Overview
OUR latest drive of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland quick wheelbase (five-seater) proved surprisingly good as the massive yank fourbie impressed on and off the street even with its wimpy petrol V6 engine main us to carry excessive expectations for the top-of-the-range Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe PHEV, the primary electrified “correct” 4WD from Jeep.
It’s getting proper up there in value listed from $129,950 excluding on-road prices inserting it among the many succesful 4WD ranks of the Land Rover Defender 110 P400e HSE from $139,300 and the Rangey Velar HSE PHEV with the identical turbo petrol 2.0-litre electrified powertrain from $144,400 each excluding on-roads.
A bunch of massive soft-road SUVs are additionally within the value body however if you need an electrified premium fourbie these are the three you wish to be for the dosh.
The 4xe seems the identical outwardly as different Grand Cherokee fashions aside from splashes of flash décor. It has related customary tools with just about the identical security and “digital” equipment.
The outside is differentiated by an unique trim therapy with a gloss black roof as a part of the Summit Reserve 4xe customary specification to create a “floating roofline” impact accentuated by a brand new window moulding that begins on the base of the aspect mirror and runs to the rear quarter window extending to the bottom of the backlight.
Together with intensive superior driver help tech’, the automobile is supplied with a spread of handy options to maintain passengers linked whereas driving, some non-obligatory.
Luxurious equipment contains premium LED lighting with daytime/night-time settings, ambient lighting with a five-colour choice, McIntosh 19-speaker premium audio system and a hands-free, foot-activated energy tailgate.
However many of the motion is below the ground and the bonnet the place you’ll discover the 4xe has a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine lifted from elsewhere within the Stellantis Group and two electrical traction motors pumping out as much as a mixed 280kW and 637Nm to the entrance and rear axles.
That’s a useful output in anybody’s measure and although overwhelmed for outright kilowattage by the now defunct SRT8 Grand Cherokee for energy (350kW), it beats the V8 for torque by 13 Neutron bombs.
Including additional to the 4xe’s attract is the highest whack Quadra Trac II all-wheel drive with Selec-Terrain (one of the best set-up supplied in a Jeep) together with Quadra Raise air suspension, once more one of the best from Jeep.
The combo bestows tremendous off-road functionality on the massive bush basher aided and abetted by its floor clearance, first rate multi-purpose rubber and extremely articulated suspension.
We nonetheless maintain reservations about monocoque chassis’ and massive heavy fourbies being pushed off street or towing. It’s quite a lot of drive being utilized to what’s basically skinny pressed steel, albeit notably strengthened within the GC’s case.
Jeep says that the 4xe has expertise that “enhances the enjoyable, freedom, and journey that the Jeep model is thought for, whereas offering unprecedented efficiency, gasoline economic system and adaptability”, an announcement we’d concur with.
However they’re dreaming to assert it makes use of a mixed common of three.2L/100km which on check was greater than double that in combined city, grime/gravel, and freeway driving. That’s nonetheless a very good effort for an enormous, heavy 4WD that weighs in at 2582kg and may tow practically 2800kg (braked).
The electrified powertrain feeds from a 400-volt 17.3kWh battery pack going by means of an eight-speed typical Torque Flite fluid auto transmission with a claimed electrical solely vary of 52km. Finest we noticed was 45km and that was driving with a feather contact.
Along with the hybrid powertrain, fuel-efficiency is aided by way of electrical energy steering and an electrically pushed air-conditioning compressor that each take away load from the engine.
Maintaining the battery at optimum temperature is a devoted heating and cooling circuit that features a heater unit and a chiller that makes use of the 4xe’s air-conditioning refrigerant to manage coolant temperature when wanted.
Jeep says charging time varies from lower than 10 hours (Mode 2) to lower than three hours (Mode 3 at 7.4kWh). We had hassle with the plug kind that didn’t match an NRMA cost station.
The 4xe has various modes for altering hybrid powertrain behaviour to finest swimsuit every journey, from each day commuting in pure-electric mode to prolonged freeway street journeys with the actually good components being no vary anxiousness and the power to discover off-road trails in close to silence.
