Jeep Grand Cherokee L 2021 Review – International

Australian details for the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L are yet to be announced, but the all-new seven-seater is currently being tested here and we know it will no longer be available with V8 power, while diesel versions will also be axed in favour of the four-cylinder 4xe plug-in hybrid version due next year.

In the absence of local pricing, we expect the more upmarket new Grand Cherokee to move upwards from its current starting price of $59,950, without losing sight of the dominant Toyota Kluger, which ranges between about $48,000-$75,000.

In North America, with a starting price of a little over $US52,000 ($A70K) before freight and taxes for the base Laredo variant, the least-expensive Grand Cherokee L is a well-equipped value-leader for those willing to forgo much of the fancy-pants trappings of the higher trims.

With a starting price of nearly $US70,000 ($A95K), the mid-range Overland grade we tested here in Canada was optioned up to more than $US80,000 ($A108K) including on-road costs, and there’s both Summit and Summit Reserve trims that can push the cost to $90,000 ($A122K).

Those are big bucks, given the outgoing WK Grand Cherokee can be had in Australia with V8 power for under $75K for the 5.7-litre S-Limited, while the 6.4-litre SRT costs around $95K and the supercharged 6.2-litre Trackhawk topped the range at $140K.

And while the Grand Cherokee has always straddled an interesting part of the segment, offering enough cachet for country club acceptance yet also the off-road credibility to be at home in the bush, there’s no shortage of very impressive competitors in both the mainstream and premium large segments – including the new Toyota LandCruiser (from $90K).

It might surprise you to know the Jeep is about 220mm longer than the 300 Series at over 5.2 metres long overall and also rides on a 241mm-longer (3091mm) wheelbase, but is almost identical in width at 1979mm.

Yet the new American SUV’s most direct rival is likely to remain the top-selling Toyota Prado (from $60K) in Australia, where the Grand Cherokee L range will comprise Limited, Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve variants – the latter two available with second-row ‘captain’s chairs’, making them six-seaters.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is chock-full of safety features, including the usual assortment of airbags, but also plenty of active safety functions including forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control,

Beyond that are parking sensors to help prevent low-speed incidents. Impressively, Jeep has made all of the active safety features (except for the surround-view cameras and night vision) standard equipment even on the entry-level Laredo trim.

Neither the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the not-for-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had published safety ratings for this new model at the time of writing.

Optioned up as our tester was, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L rivals some truly premium machines in terms of its feature count. Four-zone climate control, head-up display, night vision display, and a panoramic sunroof are all present.

But Jeep’s engineers have used cameras to great effect around – and inside – this three-row SUV. Beyond the 360-degree views afforded, there’s also a trailer hitch zoom perspective, and a ceiling-mounted camera that can show front-seat occupants what the rear-seat passengers are up to. The reversing camera even has its own washer nozzle.

Jeep has done a good job in the past of keeping its controls and infotainment system operation simple. For the most part, this new Jeep carries on with that tradition, however, the optional 10.1-inch touch-screen system here often lagged in its response to inputs.

The standard infotainment display is a carryover 8.4-inch touch-screen and other available new technologies will include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 19-speaker sound system and premium leather trim.

As standard in the US-spec Overland is a wireless charge pad, onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity. Steering wheel controls are intuitive, and I’m always happy to see proper volume and tuning knobs, both of which are here along with actual buttons for climate control and seat heating – something Jeep hasn’t always done.

Overall, there’s little to criticise with the Grand Cherokee L’s dash and control layout from a functional standpoint, and its interior looks good, too. The large dash screen dominates the design, as is typical these days, but the look is contemporary and upscale.

However, for such a premium machine, some of the materials – like the expanse of shiny plastic on the lower dash, and the fake wood trim – don’t live up to expectations at this price point.

The Grand Cherokee L’s exterior drew mixed responses from onlookers. Some didn’t care for the new nose treatment with its slightly canted-forward and squat Jeep-specific seven-slot grille, but I think it looks great.

There’s no question it’s a Jeep, that’s for sure. The side profile is certainly boxier and longer than the standard five-seat Grand Cherokee, but it seems an appropriate middle child between that model and the larger Wagoneer that’s on its way, at least for the US.

The standard engine in the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is the brand’s venerable 3.6-litre petrol V6. It’s a solid mill that’s been around a while and has been lauded for its combination of decent power, smoothness and efficiency.

Its 210kW power output is respectable, but those who’ve grown accustomed to the abundance of low-rev grunt afforded by turbocharging will find the Jeep’s 345Nm of torque soft, especially when propelling this 2252kg three-row SUV.

