee's origins date back to 1983 when American Motors Corporation was designing a successor to the smaller Jeep Cherokee. But it wasn’t until 1993 that the official first generation Grand Cherokee was launched. Since then there has been three other Grand Cherokee shapes over the last 21 years. The current fourth generation Grand Cherokee launched in 2010 has recently had a midlife nip and tuck as of August 2013.

The GC is just that, grand! Park it in a garage and it fills its bay like a rugby player his rugby jersey. Walk around the car and it just looks grand – handsome and impressive. Open up the cabin and the seats, boot and sheer proportions are grand too. There is no exaggeration in the vehicles labelling, it’s just grand.

The midlife upgrades to the car include new exterior design highlights like slimmer LED headlamps and a lower front fascia, which has been slightly elevated, while the fog lights have been raised and are more pronounced. The restyled rear taillights are larger with LED detailing, a larger and more aerodynamic rear spoiler, new bumpers and a freshly sculpted tailgate that offers greater visibility. The new mags with the Overland models boast polished 20” five spoke aluminium wheels with Mineral Grey painted pockets.

The interiors of the car have seen upgrades in materials. Criticised previously for using cheaper looking plastics, the new GC features soft touch materials that are in keeping with the rest of the car. A revised centre stack features a new UConnect 8.4" touchscreen. This system is a breeze to use and there is little need for a tutorial. It is the hub for the large array of standard features like navigation, reverse rear camera for parking assistance, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity and many more. The driver binnacle is all new, featuring a 7” TFT customer configurable cluster display, combining real and virtual dials.

On the road the GC is driven by four engines, three of which are petrol and the one on test, the 3.0l turbo diesel, and in my opinion the best option. All four engines are mated to a new eight speed gearbox that does a good job of splicing through gears. It effortlessly accelerates the two ton Detroit made luxury 4X4, which has a ground clearance that can be adjusted to five levels and reaches a maximum height of 280mm via an air suspension system.

The facts

Highlights

• The world's most awarded SUV of all time
• Great looking vehicle
• Real 4X4 capability
• Quality interior
• Eight speed automatic

Low lights

• Pricey
• Large turning circle
• Average low speed ride over bumpy roads
• Foot operated parking break

The figures

The extra stuff

The Grand Cherokee Jeep range comes standard with a 3yr/100 000km maintenance plan. The GC scored four stars in the EuroNCAP crash test. The Jeep GC comes in three trim variations:  Limited, Overland and SRT trim levels.

The verdict

I like the Jeep GC. It is great looking, comfortable to drive and loaded with all sorts of modern electronics. You feel grand driving it. Where the GC excels is off the beaten track, engineered with its Quadra-Lift air suspension, Jeep Selec-Terrain and Selec-Track traction management systems.

From a competitive perspective, its 4X4 capabilities are best pinned against the Discovery and Prado. For day to day use, the BMW X5 and VW Touareg are fair competition.

The BMW is better built and is a driver’s car, handling every day twists and bends better than the Jeep, and it is R30 000 less. But the X5 is not as well spec’d. If you were to order your X5 with as many bells and whistles as the Jeep, expect to spend R50 000 to R100 000 over its base R806 809 price.

The Discovery in SE specification is tough competition for the Jeep. Its British heritage means it is very capable off road and in recent years, the Land Rover brand has undergone technical upgrades that make it that much better. It is built in England and expensive. The SE model is well spec’d but should you go for the top of the range HSE model which comes with everything bar the kitchen sink, it is R100 000 more expensive.

The BMW X5 is the king of the road, while the Discovery the lion of the jungle. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best balance of the two, and I would love one in my garage.

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