Grand Cherokee V6 arrives as price leader

Jeep has expanded its Grand Cherokee range downwards to include a new V6 petrol model. The new model is powered by Jeep's 3.7-litre V6 which is rated at 148kW/315Nm. It’s priced from $51,990 and is on sale now.

According to Jeep, the engine has been "improved" for its installation into the Grand Cherokee. It is paired to a five-speed automatic transmission and Jeep's trademark on-demand four-wheel drive.

The V6 petrol is offered in Laredo trim. Laredo is Grand Cherokee's entry-level spec and includes cloth trim eight-way power driver's seat and four-way front passenger seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seat, Electronic Vehicle Information Center trip computer and tyre monitoring, dual-zone aircon, keyless entry and cargo storage with reversible load-floor and water-resistant storage compartment.

Safety equipment includes four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; traction control and ESP;  Electronic rollover mitigation system; and front and rear full-length side-curtain air bags.

Jeep claims a combined fuel economy figure of 13.2lt/100km for the 3.7. This compares to 10.2 for the 3.0-litre CRD V6 turbodiesel and 15.4 for the top of the range 5.7-litre HEMI V8. Acceleration times sit behind the muscular turbodiesel -- 10.7sec versus 9.0 for the 0-100km/h sprint.

The 3.7 also is handicapped in terms of its towing capacity. While the V8s and turbodiesel Grand Cherokees boast a 3500kg braked towing capacity, the 3.7 is limited to 1585kg. This is less than the likes of the Ford Territory (1600/2300kg with tow kit) and Prado, but just pips the Nissan Murano (1500kg). For more click here.

Jeep Grand Cherokee range pricing