For what it’s worth, although its outputs almost match the petrol V6 in Toyota’s top-selling Kluger, the Jeep’s most direct competitors – think diesel-powered seven-seat off-road SUVs like the Prado, Land Rover Defender and Ford Everest – all offer much more torque.

In Australia, braked towing capacity for the entry-level Limited variant will drop by 1kg to 2813kg, while its tare mass is 2190kg and its gross vehicle mass 2948kg.

The tow capacity of the other three variants – Overland, Summit Reserve and Summit – will be 2268kg, which is even further away from the class-leading 3500kg offered by the outgoing 5.7-litre V8 and all 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel models, not to mention the LandCruiser.

Many of the Jeep’s competitors also offer 10-speed automatics compared to Jeep’s eight-speed auto. Like the engine, this transmission has been around a while and has proven to be a decent companion to the 3.6L in most applications.

But here – possibly to cope with the L’s greater mass; or possibly because this was a pre-production unit being tested – it tended to drop several gears with even modest throttle application, causing a startling amount of revs and accompanying engine noise when only moderate thrust was called for. Beyond those bizarre occurrences, overall shift quality was smooth.

In North America, for Grand Cherokee L Overland and Summit models, Jeep also offers an optional 5.7-litre V8 that ups the outputs about 265kW and 530Nm, but it won’t be available in Australia and neither SRT or Trackhawk versions have yet been confirmed.

Rated at 11.3L/100km combined in the US, the V6’s fuel consumption rates mid-pack in the three-row class, and is virtually the same as the smaller, lighter Grand Cherokee, suggesting the new design with its active shutter grille helps aerodynamics at speed. The V8 is of course thirstier, though like the V6 it runs on regular unleaded.

Off-roaders should be happy the new Grand Cherokee will stick with a full-time 4WD system with low-range, a limited-slip rear differential and a Selec-Terrain Traction Management System with 202mm of ground clearance at base level.

In Australia, upstream models should come with Quadra-Lift air suspension with 262mm of clearance (down from 277mm but up from 235mm in the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series), which could partly explain their extra weight.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve all have a tare mass of 2270kg and a GVM of 3039kg, while the base model will ride on 18-inch wheels, the Overland and Summit on 20s and the Summit Reserve on 21s.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers good passenger space for all three rows compared with its rivals, and the uncommonly boxy profile equates to ample head room and excellent outward visibility all around.

The third row will only accommodate two passengers, and while cabin width and headroom are decent, legroom is doubly snug due to the fact there’s little space to put one’s feet. Accessing the third row is easy thanks to a second row that folds and slides well forward, leaving a sizeable opening to crawl through.

Cargo space is competitive, too, with a decent 487 litres of volume available behind the third row.

The Overland trim we tested proudly wore ‘Trail Rated’ badge on its front fenders, and its air suspension allows ride height to be raised for off-road duty, offering better ground clearance than any of its competitors. It’ll even ford water as deep as 610mm.

Your humble author tackled a trail that would stymie most of the current crop of SUVs like this during testing, but the Jeep didn’t even break a sweat.

Whereas many car-makers seem to be building their SUVs to drive like top-heavy, tightly sprung sports wagons, Jeep has taken a different approach and sought a luxurious ride for the Grand Cherokee L.

It still manages to keep its cool when driven sensibly, even around curves, but there’s a softness to the suspension that emphasises the Jeep’s mass, and it suits this machine just fine. Braking power is strong, although the pedal feel of my tester was non-linear and a bit grabby at low speeds.

Jeep’s air suspension works brilliantly here to absorb nearly any bump or pothole a frost-heaved Canadian road can throw at it, and with my tester wearing the off-road package’s 18-inch wheels and tyres (instead of the standard 20-inch rollers) there’s extra cushioning from the tall tyre profile.

Add to the supple ride the acoustic front and side glass, plenty of sound insulation, and the optional 19-speaker sound system, and suddenly driving around just to listen to your favourite tunes becomes an enticing pastime.

The seats, covered in Nappa leather, are heated in the first two rows, while the fronts are also ventilated. With the optional massage feature, they proved to be exceptionally comfy, even after a few hours on the road (and trail).

Jeep has loaded up the Grand Cherokee L with lots of features and an abundance of technology, creating a spacious, practical and comfortable seven-seat off-road SUV.

The brand and style hold enough cachet for the new Jeep to tangle with the likes of the Land Rover Defender at a lower price, while off-road capability should match cheaper and lower-tech rivals like the Prado and Ford Everest.

Depending on local pricing, that should make the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L a unique position in the large SUV segment.

How much does the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L cost?
Price: From $65,000 (estimated)
Available: Late 2021
Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrol
Output: 210kW/345Nm (estimated)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: TBC
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: TBC