2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited-Soft Roader or Fair Dinkum 4X4

gaycarboys

Nov 15

I'm about to publish a very unpopular opinion about the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee L, I love it. There, I've said it.

The reviews seem to be full of critique which falls apart at the first sign of challenge. The reviewers ask the question: Is it fit for purpose? In doing so, they've completely misunderstood the purpose. They say that it is expensive and doesn't do what it says on the box, and they're wrong on some counts.

Yes, Jeep Grand Cherokee L is expensive, because it is designed to fill the part of the market once occupied by premium sedans. To misunderstand that is to misunderstand the market, and more importantly, the buyer.

Let's look at the segment and its buyers first: only a few percent of them will ever tow anything, and even fewer will take the car into serious 4X4 territory. Those 2 facts alone knock out almost all of the negative comments I've seen elsewhere in the media.

"It's not made for towing," they say. However, it has a 2,813kg capacity. That's enough to be going on with. Sadly, the only drivetrain option here is a V6 petrol so the fuel economy is going to be a bit rubbish.

"It's not a really capable off-roader," is another claim, but as previously stated, you'll be very lucky to see any of these climbing rocks, because their buyers don't climb rocks. The only rocks they like is in a single malt.

Although the range starts at $82,250, it finishes at $115,450. Only the "L" models are offered in Australia, and those have 7 seats. One also doubts the 3^rd row will see much light as they'll spend most of their time stowed.

This Week Review: Is 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 7 seat and proper 4X4, of just an eastern suburb tractor?

Help Support Gay Car Boys Subscribe to our Youtube Channel

Top GayCarBoys Stories:

ABOVE: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited review - Weekend Away

Looks:

When I first saw the new Grand Cherokee, I thought the "L" version didn't have the well-sorted proportions of the 5-seater, and that still stands. Only the top model gets 21" wheels with the other 2 having 20-inchers.

The big chunk of Detroit loveliness epitomises American design. It is big and bossy, with bags of attitude. The rear door is as big as the great open plains, and the wheel arches look like they were borrowed from bridge builders. Everything is on a grand scale.

The handsfree tailgate opens to a big cargo hold even, even with the 3^rd row deployed.

LED headlights lack a matrix option but still manage an automated function for dusk sensing and high beam.

It is hard to believe that something the size of a small block of flats is related to the petite Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The FCA Giorgio platform is also used by Alfa's Giulia, and Maserati's new Grecale. Apart from Giulia, the rest are described as crossover SUVs, further negating the nonsense fit-for-purpose claims. Giulia came out in 2015, so the platform can hardly claim to be new, soon to be pensioned off

Stellantis is dumping the platform, with most of its brands focusing on electric drive trains.

Drivetrains:

FCA is bringing the Grand Cherokee in one engine, the 210kw/344Nm V6 Pentastar petrol, mated to the ZF 8-speed automatic, and four-wheel-drive.

The V8, turbo 2.0L PHEV (aka 4Xe), and rear-wheel-drive models won't be getting any of our dirt in their treads.

30 years of grand Cherokee has culminated in a big, comfortable SUV, loaded with nifty gizmos.

Night Eagle gets Quadra-Trac 4WD, Limited adds Selec Terrain, and the range topper gats Quadrtrac II with Quadra Lift Air Suspension & Adaptive Damping

The Cabin:

Our test car, the mid-range Limited, still had a bunch of stuff built in.

The comfortable seats have powered adjustment with heating and cooling for the front, and heating for the outer 2^nd rowers. There is woodgrain effect giving the cabin a feel of gent's lounge in a delicate stand of elegant birches.

Uconnect 5 allows wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, withAlpine speakers doing a decent impersonation of a concert hall. I has a little too much bass for my liking, something I never thought I'd say. But, it is their Active Noise Cancelling which seals the deal for me.

The cabin is a very large, blissful oasis of calm and quiet, even on the open road.

