Jeep lobs special-edition Cherokee and Grand Cherokee
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 11th Jun 2019
JEEP has released Night Eagle versions of its Cherokee medium and Grand Cherokee large SUVs, with the limited-editions arriving in showrooms priced at $45,150 plus on-roads for the former and $58,450 for the latter.
Jeep has used the mid-spec Cherokee Longitude as a basis for the mid-size Night Eagle SUV, which the brand says adds $6400 of added equipment for an addition $3200 in cost.
Meanwhile, the Grand Cherokee Night Eagle is based on the Laredo grade, and adds $10,400 of value for a $5500 premium, according to Jeep.
Loosely based on the previous Blackhawk special-edition models, the Night Eagle versions add a number of blacked-out touches to the exterior and interior of the two models.
On the Grand Cherokee, the Night Eagle scores 20-inch, split five-spoke black alloy wheels, a blacked-out signature seven-slot grille, body colour lower front fascia with black inserts, tinted glass, bright exhaust tips, black side window surrounds, rear tail-light bezels, front foglight bezels, rear step pad and roof mouldings, blacked-out badging and a special Night Eagle badge, as well as body colour rear fascia, wheelarch flares and side sill cladding.
Inside, it scores Black Capri leather upholstery with perforated suede inserts and black accent stitching, the 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a single-pane sunroof.
The Grand Cherokee can be had with either the 213kW/347Nm 3.6-litre petrol V6 or 184kW/570Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, with both sending drive to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Meanwhile, the Cherokee Night Eagle changes extend to 18-inch black alloys, blacked-out grille and side window surrounds, and matte black front door and Night Eagle badges, as well as gloss black foglight surrounds, lower front fascia chin insert, roof rails, and Jeep badging on the front and rear.
Inside, it adds piano black touches to the steering wheel, shift knob and air-conditioning bezels, black stitching on the console lid and seats, the same infotainment system as the Grand Cherokee, and the Longitude Technology package that bundles adaptive cruise control with stop and go, side distance warning park assist.
Jeep has also promised that the Cherokee Night Eagle will return in a limited run in next-generation form.
The Cherokee version is powered exclusively by a 3.2-litre V6 producing 200kW/315Nm, teamed to a nine-speed automatic transmission and driving all four wheels.
Through the first five months of the year, Jeep sales have fallen by 28.4 per cent overall, despite a 3.1 per cent lift in Cherokee sales to 231 units.
The top-selling Grand Cherokee has fallen by 36.9 per cent to 1154 units.
