First look: Jeep juices up Grand Cherokee

JEEP has launched an updated version of its Grand Cherokee overseas, ahead of an Australian debut in June.

Billed as the most luxurious Jeep ever, the MY08 Grand Cherokee has an overhauled interior – now with soft-touch dashboard materials, revised colours and textiles – and a number of additional cabin features such tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a more ergonomic steering wheel, more comfortable armrests, redesigned instrument cluster and a floor console with improved cup-holders.

Other new equipment includes hill-descent control, hill start assist, new front and rear parking sensors and “trailer sway control”.

Options now include a MyGIG multi-media entertainment system with MP3/DVD compatibility, an integrated 20-gigabyte hard drive, touch-screen navigation and Bluetooth-compatible UConnect hands-free communication. A new leather interior package has also been created.

Exterior styling changes comprise a different front fascia and grille surround, revised headlamps and new alloy wheel patterns.

An S-Limited model variant added to the range overseas will not be offered in Australia. The S has some of the visual enhancements of the SRT-8 without the extra performance.

These include various SRT-8 body enhancements, ‘Arrowhead’ 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows and, inside, the MyGIG system, an SRT-8 tiller, aluminium bezel trim and dark slate grey leather upholstery.