The 3^rd row is accessed by tumbling the 2^nd row forward, but there is still a level of fitness needed to be able to enter the size-limited 3^rd row, let alone sit in it. Despite the huge rear doors, it is best left for enthusiastic teens wanting privacy.

Fam Cam uses a roof mounted camera for a bird's eye view of everything rear of the front seats, so the teens in the back will still need to mind their P's and Q's.

Grand Cherokee is American, with an American level of USBs and cup holders, which is a good thing.

Although Uconnect5 allows a goodly amount of off-road monitoring, which as we've said, will get little use.

The Drive:

There is no hiding the bulk when parking, but it is much easier than you'd think. The parking cameras are pin sharp, but only the top model gets automated assistance and a 360⁰ view.

Jeep is abandoning its ICE drivelines, and diesel can now only be found in Compass. The thumping V8 would be a hoot, but at $2.50 a litre, only a Sheik could afford to fund it. The V6 petrol promises 10L.8L/100k, but even with a foot as light as a feather, the best we could manage 12.8. At the highway speeds, economy is around 8.7L/100k, so that's well over 1,000km out of the 104L tank.

At least the old girl doesn't demand the most expensive fuel. Any unleaded will do. Filling it with the good stuff is going to set you back around $260, so that will put a hole in your weekend plans if you're not careful.

The temptation is to shove is in Sport, and plant your foot. The V6 sounds deliciously silky, and the 8-speed is an old favourite. On the highway, you find the V6 is more than enough for most applications, but it does find itself breathless and eventually runs out of puff when overtaking. You have to remind yourself that you're not in a 1200kg sports car at times.

The (optional) HUD, digital dash and Uconnect5 make life fairly easy, and I found myself using Google maps via wireless CarPlay.

The steering lacks road feel, but most electric steering does. It allows safety and driver aids using steering intervention, but only the top model gets the full suite of goodies.

Grand Cherokee L is impressive, but it takes up much of the lane and insists on beeping at you.

It was constantly telling me to brake, even when no one was in front of me. It seemed to happen whenever there was a truck on my left. Worse still, it nagged me to "stay in my lane." As I was dead centre, I can only assume it was telling me to mind my own business, the cheeky bugger.

Around town, you need to allow a little extra space around you, but parking and traffic are no trouble.

Does 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 7-Seater suit a gay couple? There are plenty of campers who enjoy watersports and fun under canvas. We are in the run-out of ICE drivelines, so why not go for it

Conclusion:

Stuff the nay-sayers, I loved it.

Grand Cherokee L is like a brassy, Gold Coast retiree that says everything at the top of its voice. It is unmissable, comfortable, and shamelessly vast.

Only the top model has low-range gears, so 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited is really a very large soft-roader, the way that almost ALL SUVs are used.

I have no need of such a large vehicle, but I'd always enjoy having a go.

Grand Cherokee L Limited

Price: $87,950
Engine: V6 Pentastar Petrol
Power: 210/kw344Nm
Trans: 8-speed ZF automatic
Econ: 12.8L/100k
CO2: Euro 6, 243g/k

Options:

Premium Paint: $1,750 MSRP
Vision Group: $4,250 MSRP
- Dual-pane sunroof
- Head-Up Display

Other GayCarBoys SUV Stories:

Tags: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 7 Seater, 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 7 Seater review, gay 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 7 Seater, V6 pentastar, Jeep Australia, Jeep SUV, gay campers, gay watersports,

Hash: #2022JeepGrandCherokeeLLimited7Seater, #2022JeepGrandCherokeeLLimited7Seaterreview, ##2022JeepGrandCherokeeLLimited7Seater, #V6pentastar, #JeepAustralia, #JeepSUV, #gaycampers, #gaywatersports,

Comment

Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Gay Car Boys.
Change your email settings at manage subscriptions.

Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser:
https://gaycarboys.com/2022-jeep-grand-cherokee-l-limited-soft-roader-or-fair-dinkum-4x4/car-reviews-by-brand/jeep-reviews/