JEEP may not have been in the black for a while now, but it sure is back in contention – and in a big way – thanks to the fourth-generation Grand Cherokee. Priced to pick a fight with the Ford Territory, the American mid-sized SUV keeps its predecessor’s impressive off-road capabilities, but adds a major dose of on-road driveability and refinement thanks to an all-new platform shared with next year’s Mercedes M-class. There’s plenty to discover and enjoy in the latest Jeep, but we question the wisdom of coming to market without the all-important diesel variant. Nevertheless, Kluger and company had better watch out because the Yanks are back in business.

SHARING some components with Mercedes’ second-generation (W164) M-Class SUV, the third-generation Grand Cherokee arrived with an all-new body, redesigned suspension and a host of improved drivetrains, with the diesel coming courtesy of then-owner Daimler. Three engines were offered at launch, all mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox – a 160kW/510Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel from Mercedes, a 170kW/410Nm 4.7-litre V8 petrol and a 240kW/500Nm 5.7-litre Hemi V8. Model grades were Laredo and Limited. Both featured high levels of 4x4 ability thanks to an on-demand system. A 148kW/315Nm 3.7-litre V6 petrol was briefly offered on the base Laredo from 2007 to 2008. But the big news was the high-performance SRT-8, belting out 313kW/569Nm from a 6.0-litre Hemi V8. A range facelift from August 2008 upped the 4.7-litre V8 to 223kW/445Nm, while a 2010 model cull saw the Laredo become diesel-only and the Limited gain a 259kW/520Nm version of the 5.7-litre V8. Jeep also imported 50 up-spec Overland models to test the market for the all-new WK replacement released in February 2011.
Get the full story: Jeep ushers in a new-for-2008 Grand Cherokee
Facebook Twitter Instagram