One advantage of the long-established Japanese decision to drive on the right-hand side of the road is that cars purchased from Japan do not have to be just indigenous names; most manufacturers sell their wares there, including Jeep. Once synonymous with the USA, it is now a global name. In 2016, the Jeep brand was voted ‘most improved’ by the motoring press and with good reason.
Since Fiat took a majority shareholding in the Chrysler Group back in 2009 the joint expertise has resulted in superior products, now augmented by the merger of other brands to form the giant Stellantis group. One result of this gathering of the brands is the prestigious Jeep Grand Cherokee, featured here: Various models are available through the MHH Japanese Cars website.
About The Current Model
This premium SUV, the largest of the Jeep line-up, represents that merging of automotive design in terms of power, comfort, innovation and build quality, making it an ideal large vehicle for daily use. The Grand Cherokee has so far sold getting on for five million models worldwide and has garnered many awards. The current model offers improved interior designs, advanced technological features and, importantly for outdoor lovers, enhanced on- and off-road capability, courtesy of its eight-speed automatic transmission.
Technology
The premium Grand Cherokee comes with an extensive range of safety equipment that includes multiple airbags, electronic stability and traction control, electronic roll mitigation (to reduce the risk of rollovers), a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and a tyre pressure monitoring system. It’s a fine towing vehicle too that offers, for safety, Trailer Sway Control which is designed to improve handling when towing.
Other features, which are model dependent, may include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, brake assistance, blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection. This is a great innovation which alerts the driver to passing vehicles when reversing out of a parking space.
The Interior
This is the absolutely ideal family vehicle. For luggage, a flat boot (trunk) lip results in easy loading. Under the boot floor there are neat plastic storage bins, surrounding the spare tyre, a good security feature for more valuable small items. The boot space is huge and, by lowering the rear seats, becomes cavernous.
Passenger travel is relaxed thanks to big seats, many storage bins and cupholders and all the usual creature comforts including air conditioning and otherwise the sort of technology motorists expect these days.
The Power
Globally, engine options vary and the MHH Japanese Cars current listings offer not only the standard 3.5L unit but also the enormous 6.4L fitted to the powerful SRT model. Performance is good across the range, giving this big car an advantage in the SUV Grand Prix, especially with the SRT variant. Fuel consumption is fair given the size and power of this car but careful driving utilising the automatic gearbox can produce a miles per gallon figure in the high thirties.
With the Jeep Grand Cherokee, one car is all an active family really needs. As comfortable on-road as it is competent off-road and with an excellent reliability record in recent years, this premium SUV makes a great choice.