When the battery is near depletion, a default full hybrid mode is activated; regenerative braking helps replenish the battery pack and with 4×4 locked in, all 4 wheels feed torque for regenerative braking as much as 0.25g, maximising the power restoration.
Driving Impressions
Virtually defying the legal guidelines of physics, the 2500kg 4×4 – with a small 2.0-litre 4 pot turbo petrol mill buzzing away below the bonnet – has a shocking quantity of kick that continues delivering a fast charge of acceleration as much as who is aware of what pace.
These two electrical motors actually raise the 4xe’s efficiency to a stage approaching that of the deleted, V8-powered Grand Cherokee SRT8. It doesn’t sound as raunchy however contained in the sensations are of the identical order… being pushed again in your seat because the boxy 4Xe rushes ahead like a sporty mannequin.
It does this with minimal noise coming into the cabin aside from a muted buzzing related to the ICE engine spooling up. Jeep appears to have calibrated the 4xe’s powertrain on the aspect of warning not wanting it to “arduous launch” from a standstill, preferring extra of a “swoosh” impact akin to a limo.
We choose the factor to get going arduous as quickly because the throttle is pushed… for security causes above all else.
The Torque Flite eight pace auto capabilities easily on a regular basis nearly predicting what ratio is required for any given circumstance and the motive force can over-ride if desired by means of the paddle shift.
Jeep says the 4xe will devour a mixed 3.2L/100km to which we are saying – pffffft, not true. Pushed fastidiously, the check mannequin returned round 8.5L/100km of premium, nonetheless a decent determine for such a big automobile.
They will need to have examined it driving a brief distance with an egg underfoot utilizing the EV mode more often than not.
In different areas, the 4xe actually shines significantly the air suspension which is the go-to choice for large off roaders because it covers off just about all contingencies with optimum trip and dynamic management.
The 4xe’s air suspension provides a supple and managed trip always, even when hooking arduous round tight corners on bumpy sealed roads. It’s even higher off street isolating huge potholes, rises and dips, tough gravel, and the rest thrown at it.
The identical may be mentioned of the spectacular Quadra-Trac II 4WD (AWD) system that has a lock-up facility when wanted and capabilities alongside related strains to Toyota’s LC300 AWD system.
You may merely depart it in regular AWD mode and let the 4xe deal with issues or simply dial up decisions from a number of modes that cowl engine energy supply, transmission calibration, suspension, and different features of the 4xe.
Different dynamics of the check automobile have been as much as spec’ together with brake efficiency and tyre grip throughout all surfaces. Jeep has accomplished its homework on this one implementing classes discovered over many years of 4×4 manufacturing. It stands to purpose actually as that is the corporate’s first electrified fourbie with extra together with BEVs to comply with.
The inside has a Vary Rover air to it exemplified within the mushy leather-based upholstery, multi-function wheel, extensive screens together with one for the entrance passenger’s private use and cozy totally adjustable and heated seats. The type of the décor is highlighted by a cool mild brown fake wooden fascia to the sprint and door playing cards together with different panels. Very cool.
The audio is monumental in efficiency offering tonal acuity not skilled in a very long time from many check autos.
The truth that the 4xe is a five-seater cuts each methods as some consumers don’t need or want a seven seat ‘bus’ configuration. After all, others do.
As regular, some over intrusive driver help (ADAS) options must be handled each time you drive the beast. Someday automobile firms may get it proper and permit homeowners and drivers to lock within the set-up they need as an alternative of taking the “Nanny State” possibility….
We just like the look of the 4xe and its delicate differentiation from lesser Grand Cherokees as it’s distinctive and good-looking, going a few of the strategy to justifying the premium value.
The massive query right here is would we purchase one and on the face of it the Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV has loads of attraction and is a real contender towards its equally premium priced direct rivals.
Or we’d purchase a Toyota diesel fourbie for lots much less and benefit from the facility (300 sellers) and safety (resale) of that call.
