Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Land Rover Discovery

What's the difference?

Jeep Australia's first plug-in hybrid, the Grand Cherokee 4xe, has arrived at a time when the company’s sales figures need a decent shot in the arm.

Though it’s seemingly spearheading a large and extra-large SUV hybrid push into the Aussie market, with the likes of a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series hybrid on its way, the marque’s debut PHEV is only available here in the range-topping Summit Reserve spec, and only as a five-seater.

So, does the 4xe have enough of a jump on any large SUV hybrid rivals – including a rumoured but postponed Ford Everest hybrid – and is it enough to give the brand a much-needed boost?

Read on.

Land Rover has launched a 35th Anniversary Edition of the Discovery, a seven-seat model that’s been a familiar sight on Australian roads for decades. Sitting in the large SUV category, it’s up against a fiercely contested field where the Lexus GX and Toyota LandCruiser Prado are household favourites.

The special edition lands squarely in the middle of that pack, a space that demands serious capability and comfort while still delivering a sense of occasion. 

So the question is, does it manage to do all three?