Jeep Reviews

Jeep is the latest to join the ranks of car makers having a V6 configuration for a diesel engine, and it combines it with the modern technology of four valves a cylinder and double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank to operate those valves.The previous diesel engine in the now-superseded Grand Cherokee was an in-line five-cylinder of 2.7 litres. But the new V6 turbocharged diesel gives one-third additional power, a muscular 160kW, while torque – a diesel-engine strong point – is up 28 per cent to a considerable 510Nm.The new common-rail diesel engine is available in Grand Cherokee with only one transmission, a W5A580 version of the five-speed automatic especially configured to the diesel's output. Jeep calls it an electronic range select system whereby the driver can manually select upshifts and downshifts.Grand Cherokee turbo diesel is priced at about $2000 more than superseded models and now costs from $59,090 for the Laredo and $10,000 more for the luxury Limited.Laredo includes traction control, electronic stability control program 17in wheels, power front seats, dual-zone heating and cooling, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.The Limited adds leather trim and steering wheel, rain-sensing automatic wipers, memory seats and mirror positions, rear parking sensors and heated front seats.Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system is standard: it's a full-time 4WD and has electronic limited slip technology in front and rear axles as well as in the transfer case.A skid plate package, of plates for fuel tank, transfer case and front suspension, is an option. Jeep Grand Cherokee is a five-seater.SMALL TORQUEBig dealGRAND Cherokee has big numbers: maximum towing of 3500kg, in diesel form it weighs 2142kg-2169kg and has ground clearance of 214mm at the front axle and 209mm at the rear.Wheel goodFRONT-WHEEL travel is measured at 22.5cm and the rear wheels at 22.4cm with each corner having coil springs. Front disc brakes are a large 328mm diameter by 30mm thick and ventilated. Rear discs are solid and measure 320mm in diameter. Tyres are 245/65 Goodyear Wrangler on 17in rims.Diesel doerTHE V6 turbo diesel gives 160kW at 4000rpm while torque of 510Nm is there from 1600 until 2800rpm. The diesel will out-accelerate the 4.7-litre V8 petrol Grand Cherokee and give far better fuel economy. The diesel costs $2600 more than the 4.7 petrol.

Jeep has just launched a new 5.7-litre Grand Cherokee Limited petrol V8 with what is called a Multiple Displacement System (MDS) that shuts down four cylinders when the engine is not under load.It has a fairly dramatic effect on fuel consumption bringing it down to about the same level as a six cylinder petrol passenger car at about 13.5-litres/100km.And it's seamless–the switching is imperceptible from behind the wheel.It gives the best of both worlds, exceptional performance for a big 4WD and fuel economy you can live with.But there's more to the story than just a new engine, the vehicle is totally new from the wheels up and features independent front suspension with more wheel travel, rack and pinion steering with a tighter turning circle, a five link rear suspension with a rigid diff, Quadra-drive all wheel drive, Jeep's most sophisticated system and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).That's on top of the stylish new body, more rugged chassis and standard five speed auto with sequential selection mode.This is the third generation Grand Cherokee and it retains a distinct brand DNA in looks and engineering.Not a massive 4WD, the Grand falls between medium and large in size and has an attractive low roofline that sets off the new angular sheetmetal.Interior space is bountiful with plenty of room for five inside and a large load space.It's a constant 4WD with low range available via a console mounted switch. The Quadra- Drive system is one of the most effective in the business and gives Grand Cherokee impressive off road credentials aided by the large tyres with lug type tread and generous ground clearance.Mere tooling along the beach is child's play in the Grand as is pretty well any other sort of off road driving.This vehicle will go just about anywhere– in comfort and with security and safety.It's richly equipped for the $72,000 price with Bose sound, electric front seat adjustment and heating, power everything and leather upholstery to name just a few.But the focus is on the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine with 240Kw/500Nm output.It's an absolute cracker of an engine capable of pushing the beefy Grand from 0-100kmh in 7.4 seconds.It does this to the accompaniment of a gorgeous V8 burble and with no vibes at all.The auto is well matched to the engine and is handy to use in sequential mode.Stand by to see this same engine/trans- mission in the forthcoming Chrysler 300C.

