MY20 Jeep Grand Cherokee released

An upgraded MY20 Jeep Grand Cherokee range has been released, bringing more standard safety equipment and better value at the bottom end of the large SUV line-up.

The bad news is the discontinuation of the entry-level Laredo variant, which previously opened the Jeep Grand Cherokee range in three sub-$60,000 grades: 2WD V6 petrol ($47,990), 4WD V6 petrol ($52,950) and 4WD V6 diesel ($57,950).

The good news is the Night Eagle limited-edition introduced last June is now a full-time member of the Grand Cherokee range, opening the line-up at $59,950 plus on-road costs, plus $6000 for the diesel.

As before, both Night Eagle models get the black-out treatment via dark exterior accents, premium body colour cladding, exclusive 20-inch black alloy wheels, premium Capri black leather with perforated suede inserts.

But for MY20, they add an array of standard safety features including Advanced Brake Assist, Forward Collision Warning Plus (AEB), Lane Departure Warning and Auto High Beam Headlamp Control.

Also standard is the Jeep Quadra-Trac II 4x4 system with two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, ParkView reverse parking camera, ParkSense front and rear park assist, seven airbags, bi-Xenon headlights, Keyless Enter & Go, dual-zone automatic climate control, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster display, eight-way powered and heated front seats.

All Grand Cherokee variants now come with an 8.4-inch Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and a class-leading 3500kg towing capacity continues on all diesel variants and the S-Limited 5.7L Hemi V8.

Moving up to the top-selling Limited variant brings chromed exterior embellishments and an urban-themed interior with rear USB charging ports and a nine-speaker Alpine Sound System.

However, the $63,950 MY20 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is now available only with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol 4x4 auto powertrain.

That’s because the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel is available in the SRT-inspired S-Limited version for the first time, joining the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 option. Both S-Limited variants are priced at $72,950, which Jeep says makes it Australia’s most affordable V8 SUV.

For MY20, the S-Package adds a 220-amp alternator and Rear Load Levelling Suspension, in addition to its Heritage Leather seat trim, exclusive 20-inch Granite Crystal alloy wheels, black mirror covers, premium LED fog lights, dark-tint headlights and tail-lights and dual trapezoidal exhaust

Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, SRT and Trackhawk variants carry over unchanged.

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee is renowned for its broad capability. The updated technology, safety advancements, refreshed exterior design and interior features ensure it remains one of the best offerings in its segment,” said Guillaume Drelon, Jeep Australia Director of Brand & Product Strategy.

“Through a rigorous market review and analysis, we have built a competitive Capped Price Servicing Program to give Jeep customers complete peace of mind when they service their vehicle at a Jeep Dealership.

“Each 2020 Jeep model, including the revised Jeep Grand Cherokee range, will have a Capped Price Service cost from just $399 per service for the first five years. Customers can be confident they’re getting the best technical expertise when they service through a Jeep Dealership,” said Drelon.