JEEP Grand Cherokee (2022 - )

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the company’s flagship model with go-anywhere ability. With its on-road dynamics and off-road superiority, this model has received more awards than any other SUV in history.

The latest all-new, fifth-generation Grand Cherokee will only be available with plug-in hybrid technology and, with its wealth of high-end technology, it is entering the luxury electric vehicle category as one of the most technically-advanced, refined and 4x4-capable SUVs ever.

It also boasts more than 110 advanced safety and security features including Active Driving Assist with hands-on Level 2 autonomous driving. 

Admittedly, it’s not cheap with prices starting from £69,915 for the Limited model rising to £73,915 for the Trailhawk and Overland versions, and finally, topping out at £85,615 for the Summit Reserve – the model we tested.

This Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV is available to order now in the UK with first customer deliveries starting in the summer.

The fifth-gen Grand Cherokee boasts trademark Jeep design cues, including the seven-slot upright grille which, on the latest car, is wider and larger with cameras integrated seamlessly. The new front end features a full suite of LED lights along with a gloss black roof, tapered roofline, platinum accents and, for the first time, 21-inch alloy wheels.

The rear lights are connected by a bar housing the ‘Jeep’ name and there are trapezoidal wheel arches along with short overhangs to give the vehicle a wide stance. Blue accents, including the badging, refer to the vehicle’s hybrid status.

Moving inside, the interior certainly raises the bar with high class fit and finish throughout. There is perforated Palermo leather upholstery with double diamond stitching, real open-pore walnut accents, multicolour ambient lighting, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and 4 Zone climate control. There is a lot of piano black trim that looks smart, but will be prone to fingerprint smudges and also causes a little reflective glare.

The interior is generously equipped with Jeep’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system, plus an array of screens. These include a 10.25-inch customisable instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a 10-inch head-up display plus a 10.25-inch interactive passenger display. This screen allows the front seat passenger to watch a movie or the likes on the screen directly in front of them. However, the driver cannot see anything so there is no distraction.

The level of technology on the range-topping Summit Reserve, as tested, cannot fail to impress with a 19-speaker premium McIntosh sound system (Jeep is the only carmaker to feature McIntosh), a digital rearview mirror, full smartphone connectivity, an Alexa Voice Service and lots more besides.

Jeep has introduced a Night Vision camera can detect animals and pedestrians and there is a new 360-degree surround-view camera system with front and rear washers. In addition, the sensors, cameras and full park assist system will help make light work of squeezing this giant of a vehicle into tight spaces.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe features plug-in hybrid technology that sees the combination of an advanced four-cylinder, 2.0-litre petrol engine with two high-voltage electric motors, a 17.3kWh battery and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

With 380hp and 637Nm of torque, it can power to 62mph from a standing start in 6.3 seconds and tops out at 130mph.

The electric-only range is just 31 miles, but there are hybrid modes to tailor each trip so you can save the EV range for commuting in low emission zones if required.

Modes are called Hybrid, which is the default setting and blends the best mix from the engine and motors. There is Electric mode which is pretty self-explanatory and works provided there is enough charge in the 17.3kWh battery. The eSave Mode allows you to save battery charge so prioritises the engine, while the Regenerative braking mode helps to capture energy whilst the vehicle is slowing down. 

There are also Auto, Sport and Off-Road settings that alter the characteristics of the car, along with steering wheel paddles to shift through the eight-speed auto transmission manually.

The acceleration is rapid out the starting blocks and the Grand Cherokee made very light work of twisting mountain climbs. Motorway cruising was easily accomplished and the car was perfectly balanced on country lanes without any sign of body sway. The engine noise does get more noticeable when driven too enthusiastically, but otherwise it’s nicely refined.

The Grand Cherokee does feel quite large on narrow roads, but the excellent all-round driver visibility is a bonus in busy town centres with other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians at every turn.

We also took on a challenging off-road course in a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk model – the version designed for more testing terrain. And it lived up to all the hype as it climbed steep, slippery banks with ease, dropped the other side in a controlled manner thanks to the Hill Descent Control system, clambered over obstacles, waded through water and lent at nerve-testing angles.

At just shy of five metres in length, stretching 2.15 metres across and 1.85 metres tall, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a strong road presence. The interior is beautifully spacious with ample room for a trio of adults to sit comfortably in the back. They are treated to an extra 75mm of shoulder space and 19mm extra knee room on the latest model. Back seat passengers also benefit from their own ventilation and heating controls.

Finding a perfect driving position is an easy task with seats that have 16-way powered adjustment with massage function, along with a power-adjustable steering wheel. The seats and steering wheel can be heated to fend off the winter blues and there are memory settings to store individual positions just in case the car is shared with more than one driver.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and this can swallow 835 litres of luggage, a capacity that increases significantly to 1,463 litres with the rear seats dropped flat. It can be opened using a kick function by waving your foot beneath the bumper which is handy if you are approaching the car laden down with shopping, and the tailgate height can also be set.

Elsewhere there are plenty of practical compartments throughout the cabin, including a lockable glovebox, door bins with bottle compartments, a key slot between the front cup holders, a dual-height central cubby box, seat back pockets and a wireless charging pad.

With some off-roading in mind as is the Grand Cherokee way, the vehicle can wade through water up to 600mm deep, has a 275mm ground clearance limit, a 35.5-degree approach angle and two active 4x4 systems. These are called Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II with real electronic-limited slip-differential. Both systems are equipped with an active transfer case to improve traction by moving torque to work with the wheel with the most grip. 

There is also Selec-Terrain traction with five modes called Auto and Sport for road driving and Snow, Sand/Mud and Rock for more challenging terrain.

There are 4WD low gear ratios, along with hill descent control and air suspension that adjusts the ground clearance according to the mode. When in Sport it will be low but it will raise the height when clambering over rocks.

The fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee is not cheap with costs starting from just shy of £70k, but this is the brand’s flagship model so is expected to have a price to match that status.

Costs start from £69,915 (on-the-road) for the entry-level Limited model. This is ideal for business customers and is still generously equipped. Next up we have the Trailhawk which is the dedicated off-road model with uncompromised ability. This is priced at £73,915 which is the same as the Overland version which comes with more premium comfort as a priority.

Finally, our test car, the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve with its £85,615 price-tag. Not cheap, but you will get an incredible amount of kit as standard.

The day-to-day running costs are good for such a giant of a vehicle, with a WLTP-approved figure of 90.0-94.0mpg. This sort of efficiency would only be achievable if the car’s 17.3kWh battery was charged regularly and the customer took full advantage of the 31 EV-only miles.

The carbon emissions figure of 60g/km would see a first-year road tax bill of £30 but this would increase to the standard PHEV fee of £170 from year two.

In addition, cars costing above £40,000 are subject to a supplement payment of £390 for five years starting after 12 months.

Insurance ratings for the vehicle are yet to be announced.

With its instantly-recognisable trademark Jeep design and go-anywhere ability, the latest Grand Cherokee is quite the all-round package. Despite its rough-tough attitude, it has a softer side to its character and delivers refined driving traits. There is a wealth of tech at your disposal and there are luxurious fixtures and fittings that really raise the quality stakes.

It's not cheap and the price-tag will see it competing with some truly premium rivals, but Jeep fans are very loyal and this latest model could well be tempting enough to attract new customers to the brand.