Gone are the days when more mud meant more status among four-wheel drivers and it was a requirement not to wash it off for as long as possible for a better effect.The purpose of these vehicles is now often overlooked, together with the ability to get out and see parts of the country you can't otherwise see in a car or soft-roader.With a 4WD in the garage, the urge to do some off-roading was too great.It was also a chance to test Jeep's new top-of-the-line $49,090 2.8-litre turbo-charged diesel Cherokee Limited.The new engine produces 9 per cent more power (120kW at 3800rpm) and 11 per cent more torque (400Nm at 1800rpm) than the previous 2.8-litre diesel engine.It was an early start on Sunday morning as the nose of the Jeep Cherokee Limited was pointed towards Oberon. In retrospect, probably a good trip to do with an overnight stop.A stop at the local tourism office in Oberon and $5.50 got us a detailed map and directions to some of the local camping grounds only accessible by 4WD. And the words "only accessible by 4WD" meant some real four-wheel driving, not just dirt roads.The route decided on was down through Shooters Hill, the Gurnang State forest and into the Blue Mountains National Park to the Dingo Dell camping ground.The road is tar until the turn-off into the state forest and, while the dirt roads are well graded, beware of a few car-sized pot holes along Banshea Rd.Once you hit the fire trail, the track takes you along the Boucher Ridge and the 4WD access sign is pretty accurate.When travelling across the ridge, there are some pretty steep descents and a heap of huge wash-out areas that require slow speeds.The Cherokee chugged on down the track with 4WD and low gear selected.It took about 30 minutes to get to the bottom (with a quick stop to admire a beautiful waterfall on the way).The track finally wound down to the river and opened to a clearing and more than half a dozen other 4WDs.The route continues across the Kowmung River (water crossing), along the Bull Ant Ridge and up the Kowmung River Fire Trail before linking up to the Kanangra Walls Rd.Time did not permit tackling this section, which, according to the tourist officer – whohad done the track just a few weeks prior – takes about an hour and is a slow-going and "challenging" track.So, we headed back up the mountain and out the same way we came in.The camping area is back to basics bush camping, with the only facilities a pit toilet.Going back up is steep and the dry clay track was a bit slippery, so recovery gear may be required if the track is wet.The torquey diesel pulled well up the track although, being automatic, it did require feathering of the accelerator.Even in full-time 4WD, where most suddenly acquire a great thirst for the gold stuff, the diesel engine was not thirsty.Our 600km round trip did not use a full tank of juice. On the highway, the tacho sat comfortably on about 1800rpm and only jumped higher when the right pedal was squeezed for overtaking.The suspension is a little bouncy on the open road and the overall feel is more truck-like than a soft roader due to being made in the mould of traditional 4WD construction, rather than city comfort.That said, the Cherokee Limited does not compromise on luxury inside. It's funky and modern interior has full steering wheel controls for cruise control and radio, a compass on top of the rear-view mirror and leather seats.The seats, which fold flat in the rear, provide plenty of room inside for five adults.Cargo space is reasonable with the seats up – easily fitting the esky, chairs, barbecue, gas cylinder and odds and ends needed for this trip.The centre console is reasonable in size but the glove box seemed a little small. The doors have side pockets to fit a street directory and the rear doors have drink holders. The full sized spare adds reassurance.The trip provided the opportunity to experience the car doing what it is made for – and it easily passed the test.The Cherokee is perfect for those who want to get away and is made to go further than most would ever want to take it.

Add Cherokee and one has a sense of tribal power. It's an alluring combination and, frankly, I've long harboured a whim to get behind the wheel of a Jeep Cherokee.So, all my Christmases came at once when a feisty silver 2005 turbo diesel was put into my hands for girl testing. They make them for girls these days – fuel injection, power steering, automatic ...As an habitual manual driver, I was a bit askance at first but, hey, automatic is just a bit delicious. Like a duck to water, I took to it and off we chugged. Amazingly, this high-riding hard worker is as comfortable in the city as it is on dirt roads. It fits better into tight city parking stations than most sedans. You would not think it, looking at the vehicle. But it's a lean machine – and it even has flipper wing mirrors, which tuck flat in when you are going into a tight spot. How good is that.Between home, the shops and work, the Cherokee refused to drink, or so it seemed. The fuel gauge stayed so long on full that I started to worry. But when a couple of hard-driving days in the country took the fuel only to half, I figured it is just plain economical.The interior is classy without being showy. There are not too many gadgets, with a lot of controls neatly confined to the steering wheel. Above the rear-vision mirror is the temperature read-out etc – with the added feature of telling one in which direction one is travelling.I love that.The cup holders are a bit of an issue. There is one in the central console area – and the central storage unit is a bit awkward, being set a bit far back for the short-legged driver.But the interior door handles are the best I have encountered in a car. Sleek stainless-steel grips one slips the hand through. There are nice, sturdy hand-holds on both passenger and driver's side, too. Nifty for swinging sportily in to the car or for steep off-roading.The rear window opens with a double click on the key-ring control and the lower gate can be opened manually thereafter. The luggage area is like the car. It is more capacious than one thinks. And the interior generally seems spacious for the growing world of long-legged people. Headroom, too. It is quite a tall vehicle.Naturally the fun with this vehicle is in going out on to the rough roads – and the Cherokee surged merrily on the dirt, at home in front of a cloud of dust. Despite the warning signs about tippability inside the car, its road holding felt very secure on the winding dirt roads.Not that I am inclined towards any idiot derring-do in any motor car. Which is why I only got to open up the turbo power for one country overtake – and I was glad of the sure surge which made it a safe and easy manoeuvre.In all, the Cherokee is a trim, taut and terrific member of the compact 4WD family.

