A GRAND AFFAIR

JEEP’S FIFTH-GENERATION GRAND CHEROKEE NOW COMES IN BOTH FIVE- AND SEVEN-SEAT MODELS. WE TOOK THIS FIVE-SEAT OVERLAND WITH THE OFF-ROAD GROUP OPTION TO THE TRACKS TO SEE HOW IT HANDLES ON- AND OFF SEALED ROAD

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

THE previous WK2 generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the best-selling model ever for the iconic brand in Australia due to a number of factors. It was stylish, it had a spacious and well-equipped interior, it offered decent off-road ability when equipped with the Quadra-Drive 4x4 system and height-adjustable suspension, there was a choice of V6 and V8 petrol engines as well as an excellent V6 diesel option, it carried a 3500kg towing rating, and, compared to the popular Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol options, it was more affordable and more compact.

That last point of size was especially important, as the WK2 found favour with the caravanning set - which continues to this day - who were usually empty nesters who travelled two-up and loved that towing capacity.

So we were very interested to see how the new WL Grand Cherokee would go when it arrived as a very different vehicle First arriving as the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L in 2022, the five-seat version only reached Australia earlier this year.

Jeep has gone for more of a well-equipped luxury design for the WL in lieu of off-road prowess and towing ability, and not all models get a dual-range transfer case and height-adjustable suspension.

The example tested here is an Overland model equipped with the optional OffRoad Group package which adds a heavier duty nine-inch rear axle (up from 7.7-inch standard), underbody skid plates, and drops the tyre size down to a more practical and comfortable 265/60R18 all-terrain. A Trail Rated badge tells you this is the off-road spec, and the Off-Road Group package adds $2750 to the $98,450 base price.