With the new Jeep Grand Cherokee will the legendary brand of back to old size. Is he still a real all-terrain vehicle or only an SUV? The 4Wheel-Fun-Test of 286 PS strong Jeep Grand Cherokee overland 3.6 AT creates clarity.
Tradition obligates. A brand like Jeep may afford to dilute the core values. Slip up as the first generation of the Jeep Compass show that this several times was ignored in the past. The one would have expected a up and coming no. name brand from Korea, but not the oldest ATV manufacturers in the world. The expectations weighing on the flagship of the brand, the Jeep Grand Cherokee are greater. Is the fourth generation still a real Jeep?
A look under the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is to think at least the cast iron fans of the brand, because history is the time (at least back) rigid at the Grand Cherokee. The use of the floor pan of Mercedes ML provides a modern independent suspension at front Trapeze bars the big Jeep, behind a Multilink rear suspension works. The optional air suspension is reserved for the top model with the 5, 7-litre HEMI V8 (at least currently), the overland 3.6 comes with steel springs. It is completed in terms of good interweaving past and the change to the full capabilities of the road.
A after the expected opening of the doors, then completely after a luxury liner looks, who knows the area only by hearsay. Air-conditioned nappa leather seats, a refined sound system, leather and wood in the whole cabin, color model, main-beam headlamps automatic for the Xenon headlights - the list is long. And includes all the things that have to pay extra when the European noble competition. In money terms: when the Jeep Grand Cherokee niceties on board, that surcharge cost around 20,000 euros to southern Germany luxury SUV are overland. Only additional option is the metallic coating. And it, you must omit also without hesitation the showing snow-white test car. The necessary processing is still encouraging. As the old Grand Cherokee it had always a bit hard to disseminate appropriate the price value. Gone are the days. Fine material, handle carefully used, well, now you may say actually "Premium".
Switch over from its predecessor mainly amazed the vastness of space. While the Jeep Grand Cherokee tweaked so far in all generations a bit among the poor, the space is now from the very generous variety. This also applies to the load area in XXL format, which has much to offer not only in absolute volume (maximum 1.555 litres)--the up to 1.8 meters long and flat load floor is of the format that you want in a travel all-terrain vehicle.
The anxious question before the advent of the new Grand Cherokee was above all his motor. Finally here, the new Pentastar V6 from Chrysler celebrates premiere. Was the 3.8-liter previous not necessarily for enthusiasm, because points a smaller machine in the much larger car?
She can. The 286 PS and 347 nm not - on as so often in US sport utility vehicles - only on paper, they are actually on the wheels. The V6 is a carefree everyday companion which Flex the muscles even if necessary. He goes forward already usable at low speeds, brought by kickdown from the basement he makes steam to the level of the previous standard V8 correctly.
The five-speed automatic is sufficient in the normal everyday life. The switching maneuvers take place gently and largely plausible. Only at dedicated driving the converter automatic is overzealous and sorted the course in slightly exaggerated rush back and forth. That at high rate of motorway beyond 170 km/h also the fourth course is posted, as fits in the not quite round image. To consume large illusions are unnecessary, you reach a 100 km long downhill the specified out of town standard value of 8.8 litres only in the unlikely event. In a quiet driving without city-component 12-13 litres are, in the real operation 15 litres more likely.
In the road use, this Grand Cherokee is a quantum leap compared to the predecessors. Despite the impressive weight he can accurately conduct in curves, striking by unusually high rock and makes good his thing even when the suspension comfort. The tight vote comes a little polterig cope only with very short bumps, otherwise the chassis offers the long-haul and comfort which is desired by the customers in this class at last. The excellent brakes are due to the good performance.
This can however also other SUV so concludes the initially mentioned question arises: which is still a real? The answer is the control center below the gear lever. A knob controls the system called for Jeep selec-terrain, with which the car to different terrain conditions can be conditioned. The characteristic of electronic Accelerator, the response of the electronic traction control and the gear switching points be modified depending on the surface - such as "Rock" or "Sand/mud".
This works in practice when compared to similar systems of other manufacturers very convincingly. In particular, the traction control worked perfectly in the first ground test and compensates for the relatively low entanglement excellent. Even on slippery, strong verworfenem underground it the Grand Cherokee is easily up the mountain, operates without the strong, jerky braking intervention in other systems. The rear differential lock contained in the Quadra-Drive II of the 5.7-liter HEMI Grand Cherokee is hardly missed.
By pressing a button, the Jeeptypisch is activated short area ratio (2.72-1), with which it very gently-crawl, root, climbing you can. An additional switch brings the mountain down control in position, with which it soulful and safely steep slopes down can crawl. For deftigere area in sets, the front spoiler can also be dismantled. Overall, the Grand Cherokee offers a site performance which hardly as as that of its predecessor. Jeep itself has already demonstrated, the new Grand Cherokee (with a few wounds on the body) has dealt with the legendary Rubicon trail. Reason enough already to book him a spot in the 4Wheel-Fun-Supertest.
What remains at minus points? All ahead safely the thirst of new gasoline, which at most is the owner of the previous V8 - which needed even more. The not very up to date operating five-speed automatic (W5A580) is contributing to. That Jeep only 2.3 tons of towing capacity approved the large, heavy and quite potent all cycling, surprise on top of that, the 5.7l Hemi with the 54RFE-Automatik may take 3,500 kilos on the hook. Appearing on the tension in the near future, indoor Jeep already with much premature praise three litre diesel rising so that he should cut much better precisely on these points.
286 PS (210 kW) at 6350 U/MinEinzelradaufhangung / Einzelradaufhangungmit Struts / with coil springs, shock absorbers0-100 km/h
(Manufacturer)
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great success for the brand. With significantly increased material and processing quality and very good suitability for everyday use in an ausstattungsbereinigt quite reasonable price he can meet the European competition par. He has preceded the good off-road capabilities the most large SUV of our time for this. The v6 gasoline engine may be a good offer for quiet pilots, diversity and quick driver will wait however in view of the consumption on the announced diesel.