Jeep Grand Cherokee 2017 Summit review, a real 4x4

Jeep is synonymous with off-road driving, and its entire range has that unmistakable tendency to head off the tarmac. It makes no difference whether you’re behind the wheel of a Renegade or a Wrangler, because the off-road response will always surprise you. Today we take the wheel of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2017 with the 3.0 CRD V6 diesel engine producing 250 hp and the Summit trim, the most complete in the range.

Although the new Jeep Grand Cherokee 2017 hasn’t changed radically, it has improved in many respects, including its off-road capability, to the point that it returns to the select and small group of premium 4x4s with excellent off-road capabilities.

Exterior design: Small changes on the 2017 Grand Cherokee

At the 2017 New York Motor Show the renewed Grand Cherokee was unveiled, an update with few changes but enough to keep Jeep’s flagship up to date. The front end changes slightly, keeping the seven-slot grille but with a new design, as well as the front bumper and headlights.

The front and rear lights use LED technology for all functions, and even the fog lights are LED. From the side, the height stands out, which can even be increased thanks to the air suspension, a great help when tackling difficult terrain. The brand also hasn’t forgotten the Jeep details found in various places on the car, such as a willys on the front headlights.

Precisely with off-road use in mind, this 2017 version improves underbody protection. For those seeking a more 4×4-focused setup, the Trailhawk version increases off-road capability with its own front bumper offering better approach angles for off-road use.

Interior design: Luxury saloon turned 4×4

Inside, the changes on this 2017 version are minor, but it maintains a level of quality befitting any premium German saloon. The dashboard features quality materials, soft-touch plastics and even leather, and you can control the entire multimedia system from the large 8.4-inch central touchscreen. Climate control is operated from physical controls and partly from the touchscreen (as are the ventilated and heated seats).

The instrumentation is digital, showing all kinds of information, including an off-road display that shows at all times how the car is behaving: steering angle, inclination, and so on, which is genuinely useful away from the tarmac.

The front seats feel more like the sofa at home than a car seat, very comfortable on long journeys although with limited lateral support. They feature electric adjustment, heating and ventilation. The driving position is very comfortable, elevated and with good visibility in all directions, helped by the enormous mirrors.

The rear seats are also very large and independent, with room for three adults without any problem, and the backrest angle is adjustable. The rear passengers have adjustable air vents, two USB ports for charging phones and seat heating. Were it not for the height (which makes access harder for older people or those with reduced mobility), they have nothing to envy from those of the best executive saloons.

In terms of storage and practicality, the Grand Cherokee has large door pockets at the front, cup holders at both front and rear, a large cavity in the central console and a rather small central compartment with a CD player. It is also easy to find several 12V sockets inside, both at the front, the rear and in the boot.

The boot has a capacity of 457 litres, with a slightly raised loading lip, although capacity increases significantly to 1,554 litres when the rear seats are folded down. The tailgate on this Summit trim is electrically operated.

Engine and performance: 3.0 CRD V6 250 hp

The three-litre, six-cylinder inline block is an old acquaintance in the Jeep range. It is offered with two power outputs, 190 hp and 250 hp, although both share the same engine. Our Summit-trim unit produces 250 hp, with more than decent performance for moving the Grand Cherokee. Paired with the engine is an eight-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter, aimed at comfort.

Behind the wheel you can tell it’s a heavy car; its 2,400 kg are there, but the powerful engine with a generous torque of 570 Nm makes the weight fade into the background, with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 8.2 seconds. It isn’t exceptional at pulling away from a standstill, but it does have enormous strength. From 1,500 rpm it already pushes, and pushes hard at 2,500 rpm until just over 3,500 rpm, where it starts to fade (torque is available from 2,000 rpm). The engine stands out more for its strength than for its smoothness; on the road, driving calmly, the comfort level is high.

Handling: Improved 4×4, comfortable on the road

As I said at the start of the road test, among the key features of the new 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the improvement in off-road capability. In fact, off-road ability plays a very important role in the Grand Cherokee range, with a dedicated version even more capable than the one we tested.

