Our Indooroopilly - Article on the Grand Cherokee by Chris Nixon

Chris on Motors

Brisbane Queensland Australia

As with another great name, Land Rover, everyone knows where a Jeep comes from and what it does ...

ANY successful product needs a point of difference and Jeep's is its unmistakable American character and strong brand recognition. As with another great name, Land Rover, everyone knows where a Jeep comes from and what it does.

It's a small surprise therefore that the biggest of Jeep's three off-road models, the Grand Cherokee, in fact is built in Austria in its right-hand drive versions. Austria? Ah well, at least it has a few hills.

Grand Cherokee has been around quite a few years in its current shape. For 2004 it comes with a minor facelift around the nose, which should help keep the model going until an all-new car, unveiled just this month at the New York Auto Show, finds its way Down Under.

The four-door wagon body has a lower roofline than many off-road vehicles, so it blends into the urban scenery a little more easily. That's appropriate, as this is a vehicle clearly designed with urban users in mind.

The first-time driver notices a few things immediately. Entry is easy because the seat cushion is lower to the ground than in some 4WDs; my elderley Mum appreciated this.

The seats are soft in a way that is almost unfashionable. Again, it's something you imagine American drivers would expect, although beyond the softness the basic structure of the seat provides adequate support.

I found the seat quite comfortable on a 200 kilometre drive.

The steering lacks the sharpness of some 4WD when turning off the straight-ahead, an impression strengthened by the soft response of the suspension.

It seems to be only a matter of getting used to these characteristics, because soon the Grand Cherokee feels able to be punted along quite comfortably.

The Grand Cherokee range comprises three models, Laredo, Limited and Overland.

Laredo starts at $48,990 with a standard six-cylinder engine producing 140 kilowatts. The test car, priced at $55,490, was a Laredo with optional 4.7 litre V8 producing 167 kW and five-speed automatic transmission.

Limited, from $65,490 comes standard with the V8 but a High Output version with 190 kW is available as an option.

The Overland has the High Output V8 as standard and is priced at $69,990.

A 2.7 litre turbo-diesel, with a modest 120 kW of power but muscular 400 Newtonmetres of torque, is available on all models for slightly extra money.

The Laredo V8 seems a pretty fair proposition. If you must have a V8 four-wheel drive, the only alternative in this price range is a Land Rover Discovery, which comes with 136 kW, 340 Nm, four-speed auto and a price tag of $51,990. (A new Disco was revealed in New York at the same time as the new Grand Cherokee.)

The Laredo's "base" V8 has plenty of mumbo. Acceleration is strong, while at highway cruising speed it's smooth, relaxed and quiet.

Fuel economy? Let's just say that with a V8 wagon weighing more than 1.8 tonnes you should be prepared to fill 'er up fairly frequently.

On sealed roads, the Laredo is quiet and comfortable. Off-road, it performs well with Jeep's standard dual-range transmission and progressive, speed-sensing torque transfer between front and rear wheels.

A system named Quadra-Drive, which comes with the High Output V8, adds the ability to provide drive if even only one wheel has grip in off-road conditions.

Ground clearance is 220 millimetres and the Grand Cherokee has fairly short front and rear body overhangs for negotiating steep banks.

Comfort is not surprisingly a strong feature of this American-designed off-roader.

There's plenty of room for five and a good boot behind the swing-up tailgate. The spare is under the floor, promising it will be a pain to change out in the bush when you're laden with camping gear, but around town providing a cleaner look and better security.

All the usual features are standard - air-con, CD stacker, cruise control, power windows, remote locking and so on. The steering wheel incorporates remote audio and cruise controls.

Upholstery is velour-style, but mercifully not the hot and sticky kind of velour I've found in some French cars.

It was a couple of years since I had tested a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I liked this Laredo V8 more than I expected to, especially considering the progress in price competitors such as Pajero and Prado.

With a new model around the corner, this one's getting on in years and isn't the absolute ultimate off-road performer, but it still warrants consideration from 4WD shoppers.

Its strengths are a different style, interior comfort, particularly quiet highway ride, that great V8 engine and off-road ability from the company that pioneered modern four-wheel drive.

Chris