Once they change an icon, you discover immediately. The picture that’s completely ingrained in your thoughts is altered, generally for the higher, generally for the more serious. Which is why corporations don’t change icons a lot. In the event that they do, it’s often small issues or issues you possibly can’t see beneath the pores and skin. “ALL NEW!” they shout, inflicting a twinge of panic in these of us that revere the icon, solely to breath a sigh of aid once we see the icon nonetheless seems to be a lot because it did, a lot because it all the time has, a lot because it all the time will. When Jeep modified the Grand Cherokee, we sucked in our collective breath and hoped for the very best.
Sure, it seems to be a little bit totally different. The entrance grill is a bit more vertical and formal trying. The entire entrance finish seems to be…cleaner. Smoother. The rear of the automotive has a detachable hardtop look. Frankly, we prefer it. There’s a touch of Land Rover styling language within the design, possible not by chance. Jeep has all the time sought a little bit extra respect from its higher class clientele whereas preserving it’s muddy work boots on. Nothing incorrect with that. Better of each worlds. However what’s with the blue tow hooks? And the blue panel on the hood? What does that say? “4xe”. Hmmmm.
It’s an electrical.
Uh-oh.
I”m unsure about this. Jeep represents off-roading. HARDCORE off-roading to the nth diploma.
Electrical. Anyone is messing with the icon.
Deep breathes. Let’s give it an opportunity. Fiat-Chrysler has stunned us earlier than.
Inside is a brand new inside. Not radically totally different however positively new. It seems to be luxurious. And sensible. Each sorts of sensible. Well designed and filled with sensible electronics that may outprocess most residence computer systems. Lengthy gone is the T-handle shifter. A rotary knob now instructs the 8-speed automated transmission what to do. An assortment of switches and buttons lets you customise the 4WD system to the terrain you’ll be tackling. That’s good. There’s a swaybar disconnect button to mechanically disconnect the bar for extra suspension journey when issues get furry on the paths. That’s reassuring. Journey-height adjustment lever. Good. To this point it nonetheless appears fairly hardcore. The backseats are spacious and cozy, and there’s loads of cupboard space in the best way again. General, it’s a really comfy inside. Not fairly Grand Wagoneer good, however you’re not carrying the Grand Wagoneer’s funds both.
On the left aspect of the steering wheel is one other sequence of buttons. “Hybrid Mode – Electrical Mode – E-save Mode.” Ahhhh, okay. So it’s an electrical hybrid with the power to run as a full electrical or a full fuel motor (E-save). That’s not so radical as we feared.
The fuel motor is a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 375hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Which is spectacular out of a 2.0L engine. I’ll lower to the chase and inform you that you simply’re going to overlook the sound of the V8 however the rush and energy continues to be there. You simply have to regulate to a little bit whooshing and a little bit extra vibration. That’s doable.
In hybrid and electrical modes, the electrical motors quietly, seamlessly, and effortlessly do what they’re alleged to do, though the fuel motor doesn’t appear to cost the waterproof battery pack when it’s working, like many hybrids do. Possibly I simply didn’t drive it sufficient – It acquired used as a commuter in my arms, nothing extra sadly. The truth is, whereas we tried each mode, we principally left it in “Hybrid” and let the G-Cherokee do it’s factor.
And general we appreciated it, although there have been a couple of issues we needed to get used to. As an example, once we began it in hybrid mode, the electrics all got here to life with out the engine needing to fireplace. Regular sufficient. However then we started to listen to dashing liquid behind the sprint. It took us some time to comprehend that the Grand Cherokee should must warmth and flow into coolant with a purpose to present warmth to the inside as an alternative of utilizing electrical heaters. As soon as we figured that out, we weren’t as startled however it’s a sound that appears wildly misplaced in an electrical car of one thing on this value vary. The drivetrain switching from electrical drive to fuel drive wasn’t the smoothest expertise both. The transition felt tough and a bit unsettling.
However perhaps we’re being too harsh, too nit-picky. What else have we pushed lately on this value vary with one of these drivetrain? Most lately, we drove a Volvo XC-60 hybrid. It was in the identical value vary, with an analogous hybrid drivetrain. The XC-60 felt way more refined all the best way round and in addition felt extra participating to drive than the comparatively numb Grand Cherokee. After all, that’s on paved roads. If I needed to traverse backcountry trails out West or cross Michigan’s higher peninsula by way of ORV trails, I’d really feel extra ready and in higher, extra succesful arms within the Jeep. I assume it is determined by what your precedence is.
Whereas ours was a 2022 – we have been possible one of many final to expertise this fleet automotive – there aren’t many modifications between the 2022 and the 2023. The bottom value was $62,485. As examined, our automotive got here in at $71,790. It had a ton of choices on it, together with the “Superior ProTech Group II” which incorporates “night time imaginative and prescient.” It’s a thermal imaging kind and it does a terrific job of serving to you see within the inky blackness of night time. Deer, opossums, and folks all stand out in good distinction to the background. As do brake discs, tires, and exhaust pipes on vehicles. The digicam is constructed into the entrance grille and the show is within the instrument cluster between the speedometer and the tachometer.
We appreciated and have been happy with the Jeep Grand Cherokee general. We wished it have been a bit extra participating to drive, however it’s extraordinarily succesful within the Sport and Utility fields. It might go practically wherever and do practically something, together with tow big masses, when you sit in consolation and watch the miles get chewed up by means of the big panorama windshield. It does what you ask, stylishly and fairly capably, with out asking for a lot in return. And that’s the essence of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.