One Four-Wheel Drive Porterhouse Steak Please
The Jeep brand is rather the American oddball here. There are more compact-sized options for us to choose from, from the viewpoints of price, what practical and useful bits that matter in the vehicle, to just general size constraints. Then there are some who see the need for size.
Mated to Chrysler’s 3.6 litre 295bhp aluminium block Pentastar V6, is a new 8-speed transmission built by ZF, which replaces the previous 5-speed. More ratios mean better fuel economy. While the previous car made 8.8km per litre, the current car makes an improved 11.4km per litre, which ranks as acceptable, but still on the higher side. The Audi Q7 2.0 we recently tested does the same job, while consuming 13.5km per litre. Although our test car did not come equipped with start-stop technology, Chrysler says that the 2016 year model will come with it installed.
Where European brands have been right-sizing their engines, the Americans will likely take a while. The 3.6 V6 pushes max torque of 347Nm at 4,300rpm. Power delivery is very linear from the naturally aspirated engine. While there is plenty of torque even when taking off from the lights, in comparison, the more frugal 2.0 of the Audi produces its maximum of 370Nm at a much lower 1,600rpm. The V6 engine loves to be revved, and anything above 3,500rpms induces an addictive howl, which gets better as the revs pile up.
The new transmission provides smooth gear changes. The V6 has a very linear band of torque, the 8 ratios mean that revs are kept low, to reduce fuel intake, and minimal jerking when releasing the accelerator. In “Sport” mode, only 6 ratios are used, in order to keep performance up. Gears 7 and 8 are cruising gears.
The air suspension provides an optimum selection of ride heights, from Access, Aero and Off Road modes, they do contribute to the extremely bouncy ride that the Jeep provides. In most cases, I did find myself in “Sport” mode, to take advantage of the lower ride height for additional driving stability. Cornering in any of the comfort modes at speed is not recommended as the vehicle tends to bounce quite a bit. Cabin noise is kept low, thanks to new acoustic glass which greatly reduces exterior noises.
Going off the road, the Jeep is in its own element. The adjustable ride height means that you are able to raise the car to enable you to gain access to certain areas, or just to ensure the right clearance to cross obstacles. Drive modes include “Snow”, “Sand”, “Mud” and “Rock” settings, which help in crossing different terrain. The low range gear selection comes in the form of a button, and not an unsightly additional lever. We did sample a little mud plugging with the Jeep, and it did all that without any hint of a fuss. The multi-function display also aids in displaying the amount of wheel articulation while driving in such terrain, helping you to make the right decision in ride height, drive mode or even high or low range.
In this price segment, there are quite a few SUVs which also are of similar size. While there are bits of car which you’d find that the quality may not agree with you, what you are paying for are the bits that you cannot see. While the low range gearing and the air suspension would not be so relevant in urban Singapore, it will matter if you are someone who tends to travel up north and is looking for a serious off-roader.
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