Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: nobler than ever

After the 5.20 meter long XL version of the Grand Cherokee has been on the market in the American home market since the middle of the year, the short wheelbase, which is 4.91 meters long, is now being introduced. The plug-in version Grand Cherokee 4xe will follow in the USA at the beginning of 2022 and then the market launch in Europe later in the year. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is not only significantly changed and more modern than ever on the outside, but also on the inside the North American is on a completely different level than in the past decades. As is typical of the class, there are animated instruments, a ten-inch central screen in the middle of the dashboard and a surprisingly large number of haptic buttons and switches above the screen for individual functions and on the mighty center console. Here, not only can the individual gear steps of the automatic transmission be selected using a rotary switch, but the drive programs and air suspension can also be controlled. Electric and air-conditioned massage leather seats are standard in the top versions. The front passenger and rear passengers can also look forward to displays that are around 26 centimeters in size.

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee is our global flagship and will lead the Jeep brand into a new era of premium refinement, innovative technology, advanced 4×4 capability and electrification,” explains Jeep CEO Christian Meunier, “with a perfect balance of driving dynamics, 4×4 capability and 4xe performance, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most technologically advanced, luxurious and 4×4 capable Grand Cherokee in brand history. ” At the start of the market, two gasoline engines with six and eight cylinders were initially available for customers on the American market. The basic model is the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6 V6 with 218 kW / 293 PS and a maximum torque of 348 Nm. A 5.7 liter eight-cylinder with 266 kW / 357 PS / 390 Nm is available for all those who want it a little more powerful due to the larger dimensions. All-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic are compulsory for the models.

With the Grand Cherokee 4xe, the plug-in hybrid drive is new, which is also intended to attract customers in Europe. The basis is a two-liter four-cylinder that is supported by an electric motor. The battery pack in the underbody with its 400 volt battery has a capacity of 17 kWh. The battery unit and its control are protected by underride protection plates for tough off-road use. The noble off-roader also mastered the legendary Rubicon Trail purely electrically. Thanks to variable air suspension, the ground clearance is up to 29 centimeters and enables a fording depth of 61 centimeters. Overall, the 4xe system delivers 276 kW / 375 PS and 637 Nm maximum torque. The Grand Cherokee 4xe should achieve a range of manageable 40 kilometers in pure electric mode. The standard consumption: 4.1 liters of super per 100 kilometers and a total range of more than 700 kilometers. “The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe can adapt the hybrid drive to every journey, from daily commuting in pure electric mode to long motorway journeys without fear of range. In addition, he can explore nature off the road almost noiselessly,” says Meunier, “this is a Another important step towards realizing our global vision of Zero Emission Freedom. By 2025 we plan to offer a fully electric Jeep vehicle in every SUV segment. “

The Grand Cherokee L Summit pampers rear passengers in the USA not only with its long wheelbase and doors that can be opened particularly wide, but also with individual seats and a center console with shelves and cup holders. But even the European standard variant leaves little to be desired and offers comfortable luxury. There is a four-zone automatic air conditioning with individual fan and temperature settings for the passengers in the first and second rows. Parents of small children will be delighted: the entertainment system can, if desired, reflect the image of a rear seat camera. The Grand Cherokee offers a cargo volume of up to 1,068 liters.

In contrast to most of its competitors, the Jeep Grand Cherokee attaches great importance to its off-road capabilities and does not only want to convince on the road. The new generation of models is also available with three different all-wheel drive systems with and without locks, as well as gear reduction and electronic limited-slip differential. The variable air suspension can vary the ground clearance by more than ten centimeters, depending on the driving requirements, so that it is easier to get through the terrain, more aerodynamically advantageous over the motorway or more comfortably in the parking lot. Adaptive suspension dampers were combined with the air spring for the first time. Also installed for the first time: as soon as the driving conditions do not require four-wheel drive, the transfer gear switches off the power transmission to the front axle in order to minimize the frictional resistance in the drive train and thus reduce fuel consumption.