2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee India Review: Tough Luxury SUV Comes Back
Have a look at the tough luxury SUV, Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has paid attention to detailing especially in terms of head/tail-lamps. Cherokee offers a proper elite SUV look.
Jeep started its India innings with the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler with both being premium offerings before the Compass was launched. While the Wrangler continues to be here, the Grand Cherokee makes a comeback in India with its new avatar. Yes, this is the all-new generation 2022 Grand Cherokee and it is assembled in India which means the price tag isn't as big as its size but more on that later.
India is the only market where the Grand Cherokee is assembled outside the USA and that shows how Jeep wants a large slice of the luxury SUV space. That said, the new Grand Cherokee will have its work cut out, especially with the Germans being there.
However, where the Grand Cherokee scores is presence. The fifth-generation model comes across as more refined than its predecessor but the muscle is very much there in the design. That big seven-slot grille, the upright stance and broad shoulders give it plenty of presence on the road. The new generation is a bit sleeker now and the slimmer headlamps/tail-lamps are in that direction. It is a proper SUV design and we also like those large alloy wheels too.
If the exterior is nice then the interior will bowl you over with its look. Simply put, for the price the Grand Cherokee has one of the best cabins around especially with the amount of technology on offer. There is a large digital instrument cluster, a heads-up display, a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system and finally a 10.25-inch passenger display as well. Even the rearview mirror is a digital one. The central screen is similar to the other Jeep SUVs but has been more refined/detailed while the 360-degree camera view is very crisp indeed.
The Grand Cherokee also scores in the expected quality bit where the doors feel heavy and well built along with soft-touch materials all around the cabin. The slim vents and the layered dashboard are very nicely put together too- as you would expect for the price. The equipment levels include a massive glass roof, 8-way powered and ventilated/heated front seats, connected car tech, 8 airbags and a premium audio system plus more.
The coolest feature has to be the passenger side display which is clearly visible to the passenger and not the driver for obvious reasons. It is detailed and is a good companion for the passenger on a road trip.
Space? It's not exactly massive inside but it is much more spacious than the earlier Grand Cherokee and alongside rivals. The seats are large and accommodating though and offer good thigh support.
But in the Grand Cherokee, you would rather be in the driver's seat. The India-spec model is petrol only and gets a 2.0l turbo petrol unit which develops 272hp/400Nm with an 8-speed automatic along with the standard Quadra-Trac 4X4 system and Selec-Terrain system.
The first impression is that despite its size, the Grand Cherokee is pretty easy to drive and the engine is pretty compliant with light throttle inputs in slow-moving traffic. The engine feels best at low speeds but even when you need power it quickly springs into action while the 8-speed automatic also does a decent job. When pushed hard, there is some turbo lag and then the Jeep pushes forward but performance is not lacking at all. The steering is well weighted and is not heavy nor very light. It is also good at high speeds and does not feel heavy when driven hard- of course, there is a body roll but it is well controlled. While the engine offers decent performance, it does like a drink since it gulps fuel at around 6kmpl.
What is impressive is the ride quality which beats other SUVs since it feels tough and goes over bad roads with ease. It feels solid and also absorbs bad roads much like other Jeep SUVs. We did not do any off-roading but with the terrain modes and the Jeep toughness, it should be good after all.
At Rs 77.5 lakh the Grand Cherokee is easily one of the most value-for-money luxury SUVs since it offers a lot of technology at a price which is lesser than the competition along with a tough-looking exterior which is pure Jeep. Sure, we would have liked more power but that aside, the Grand Cherokee opens a niche segment of large sized rugged luxury SUVs.
What We Like- Looks, build quality, suspension, features, value for money
What We Did Not- Rear seat not very spacious, diesel version missing
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