2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee range review

What is it?

The most popular model in Jeep's range, a family four-wheel-drive capable of off-road duty, serious towing and tackling the urban jungle.

Not to be confused with the smaller Cherokee SUV, the Grand Cherokee is a decent-sized unit that proved popular early in its life before dropping from more than 1000 sales per month in 2014 to just over 400 per month in 2017.

How many models can I choose between?

There are three engines and five model grades in the Grand Cherokee line-up.

Customers on a budget can go for the Grand Cherokee Laredo, either in rear-wheel-drive ($47,500) or all-wheel-drive form ($52,500) powered by a 213kW/347Nm 3.6-litre petrol V6.  3.0-litre turbo diesel motivation with 184kW and 570Nm outputs costs an extra $6500 over V6 all-wheel-drive models.

The two-wheel-drive Laredo features a reversing camera, 18-inch wheels and a five-inch touchscreen as standard, whereas all-wheel-drive models benefit from a larger 8.4-inch infotainment display.

Grand Cherokee Limited models add 20-inch wheels, sat nav, leather trim, and a nine-speaker stereo for $62,500 in all-wheel-drive petrol form or $69,000 as a diesel.

The diesel-only, off-road focused Trailhawk adds extras such as air suspension, underbody armour, a rear limited slip differential and all-terrain tyres for $74,000, while the luxury Overland has a panoramic sunroof, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control and 20-inch alloys for $80,000.

At the top of the range, the fire-breathing 6.4-litre V8 powered Grand Cherokee SRT offers 344kW and 624Nm outputs along with massive Brembo brakes, 20-inch wheels and sports seats for $91,000.  

All cars feature an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, and all prices shown are before on-road and dealer costs are added.

What do they cost?

Laredo     3.6-litre petrol V6 RWD  $47,500

Laredo     3.6-litre petrol V6 4x4     $52,500

Laredo     3.0-litre diesel V6 4x4     $59,000

Limited     3.6-litre petrol V6 4x4     $62,500

Limited     3.0-litre diesel V6 4x4     $69,000

Trailhawk 3.0-litre diesel V6 4x4     $74,000

Overland  3.0-litre diesel V6 4x4     $80,000

SRT         6.4-litre petrol V8 4x4      $91,000

Any options I need to know about?

Jeep offers plenty of accessories such as roof racks, side-steps, towing kits, off-road tyres and interior upgrade kits.

More importantly, the Trailhawk's off-road adventure pack featuring skid plates, self-levelling air suspension, aggressive tyres and an upgraded cooling and electrical system is optional on the Laredo and Overland models.

An active safety pack with blind spot monitoring, braking assistance, lane departure warning and active cruise control is standard on the Overland but optional on the Limited and Trailhawk - you can't get it on a Laredo or SRT.

The SRT's main option is a premium package that includes a sunroof, 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo and active safety features such as blind spot detection.

Is it expensive to own?

Jeep recently introduced the "there and back guarantee", which includes a five-year transferable warranty, five years of capped price servicing and lifetime roadside assistance (as long as you get servicing done through Jeep dealers).

While that is a comprehensive package, Jeep's service prices are more expensive than some rivals.

A 3.0-litre turbo diesel Grand Cherokee will cost $4285 to maintain for the first 60,000 kilometres of ownership, significantly more than the $2030 Ford charges for an equivalent Everest, or the $1440 Toyota requires to service a Prado over the same period.

Any issues I need to know about?

Yeah. The Grand Cherokee has been a punching bag for recalls, racking up more than two dozen safety campaigns for issues ranging from relatively harmless gremlins to potential fires and even a transmission selector design flaw that contributed to one US owner being crushed to death by their own car. Many of those problems will have been sorted for the latest model (which features a pistol-style gear selector - below - as opposed to the old car's T-bar version).

Jeep is aware of its ordinary reputation for reliability, which is why it introduced the "there and back" promise. While we can't guarantee trouble-free motoring from a new Jeep, you should count on the brand doing a better job of looking after customers who have problems.

Which is the most economical model?

Any of the 3.0-litre turbo diesel-powered cars, all of which return a combined fuel figure of 7.5L/100km. If you can't cop a diesel, the basic rear-drive Laredo is the next best bet, returning 9.9L/100km in combined running.

Which is the safest model?

That would be the full-Monty Overland, which is loaded with forward collision warning, active cruise control, lane departure warning and self-parking systems as standard.

The Grand Cherokee range holds a five-star ANCAP rating.

Which is the best model to drive?

What sort of driving do you like to do? The Trailhawk is the best option for off-road adventures, the Overland is a comfortable unit for long-haul towing and the SRT is the go-fast pick.

Every drive in the 344kW, 624Nm SRT is an event, thanks to its rumbling "Hemi" V8. But there's something special on the way...

Should I buy one now?

Not if you're considering the big V8, as Jeep is extremely likely to launch the new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in Australia.

The Trackhawk is a bona fide weapon with a supercharged 527kW V8 capable of launching it to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds - faster than the latest Porsche 911 Carrera GTS.

FCA hasn't officially confirmed plans to import that car yet, but we hear it is on the way with a price expected to be well north of $100,000.

Beyond that, the Grand Cherokee has only just been updated for 2017 - it's unlikely to be superseded or heavily discounted any time soon.

Where's the sweet spot?

The Grand Cherokee range is diverse enough to cater to a range of drivers and their individual needs. Our pick is the mid-range Limited in diesel form, combining a few of life's luxuries in a relatively affordable package ready to take on the great outdoors.