Jeep Grand Cherokee V6 Overland launched

Demand for a top-spec Jeep Grand Cherokee that is petrol powered but doesn't have the thirst of the 5.7-litre V8 has pushed Jeep to launch a V6 version of the Overland.

The Grand Cherokee large SUV has been the success story for Jeep this year, with almost 5000 sales. Of those, around 1800 have been the base model Laredo, compared to 1600 Limited sales and 1000 Overland buyers. The $65,000 V6 Overland comes loaded with a 16.5-inch touchscreen with satnav, air suspension, a rear-view camera, air suspension, panoramic sunroof and wood trim around the leather interior.

More importantly, it uses just 11L/100km on 91RON or E85 petrol, against 14L/100km with 95RON fuel on the same model V8. It is also $4500 cheaper than the eight-cylinder. The spec and build quality the vehicle sits on the same platform as the last-gen Mercedes-Benz ML, courtesy of a brief and ill-fated tie-up between the two carmakers makes it a crossover-contentender in the mainstream and prestige SUV segments.

Fiat Chrysler Australia managing director Clyde Campbell says customers dictated the introduction of the Pentastar engine to the top-spec version. The V6 was already sold in base Laredo and mid-range Limited trim. "At $65,000, it brings all the appointments expected on prestige vehicles well within the reach of a much larger audience," he notes.

Fiat Chrysler Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher expects the introduction of the V6 Overland to push buyers up the scale. "I reckon there will be a lot of people step up from the Limited," she says. The value in this vehicle is just too good to ignore."

The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine pumps out 210kW/347Nm through a five-speed auto and five-mode four-wheel drive system. It has a towing capacity of more than 2.2 tonnes. As testament to the selling power of the Pentastar engine, Jeep last month launched a limited-edition of 600 V6-powered Jet variants that sit just above the base model Laredo.

The vehicles run black alloy rims, tinted glass, chrome and black exterior highlights and a reversing camera. At $46,500 it costs $1500 more than the Laredo and Jeep expects them to last two to three months.