The first thing you notice behind the wheel of the Grand Cherokee is the interior comfort. No matter how many kilometres lie ahead, this Jeep will look after its passengers as if it were a luxury saloon. The sound insulation is outstanding, to the point that despite its dimensions, height and design, barely any engine or wind noise can be heard inside the cabin. Comfort is further enhanced by the air suspension, which filters out road irregularities perfectly.

It has an Eco mode, which prioritises good fuel economy, and a Sport mode that lowers the suspension height and improves its response to inertia and body roll. In fact, above 90 km/h the suspension automatically switches to “aero” mode to increase firmness and reduce height. That said, it isn’t a sports car nor does it aim to be; its dimensions and weight don’t make it especially agile through corners, and its exit from them isn’t as quick as we would like.

As for off-tarmac behaviour, this Grand Cherokee does not disappoint. It features a terrain selector (Selec-Terrain) with several modes depending on the surface: auto, snow, sport, sand/mud and rock. In addition, the air suspension has three different heights depending on the selected mode or the height we set manually. The drivetrain system called QUADRA DRIVE II has an electronic limited-slip differential for the rear axle. Torque is distributed automatically between the axles or between wheels, sending up to 100% of the torque to the wheel with the most grip, thanks to a series of sensors. With the press of a button we can engage the low-range gearing or activate hill descent control for the most difficult slopes.

And is the 4×4 system effective in practice? On this point it surprised us in a good way. We hadn’t driven a Jeep Grand Cherokee for years; on the last occasion, although it had the same drivetrain, the electronics tuning made it a little slower to respond. Luckily the years have been kind to this Jeep, and on this 2017 version we have verified in the field that the automatic management of the drivetrain has improved, being faster and above all more effective when tackling difficult terrain or obstacles that require precise torque delivery to the wheels with the best grip.

Our test was conducted on a firebreak (where we usually test off-roaders), with a difficulty more typical of a Wrangler than an SUV, as there are large ruts, roots, stones and gradients which, together with the dirt surface, make the climb difficult. Against all predictions, the Grand Cherokee moved forward with confidence and without too many setbacks. When we encountered a low-grip situation, we simply kept accelerating gently and the traction system did its job, finding a way to keep going. Add to these off-road capabilities the approach angles of the TRAILHAWK version, and you have a true 4×4.

Fuel consumption

The fuel consumption of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is in line with its size and weight, although thanks to the diesel engine the figures are reasonable. On the motorway, on our usual route between Madrid > Vigo > Madrid, the average consumption was 8.8 litres per 100 km.

On A-roads, average consumption hovers around 9 litres per 100 km, and it is very difficult to get below 8.5 litres per 100 km. In town, an environment that is slightly unfavourable for this Grand Cherokee given its dimensions, we recorded 12 litres per 100 km.

Equipment on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

Among the equipment, the standard safety features on this Grand Cherokee stand out, including multiple airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), stability control, tyre pressure loss warning, among others, and it also has a comprehensive set of advanced safety functions. Notable are automatic braking in the event of a frontal or rear collision, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive headlights and lane departure warning.

As for comfort equipment, the automatic parking system stands out, which is interesting thanks to its combination with automatic rear braking should it detect a possible collision when we get too close to the car behind while parking. Comfort also includes the powerful Harman Kardon sound system with 19 speakers (on other versions it is signed by Alpine and its performance is also outstanding), with a total output of 825 W. The large 8.4-inch touchscreen of the UConnect system completes the multimedia equipment of the Grand Cherokee.

Price and opinion of the Jeep Grand Cherokee

The starting price without any discount is 58,290 euros for the Laredo trim, although there are usually discount campaigns in force, so it is highly recommended to ask at the Jeep dealership. In the case of the Summit trim, the price rises to 83,340 euros, although in return the car comes fully equipped.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a very distinctive off-roader, recommended for those who want to enjoy a luxurious 4×4 but also want to leave the tarmac with confidence and with a good response. It is not the most agile off-roader I have driven, but it is among the most capable off the tarmac, while maintaining an outstanding level of interior comfort on country roads or motorways.

Photos | Test team

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadJeep Grand Cherokee1 version · from 102,250 €