The Cherokee has a bit of a name to live up to, having been crowned 4x4 of the Year 2005 by Britain's 4x4 magazine recently.The Cherokee underwent a week of trials by 4x4 experts, notching up high marks for performance, off and on-road ride quality, and interior and exterior appearance.With the Grand Cherokee named World's Best Off- roader 2005 by 4x4 magazine, the 3.7-litre V6 Cherokee automatic took out the mid-size category, scoring 39 points out of a possible 50.Land Rover's Range Rover came in second with 38, and Toyota's LandCruiser third with 37.While Aussie conditions are another thing, the petrol-driven 3.7L V6 automatic version proved itself a capable allrounder during our test over some 800km.The 12-valve SOHC Power Tech engine produces 150 kW of power and 307 Nm of torque which, when mated with a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and lockup torque converter, provides plenty of grunt in all situations.Style wise, the Cherokee wears its proud heritage in its front end treatment, where a six vertical bar grille and recessed round headlights give it an unmistakable look. That's got to be a nice thing in a world of cookie cutter vehicle production.The Limited edition test vehicle boasted 16 x 7 inch Mechanica cast aluminium wheels and seats trimmed in dark slate grey leather. Looks good, but these are seats you feel you're sitting on, rather than in. More lateral support would be nice, particularly when the going gets tough off road.The six speaker sound system is all quality with steering wheel mounted audio controls a practical touch. The six disc remote CD changer is located in the cargo area.Look beyond the creature comforts and Cherokee is a tough rooster, having been built on a high-strength steel UniFrame.Four-wheel antilock disc brakes are standard and work well pulling up the vehicle's 2540kg gross weight.Cherokee's solid-axle rear suspension makes for true off-road capability while the independent front suspension contributes to on-road flexibility.Running ground clearance is 221mm.Having a full-sized spare wheel hanging off the tailgate – unlike some more upmarket off-roaders, which opt for space-saver spares – is reassuring when you head bush.Fold away mirrors on both sides are an obvious plus when also going gung ho through the gums.The 3.7l V6 has a towing capacity of 750kg/ 2265kg (unbraked/braked).Chrysler Jeep claim a combined cycle of 13.3l/100km which proved pretty well spot on – our test vehicle returned 13.5/.100km.The 3.7L V6 Sport costs $39,990 and the Limited Edition $45,990 (both plus on road costs).

After an absence of almost nine years, Chrysler is back on Australian shopping lists with the Jeep - a legendary name in motoring.  Monday is the official on-sale date for the Jeep Cherokee four-wheel drive, which is available in two models, Sport and Limited.DrivetrainBoth versions feature an overhead-valve 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine with a cast-iron block and cylinder head, described by Jeep engineers as "simple, not over-scienced".  Fitted with sequential multipoint fuel injection and using unleaded fuel, it delivers power of 136kW at 4750rpm and 290Nm of torque at 3950rpm.The engine is driven through a four-speed electronic automatic transmission with two modes - comfort for normal driving, and power when extra acceleration and torque are needed.  Acceleration from 0-100kmh is sprightly - about 10 seconds - with a maximum speed of 180kmh and fuel economy of 14.4 litres/100kmh at a steady 120kmh.The transfer case offers two-wheel drive for normal motoring, part-time 4WD for gravel roads, full-time 4WD when the going gets tougher, and low range for the really rough stuff.  You can switch between 2WD and 4WD any time at any speed, and the Jeep can be driven on any surface in full-time 4WD without excessive wear or damage to driveline components.The vehicle must be stopped or almost stopped to shift into low range, which operates at a ratio of 2.72:1.  Jeep officials say an oil cooler is not needed for the engine, but there is an auxiliary transmission oil cooler.  Both models feature solid axles, even though Jeep has examined proposals for an independent front end.EquipmentStandard features include air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, remote-control central locking, a 76-litre fuel tank, tilt-adjustable steering column, and power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes.  The Sport model gets all-terrain tyres, an off-road suspension package including heavy-duty springs and shockers, and a skid plate to protect the front suspension, fuel tank and transfer case.The Limited is distinguished on the outside by body-colored bumpers, grille and front air dam, fatter tyres designed mainly for bitumen, and aluminium wheels.  Inside, it gets an overhead console which includes a compass and outside temperature readout, electrically adjustable seats covered in leather, and six instead of four speakers for the sound system. Anti-skid brakes are standard and the spring and shocker rates have been altered to produce a softer ride.DrivingMore than 600km of testing in central Australia this week showed the Jeep Cherokee to be a capable performer both on-road and off-road.  Although the rear tended to bounce around, the Jeep Cherokee handled the sandy and rough conditions with ease. Steering was too vague, but the production line in Toledo, Ohio, is now installing a 14:1 ratio which requires more effort instead of the 17:1 ratio offered on the test drive.The interior does not have the most ergonomic lay-out of instruments, but the rectangular dash will be replaced in 1996 with a modern rounded unit.  Seats in the Sport model do not support the thighs properly, but this is overcome with electrical adjustment in the Limited.Late next year a diesel version will be available in Australia with manual transmission only.  This will be followed in 1996 by the availability of airbags plus the introduction of the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler models.1994 JEEP CHEROKEEBody: WagonTransmission: AutomaticModel: CHEROKEEEngine: 3 - 4Variant: SPORT (4x4)Fuel: UnleadedSeries: XJPower: 80 kW - 150 kWVehicle Segment: SUV MEDIUMTorque: 290Nm