Test Jeep Grand Cherokee S-Limited

After unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in February, under the designation of Sport Concept, this version of the Grand Cherokee, Jeep has decided to start marketing. Available only in Europe, finishing this extra range changes name and is called S-Limited. The term sports package whose vocation it is to compete in the German rightly disappears because the changes do not involve motor or settings but only on the outside and inside.

Test Jeep Grand Cherokee S-Limited

What is this car? . The American brand is rooted in the collective memory because of the Willys, the road simple but robust born in 1941 and used by the GIs of the U.S. Army during World War II.

This love is renewed during the 80s when Renault bought for a few years, the brand American Motors Corporation (AMC), owner of Jeep.

 who usually enjoys the little ostentatious display of wealth, wear a different perspective on the Grand Cherokee, which is the 4th generation and its judgment will be more lenient as to other luxury SUVs like the Range Rover, the BMW X5 The Volvo XC90, or worse, the Porsche Cayenne.

The version tested. Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD S-Limited finishes and costs $ 62,600.

Its look. Well, yes, there is no more class than the Range Rover. But the Jeep Cherokee just behind the British. Less than a Lexus RX eco friendly, less bestial than the Infiniti FX, it remains a less noisy and less glitz Audi Q7 BMW X5 that even if the S-Limited finish gives the SUV 4.82 m U.S. a sporty look. So remember, black is invited on several factors, whether the 7 bars grille with its chrome grille, the bottom of the headlights, rear spoiler, rear side windows and dual exhaust. The 20 "rims, also black and metallic, completing the range and enhance its somewhat aggressive to make it more manly while remaining rare sobriety. Measured yet I remain on the drawing of the front missing singularity.

Board. Inspired inside the demonic equipped V8 SRT 6.4 l 468 hp Grand Cherokee S-Limited adopts the attributes with sports pedals and chrome heated and ventilated seats in Nappa leather and suede that provide lateral support. Certainly, the improvement is obvious compared to the older generation and the interior is very plush, but when it is said to belong to the luxury SUV and when a customer is willing to pay more than $ 60,000, you must proposed finishes and materials without reproach. That side of our American Indian, despite interbreeding with Italy's Fiat, not equal European productions. This is not the carbon inserts that run the dashboard and door trims which are all. On the transmission tunnel and in the lower part, plastics are hard as our neighbors across the Rhine also treat these parties. Similarly, we remain perplexed by the very vintage display on the screen of the GPS 6.5 "which is more of an old Atari 520 ST is a PC art.

If there is no need to board contortion must however have the arm elastic superhero Mister Fantastic to grip the handle sharply away from the door so its opening angle is wide.

For the rest, considering the size, space is like the plains of the American West, immense and intense brightness in the Mojave Desert with the presence of the panoramic sunroof as standard. We do not sulk the pleasure of being pampered, including the back where occupants have, too, heated seats which are, moreover, tilt 18 °.

Despite a power tailgate and a Quadra-Lift air suspension that lowers for easy loading, the Grand Cherokee is an SUV, which means no threshold hilltop not the most convenient. Nevertheless, his chest with a removable flashlight in the left wall engulfs a large volume of 782 l (and 1750 liters seats folded), a value significantly higher than the Toyota Land Cruiser SW (701 l) or Volkswagen Touareg (580 l ).

Driving. Last remnants of belonging to Daimler, the Grand Cherokee inherits the platform of the Mercedes ML and automatic transmission. If the first element is a good thing and does not suffer any reproach because of additional benefits, arm multilink rear instead of a rigid axle, guaranteeing comfort, we do not say that transmission.

Jeep Interior Accessories

With only five reports, she is limping face competition that features 7 (Volkswagen Touareg) and even 8 (Range Rover, Audi Q7, BMW X5). So sportiness takes for his grade. Slow, unresponsive, it must also be done with the 2347 kg of the vehicle. It will wait until next year to finally get a box of eight reports should make accreditation more in line with the temperament claimed by its looks.

Fortunately, the V6 CRD directly from VM Motori in that is also found on the Lancia Thema will watch him in height, thanks in part to 550 Nm of torque. Apart from a sound agricultural cold, the diesel unit is ideal companion for a journey along the course.

Jeep but not limited to bitumen and smooth Indian has other strings to his bow that I unfortunately could not test. That of a beast, first of all, able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes and with a stabilizer trailer. It will be the ideal partner for anyone with a boat.

On the other hand, its off-road capabilities are in no way tainted by its 20 "rims. His permanent AWD, the transfer case 2 speed Quadra-Trac II, the air suspension system Quadra-Lift which, together with Select Terrain system allows you to vary the ground clearance between 16.5 and 27 cm to fit the terrain (sand / mud, Sport, Auto, snow, rock), an angle of 34.3 ° and a departure angle of 27.3 ° make a true adventurer in chic outfit.

Budget and ecological assessment. Only $ 300 purchase separate finishing Overland S-Limited. So why not take the plunge as this modest sum comes in addition to the elements that give this sporty (grille, rims, exhaust, pedals, carbon fiber insert), the Quadra-Trac II and audio system with 19 HP signed Harman Kardon.

Compared to the competition, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is well placed in terms of tariff given its particular equipment supplied. The list is so long that I'm just going to list the main in addition to those already mentioned above: heated steering wheel, bi-Xenon headlamps, hill start assistance, parking aid with front and rear camera, control system lowering, collision warning, motion detection in the rear region, Blind Spot Monitoring and adaptive cruise control.