Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 LTD Review

Jeep Grand Cherokee: American-style off-roading

As European and Japanese makers increasingly turn their large off-roaders into polished, road-focused machines, Jeep remains a standard-bearer for the American 4x4 approach. Its vehicles have the rugged, outdoorsy presence of a pair of Timberland boots, together with off-road credentials capable of scaling Mount Rushmore. This Grand Cherokee looks fully prepared to wade through swamps and get properly down'n'dirty in places where posh “toff-roaders” from 'Yoorup' would rather not venture.

Yessiree Bob, the four-litre straight-six may not deliver the outright punch of the flagship 4.7-litre V8 Grand, yet it still has the muscle of a typical WWF grudge match. It will also carry you deeper into the wild west than similarly sized and priced competitors. For the money, the four-litre LTD looks positively Wal-Mart beside the Selfridges-style price of an equivalent Range Rover.

Paired with the straight-six are an automatic gearbox, cruise control, air conditioning, leather trim and electrically adjusted seats, all fitted as standard. There is admittedly some needless wood trim across the dashboard, but Jeep has at least stopped putting most controls on one steering-column stalk. Thankfully, the important functions are now handled by a dashboard layout that feels far more familiar to drivers accustomed to cars built on this side of the pond.

On-road manners and handling

Drivers moving from a conventional 'sedan' may find the Grand Cherokee's road behaviour unfamiliar. There is plenty of drama: the engine delivers an appropriately hearty bellow, while a heavy application of cowboy-booted throttle brings an Addams Family-scale lurch from the transmission. However, the performance is not quite as strong as expected.

Overall, it feels more redneck than refined, and its ride and handling are distinctly old-fashioned beside newer 4x4s such as BMW's X5 and Mercedes' M-class. The steering is not quite as light and imprecise as George W Bush's understanding of world geography, though it comes close. Combine that with dampers and tyres that seem inflated with discarded cellulite from a Florida liposuction clinic, and the result is a notably unsettled experience on tarmac.

Space and everyday comfort

Once you have adapted, the Jeep is soon easy enough to thread through town and cruise along the open road in, perhaps while dreaming of the Grand Canyon. Appropriately, that natural wonder is also what comes to mind when you try loading equipment into the boot. Like its country of origin, this Grand Cherokee is not without flaws: the front seats offer little support, while the rear seats are as slippery as a Ry Cooder soundtrack. Even so, it remains a cool wagon in which to travel.

Mark Holmes