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The latest line-up have improved over previous Grand Cherokees.
THE much-anticipated diesel Grand Cherokee has joined the Jeep ranks in Australia.
Running a three litre engine producing 177kW and 550Nm of torque, the oil-burning Grands for 2011 start at $50,000 for a Laredo, running up to $69,500 for the top-of-the-tree Overland.
Built by VM Motori and developed together with Fiat, the V6 is mated to a five-speed auto, claimed to be more fuel efficient (combined cycle 8.3 l/100km) than its predecessor and will tow up to 3500kg.
"It's the icing on the cake of the all-new Grand Cherokee range," says Chrysler Australia's marketing and communications manager Dean Bonthorne.
Some customers have been waiting up to six months for the arrival of this diesel version to join the 3.6 litre V6 petrol and 5.7 litre V8 petrol versions in a range of Jeeps attracting consumer and critical attention.
Pricing, build quality and refinement on this latest line-up have improved over previous Grand Cherokees, thanks to new drive from Detroit and Chrysler Australia to capture more of the healthy local SUV market.
The new diesel version could become the star of the Grand Cherokee wagons; a recent run over sand trails and beaches showed up a very flexible and willing engine and transmission in a capable and comfortable machine sitting on air suspension.
But still to come is the gravel-crushing SRT8 version; due here mid-2012 with 364kW of Hemi V8 up front).
