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Jeep Grand Cherokee 2020 review: Limited

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has classic, rugged good looks.

It's a big car, solid looking. And it's a Jeep so you know it can handle big drives, towing a van or driving through the snow, right? The Jeep Grand Cherokee's reputation precedes it, but with no less than eight models in the Grand Cherokee range, priced from $47,500 for the base model all the way up to $134,590 for the top model, things can get confusing.

This review is based on the Grand Cherokee Limited in diesel, which is the second model from the bottom of the range, priced at $67,950, and puts it in competition with cars like the Mazda CX-9 and lower spec models of the Volkswagen Touareg and Land Rover Discovery Sport. It's a five seat SUV but it's as large as a seven-seater, which basically gives it a giant boot.

Here's how it did for this week's family review.

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How does it look?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the quintessential SUV. It's the one you see bounding over desert roads in Hollywood movies and therefore is the one that springs to mind when you think of an SUV. With a classic shape and a large, tough grille, it's quite butch and feels like it can handle most things you throw at it.

With a classic shape and a large, tough grille, it’s quite butch and feels like it can handle most things you throw at it. (image: Dean McCartney) With a classic shape and a large, tough grille, it’s quite butch and feels like it can handle most things you throw at it. (image: Dean McCartney)

Inside is quite luxe for this price bracket, with leather seats that are heated in the front row and a leather steering wheel that's also heated. There are some questionable man-made wood trims throughout which give away the car's price, though.

The centre console design is quite fussy with a lot of buttons and even virtual buttons as the home screen on the multimedia screen, which makes everything a bit messy. It could be a lot simpler. Overall though, it's not a bad look and you still feel good driving in it.

The centre console design is quite fussy with a lot of buttons and even virtual buttons as the home screen on the multimedia screen. (image: Dean McCartney) The centre console design is quite fussy with a lot of buttons and even virtual buttons as the home screen on the multimedia screen. (image: Dean McCartney)

How does it drive?

This was my first experience driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Limited diesel has a 3.0L V6 engine (the petrol version is 3.6L and costs $4000 less). I found that in suburban areas where there was a lot of stop/starting, a lot of going slowly and having to manoeuvre in traffic, it's not particularly nimble and was a little slow off the mark.

Once I got onto highway driving though, the Grand Cherokee Limited really turned it on. It drives smoothly with a lot of power and I was mega confident driving along the open road.

The Limited diesel has a 3.0L V6 engine (the petrol version is 3.6L and costs $4000 less). (image: Dean McCartney) The Limited diesel has a 3.0L V6 engine (the petrol version is 3.6L and costs $4000 less). (image: Dean McCartney)

So it's not built for traffic, but it's not a deal breaker if you're mainly driving it on larger roads. It's a 4WD which means you'll be able to take it off-road if you like going camping.

One of the most convenient things I found about the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the small turning circle. Cars this size normally have huge turning circles which makes U-turns practically impossible unless you're on a wide street.

One of the most convenient things I found about the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the small turning circle. (image: Dean McCartney) One of the most convenient things I found about the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the small turning circle. (image: Dean McCartney)

Not this car. The specification sheet says it has a large 12.2m turning circle but in reality, I was able to do U-turns outside my kids' school while looking for a coveted park, something I can normally only do in mid-size SUVs or smaller.

The steering wheel is easy to turn and not heavy, so parking is relatively easy once you get used to the size of the car. There's a reverse parking camera to help you out, too.

How spacious is it

There's one thing the Grand Cherokee has a lot of and that's space. The front has a lot of leg and headroom even for tall people and plenty of arm space between driver and front passenger.

The children fit comfortably in the back seat with enough room between them to fit a third child seat. I did it with two boosters and a baby capsule.

The children fit comfortably in the back seat with enough room between them to fit a third child seat. (image: Dean McCartney) The children fit comfortably in the back seat with enough room between them to fit a third child seat. (image: Dean McCartney)

I easily fit in the back seat at 161cm (5'3") and there is enough room between my knees and the seat in front of me that taller adults and teenagers will have a good amount of space in the back. This is a five seat car, not a seven-seater like some others in the category.

And the boot is huge - a very spacious 782L which will fit most things you need - a double pram, suitcases or sporting equipment.

  • The boot is huge - a very spacious 782L. (image: Dean McCartney) The boot is huge - a very spacious 782L. (image: Dean McCartney)
  • It will fit most things you need - a double pram, suitcases or sporting equipment. (image: Dean McCartney) It will fit most things you need - a double pram, suitcases or sporting equipment. (image: Dean McCartney)

How easy is it to use every day?

There's a helpful step around the edges to get into the car, which the kids (and I) found useful. The front seats are eight-way power adjustable and heated, the steering wheel is also heated.

Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest, room for bottles in the doors. (image: Dean McCartney) Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest, room for bottles in the doors. (image: Dean McCartney)

It has a power tailgate which is helpful when you're overloaded with heavy shopping. There's also a thick rubber mat on the floor of the boot to stop things sliding around.

In the front there are two cupholders, a centre storage bin, a spot for keys and a phone and bottle holders in the doors. Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest, room for bottles in the doors, and there are four USB ports in total - two in the front and two in the back.

What's the tech like?

It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard on every model which takes care of all the tech - you can access navigation via your phone apps, your podcasts and music via streaming apps and use voice control so you don't ever have to pick up your phone while in the car. Everything is managed via the 8.4 inch touchscreen.

In the Limited model there is a nine-speaker Alpine sound system that's decent enough to turn the music up loud.

Inside is quite luxe for this price bracket, with leather seats that are heated in the front row and a leather steering wheel that’s also heated. (image: Dean McCartney) Inside is quite luxe for this price bracket, with leather seats that are heated in the front row and a leather steering wheel that’s also heated. (image: Dean McCartney)

How safe is it?

There are seven airbags in the Grand Cherokee including side curtain airbags that extend to the back row.

For advanced safety you'll find lane departure warning, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and auto emergency braking.

There are two ISOFIX points and three top tether points to fit kids car seats in safely and the Grand Cherokee scored a maximum five ANCAP stars when it was tested in 2014.

It comes with a space-saver spare. (image: Dean McCartney) It comes with a space-saver spare. (image: Dean McCartney)

How much does it cost to own?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited diesel costs $67,950. Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.5L/100km, but our experience points to a 'real world' number of 11.1L/100km.

It's covered by Jeep's five year/unlimited km warranty and servicing is required every 12 months/20,000km which is an extra 5000km on most other company's requirements.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the quintessential SUV. (image: Dean McCartney) The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the quintessential SUV. (image: Dean McCartney)


The Wrap

The Jeep Grand Cherokee might feel a bit large and out of place at first, but once you get driving it you appreciate the rugged tough exterior combined with a premium interior that feels luxe for the price. This particular model, the Limited, is good value and it has loads of space for a family plus all the safety you would want.

I gave it a family rating of 8.1 out of 10 and my kids gave it the same - they loved the giant boot.

Likes

Exterior and interior design
Comprehensive safety
AWD

Dislikes

Not a seven-seater
Feels heavy at slow speeds
Man-made 'wood' trim

Scores

Nedahl:

4.1

The Kids:

4.1

$35,990 - $96,988

Based on 84 car listings in the last 6 months

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