Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Review: Off the beaten track

What we like:

The sheer size of it

commanding driving position

improved in many ways over earlier Jeep models

well packaged cabin

What we dislike:

Will hurt the pocket to fuel

ponderous to drive quickly in

In the past, Jeep interiors are often badly made and put together from low quality materials and trim. Their overall designs are usually simple and rugged, with little detailing throughout. Not so the new Grand Cherokee’s though, for its interior not only has some style in its execution but also made from high quality switchgear, with some coming from previous generation Mercedes models and soft touch, high quality materials with leather used on the instrument panel hood and door cards. The dashboard and steering wheel are also trimmed with wood for added luxury.

Thanks to the sheer height of the Grand Cherokee, the view out of the comfortable and plush driver’s seat is nothing short of commanding. The all-new instruments feature an integrated multi-function display that that seems inspired by European models.

In terms of utility, the Grand Cherokee is a noticeable improvement over its predecessor. There are not only more useable storage spaces on board but also the load area, accessed by the electrically operated tailgate or via the rear windscreen hatch, is voluminous and well shaped. Head and knee room for rear passengers are also hard to fault, as there is enough space at the rear to stretch your legs a tad.

The Grand Cherokee is offered in two trim levels – the Limited and the Overland. The latter, tested here features standard kit and luxuries like the Quadra-Lift air suspension, ventilated front seats, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a comprehensive infotainment system with sat nav, adaptive cruise control, powered tailgate, 20-inch wheels and so on.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee hardly made an automatic or logical choice among local SUV buyers in the past. This new model though, has improved leaps and bounds and should be able to convince local luxury SUV buyers that Jeep is serious about building world class luxury SUVs.

Credits: Story and Photos by Mark Yeo