Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee Road Test

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Build Quality

As you would expect of DaimlerChrysler the build quality is excellent and there were no intrusive rattles to contend with. The materials used are of a very high standard and should prove durable in the long term.

For the UK market the Jeep Grand Cherokee is built by Daimler Chrysler in Graz, Austria. This is where Mercedes Benz’s M-Class and G-Glass 4-wheel drive models are built so they have some experience of building class leading 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Value For Money

The Grand Cherokee 2.7 CRD Limited XS is excellent value for money and offers a high level of standard equipment at a very competitive price. The diesel engine is both powerful and surprisingly frugal returning a combined figure of 29.1 mpg.

We would like to see an unlimited mileage warranty rather than the current 3-year/60,000 mile mechanical warranty offered by Jeep.

Overall Opinion

The Grand Cherokee did not disappoint us on our road test - we covered approximately 1000 miles in 5 days and it performed faultlessly. It was reassuring both on and off-road and the 2.7 CRD engine was superb. We adapted to the 4-wheel drive handling characteristics after a couple of days, and learned not to enter bends with too much enthusiasm.

Yes, we could have taken a Volvo XC90 or BMW’s superior road handling X5 on holiday, but then we would not have been able to enjoy our time off-road. We could of course have taken a Land Rover Discovery II but it would not have been as much fun on-road as the Grand Cherokee which feels more relaxed to drive than the more utilitarian Discovery.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee combines the best of American automotive design and engineering with high levels of refinement and true off-road ability.