Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit review

Looking for a competitively priced, big, luxurious SUV with excellent off-road capability? Consider the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee…

It may not be the obvious choice in the UK, but remember, Jeep started it all with 2016 marking the company’s 75th anniversary.

The Grand Cherokee isn’t just a handsome beast, it’s packed with goodies – and whether you’re the driver or a passenger, it’s a great place to be. And to cap it all, it doesn’t just boast the legendary seven-slot grille, it’s a very capable 4×4.

I tested the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD V6 Summit which costs £51,995, though my car was fitted with extras such as seat-mounted rear DVD/Blu-Ray player and special paint, bumping the price up to £54,140.

Even at that price it represents good value for money. The list of standard equipment is as long as your arm. It includes heated front and second row seats, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel and 19-speaker audio.

And as if that isn’t impressive enough, it has 20″ double-spoke alloy wheels, 265/50r20 BSW 3 season performance tyres and a spare wheel.

Step inside, or up, and it oozes space. Five full-size adults can travel in comfort, there are plenty of places for storage and there’s a general feel of quality around all that leather.

There’s a generous 782 litres of luggage space in the boot, which while isn’t class-leading, it’s more than enough for most. This expands to 1,554 litres with the rear seats folded down.

It’s at this point that it should be noted that, unlike some of its competitors, the Grand Cherokee is not a seven-seater. There’s no third row of seats, and even though some other cars in its class make a big thing of this, the fact is that the third row is generally only for very occasional use, and even then, you have to be a contortionist to get in and out. So unless the ability to carry six passengers is important, this shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

As one would expect, there’s a commanding driving position, while the 3.0-litre V6 diesel is as good as any of its rivals. It’s pretty refined and there’s plenty of punch, while the eight-speed automatic gearbox is a joy.

And with a decent 0-62mph time of 8.2 seconds and a 126mph top speed, the Grand Cherokee is no slouch.

The surprises don’t end there because I managed an average of around 30mpg on various journeys combining motorways, county roads and city driving, which isn’t bad going for such a big, comfortable car.

And with 247bhp available, the Grand Cherokee’s 3500kg towing capacity is more than enough to cope with a wide variety of caravans.

It also rides well and all-round noise suppression is pretty good. Jeep’s also done a good job at combining a pleasant ride with the handling. Sure it’s big, but it doesn’t wallow.

During the summer I drove a standard Grand Cherokee over a demanding off-road course during Camp Jeep in France, so I also know it’s not scared of rough terrain and steep hills. That said, if I owned one, whether I’d subject my Grand Cherokee to the kind of punishment it’s capable of is another matter.

Verdict: The Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD V6 Summit is full of surprises. Good looking, well built, spacious, comfortable, and extremely capable on and off road, it’s a lot of car for the money.

Review: @garethherincx