Surfing with the Jeep Cherokee - Day 3: Figueira da Foz - Lisbon

We have reached the end of our short route through Portuguese lands in search of the best beaches to pull on a wetsuit and enjoy the waves on a board. After passing beaches such as Mira, Vila Praia de Ancora or Figueira da Foz, we continued from there towards the Portuguese capital via Nazaré, another spot worth noting for surf lovers. On this route we are putting the Jeep Cherokee to the test with its 200 CV 2.2 Multijet diesel engine, paired with the nine-speed automatic gearbox and a very eye-catching exterior finish corresponding to the special “Night Eagle” version.

Day 3: Figueira da Foz – Nazaré – Lisbon

We leave Figueira da Foz and set off by road towards Nazaré, a town we reach in just one hour. At the highest point of the town (which coincides with the centre) there is a small church and a viewpoint with privileged views of the coast and the sea. Just 500 metres from the viewpoint stands the Nazaré lighthouse, built on top of a rock.

Sign in Nazaré

Besides its typical white houses and the craft stalls selling all kinds of sea-related products, Nazaré is known for its beach, very busy with surf lovers and tourists. At “Praia do Norte de Nazaré” the Guinness record for the largest wave ever surfed was set, and in September the greatest number of tourists gathers, coinciding with the town’s festivities.

Praia do Norte – Nazaré

After Nazaré, another interesting destination for surfing or simply for visiting and taking a dip is Peniche, a small peninsula that was originally an island and is the stage for the Rip Curl Pro Portugal – Peniche, which is being held these October days. Any of its beaches, from “Supertubos” to “Praia Norte”, is a good place to enjoy time with the board.

Praia do Guincho

Having left two surf paradises behind, close now to Lisbon, a mandatory stop is at Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe, that is, the point furthest west on the old continent. From there we follow a road running along the coastline that winds between dunes towards Cascais, where you can see vast stretches of sand, and the Atlantic current makes some of them interesting for surfing. Besides “Praia do Guincho”, surfing can also be practised across the Tagus River, at the Costa da Caparica.

Driving impressions

After several days analysing the Jeep Cherokee, there is one of the qualities that has surprised us most in this Jeep left to discuss. The traction system it fits, called Active Drive I , has no low-range transfer case, so we thought it would be less effective off-road than another version of the Cherokee equipped with the Active Drive II system, which does have one. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the electronic management across all kinds of terrain.

In a mountain area near Cabo da Roca we were able to put the off-road qualities of the Jeep Cherokee to the test. As soon as we selected the Sand mode, the car changes its response to suit driving off the asphalt, to such an extent that even the response of the automatic gearbox is also modified. For example, on a descending track, the gearbox itself helps reduce speed by holding short gears and adapting to the gradient.

Having seen this, we started raising the level of difficulty, and back home, in a familiar area where we could compare it with other off-roaders we had driven before, we put the Jeep Cherokee to the test by climbing a firebreak with stones, drop-offs, low-grip areas… It was only limited by its ground clearance, while the traction management was impeccable, one of the best responses I have seen in a crossover without a low-range transfer case. So for 90% of situations this traction system is more than enough to get the Cherokee out of any trouble (which, let us not forget, was fitted with road tyres on our test unit). That said, for the most demanding, the TrailHawk version with a low-range transfer case is the most suitable, since it can tackle rocks or greater adversities.

Within the standard equipment on our Night Eagle version, the sound system signed by Alpine stands out, with 9 speakers plus a subwoofer, 506 W of power and a sound worthy of a concert hall, along with voice control of the entire multimedia system, which gave us almost total control of the system’s functions. On the other side of the balance, I found it odd that it only fits rear parking sensors and not front ones, while other elements such as the electric tailgate, which is clearly dispensable, are present in the standard equipment.

In short, the Jeep Cherokee has gained in image. The leap in interior quality is simply outstanding, as it can now target other SUVs in the premium segment directly, and the engine range is strong in performance. We liked the traction system, which despite lacking a low-range transfer case still maintains off-road qualities above those offered by its direct rivals, while keeping a high level of comfort on country roads and motorways.

The Jeep Cherokee is available from 36,900 euros (discounts included) for the BUSINESS PLUS version with 185 CV and comprehensive equipment. The Night Eagle version, meanwhile, is limited to 100 units in our country, with a starting price of 40,950 euros (brand discounts included). Among the equipment of the Night Eagle version we can highlight: black Nappa leather upholstery, heated front seats, Uconnect 8.4″ system with navigation, nine speakers with subwoofer, leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, 3.5-inch TFT instrument panel, electric tailgate, rain sensor, automatic headlights and rear parking sensors.

Thanks to Jeep Spain for making this test possible
Photos | Diego G. Moreira