Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

The SRT packs plenty of feel-good factor, with a gargantuan V8 snorting away under the bonnet and its bold and brutish American styling. But even the relative value and decent practicality of this hot Grand Cherokee can't take away from some better rivals. Nearly £64,000 is a lot to pay and it doesn’t drive well enough or feel special enough inside compared to the standard version.

Think of a performance SUV and the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5M might pop in to your head, but have you ever considered the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT adds an American flavour to the fast off-roader market by using a blend of technology and brute force to deliver high-octane thrills and SUV practicality.

Jeep’s Street and Racing Technology team has added a huge 6.4-litre HEMI V8 to Jeep’s flagship off-roader, so it now produces 461bhp and can sprint from 0-62mph in five seconds – that’s not bad for a car that weighs almost 2.5 tonnes.

Put your foot to the floor and this burble becomes a full-on roar as the engine unleashes all 461bhp. However, while the Grand Cherokee might talk a good game, its ability tells a different tale, even if you switch the rotary controller to Sport or Track.

The 2,418kg Jeep is pretty hefty, and even though it has adjustable suspension the body control isn’t tight enough. In the softer settings the ride is comfortable but the body is never able to settle over undulating surfaces; in Sport, potholes and bumps thump through the chassis, upsetting the SRT’s cornering line.

Add in slow steering and the fact there isn’t much feedback through the wheel, and you have a car that really has to be muscled through bends, which isn’t enjoyable. The noticeable amount of body roll induces a further feeling of insecurity.

However, there’s no denying the effectiveness of the Grand Cherokee’s engine. Our performance tests show it sprinted off the line and on to 60mph in 5.3 seconds.

The gearbox has eight ratios to use, so each one is fairly short, which gives the SRT good in-gear acceleration, even though the box becomes decidedly jerky under such treatment. Still, the upgraded Brembo brakes deliver decent stopping power, even if the pedal feels spongy.

But even if you don’t hear it coming you’ll definitely see it. A handsome design means the regular Jeep Grand Cherokee is a good base to start from for a pumped-up performance off-roader, and this SRT model wears its styling modifications well.

The first thing you notice are the deeper bumpers, flared wheelarches and gaping vents in the bonnet; along with the 20-inch alloy wheels, slim headlamps with LED running lights and Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille, they give the SRT a menacing appearance. There’s also still a Stateside look to the Jeep thanks to its proportions and square-set stance.

At the back end there’s a pair of tailpipes that hints at the performance on offer. Further neat exterior details include chrome inserts for the front and rear bumpers, and the grille and window line.

There’s no doubt it’s an imposing car on the road, but the SRT’s sporty side is less noticeable from the inside. The basic layout and materials used are similar to those in lesser Grand Cherokees, although there are a few racier touches splashed around the cabin – including some carbon fibre dash inserts.

As you might expect from a 6.4-litre V8, lugging around just under two tones of high-performance SUV, fuel consumption in the SRT is terrible. Jeep puts the official figure at 20.1mpg and that’s despite a system that shuts off half of the engine’s cylinders under light throttle loads. 

But the astronomical fuel bill doesn’t seem as bad when you consider a Porsche Cayenne Turbo – which is only three-tenths quicker from 0-62mph – costs nearly £30,000 more than the SRT’s £63,995 price-tag. The SRT will depreciate quickly, too – our experts predict the Grand Cherokee will hold on to only 31.7 per cent of its new price after three years. It’ll lose a sizeable £43,696 of its value.

And everything you could ever ask for already comes as standard on the Jeep including part-leather seats, a dual-pane sunroof, a 19-speaker stereo, sat-nav and adaptive cruise control. The only thing missing is the genuine sense of luxury that you get in other European SUVs; the Grand Cherokee still has a few cheap feeling areas in the interior. 

In terms of interior space, the Cherokee is still a great proposition thanks to its boxy body. With the rear seats up the Jeep offers 782 litres. Fold them down and the maximum luggage capacity stretches to 1,554 litres, plus the SRT’s massive width means the square opening is very useful. The button for the electric tailgate is mounted in an odd place inside the boot, though, next to the handy LED torch.Cabin storage is strong. There are two cup-holders next to the gearlever, decent-sized door bins and a good glovebox. You also get extra room under the boot floor and no loading lip, but the load cover sits quite low beneath the window line.

Key specs

• Price: £63,995
• Engine: 6.4-litre V8, 461bhp
• Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive
• Economy/CO2: 20.2mpg/327g/km
• 0-60mph/top speed: 5.3 secs/160mph

Jeep Cheroke Limited 2015

New 2.2-litre diesel engines help the Jeep Cherokee put up a stronger fight against rivals.

There’s no denying the Jeep Cherokee’s new 2.2-litre engine is more urgent and eager than the old 2.0-litre, but while the engine has improved, the chassis and suspension remain untouched. That means it’s still a bit fidgety around town, and continues to wallow and roll on the open road. It’s competent, but that’s just not enough in a market dominated by Land Rover, BMW and Audi.

At the start of the decade Jeep was on its knees. As part of the Chrysler Group, it suffered complete bankruptcy in early 2009, before quickly being acquired by Fiat later that year.

Jeep’s financial struggles are now long behind it, though, and the brand has seen 23 consecutive months of growth in the UK.  The popular new Renegade now accounts for around 60 per cent of all sales, and a new Qashqai-rivalling Compass is on the way for 2017.

But the Cherokee is still a big player for Jeep. After a four-year sabbatical, the rough-and-ready SUV made a comeback in 2014 and, following feedback on the original engine range, it has just been made available with a pair of new 2.2-litre diesel units. With a choice of 182bhp or 197bhp, the upgraded powerplant replaces the old 168bhp 2.0-litre and sits alongside the smaller, cheaper 138bhp 2.0-litre option.

We were given the chance to drive the higher-power version of the 2.2-litre Cherokee on UK roads – in top-spec Limited guise. It’s identically priced to the BMW X3 xDrive 20d M Sport – and £1,095 more expensive than our current class favourite, the Land Rover Discovery Sport – in SE Tech trim.

So the competition is tough. But on paper, this new 197bhp 2.2 makes a compelling case for itself. It’s 1.5 seconds quicker to 62mph than before (8.5 vs 10 seconds) and 8mph faster flat out (now 127mph). Crucially, it also has 90Nm more torque, which makes it feel more eager right from the get-go.

Despite the extra performance, the new engine will also do another mile for every gallon of diesel fuel you put in. That means it’ll return exactly the same fuel economy as an Audi Q5 TDI 190, sitting in the same VED band for £145 annual road tax.

In real world driving the Cherokee is not what you’d call fast, and it doesn’t build speed as pleasantly or efficiently as the BMW X3, but the boost in power is welcome and the nine-speed gearbox swaps cogs quickly and smoothly. As before, there’s no steering wheel mounted paddles, and if you switch the ‘box to manual using the conventional lever, it won’t always allow you to select the gear you want and this can prove frustrating at times.

Plant your foot and the Cherokee appears to gain revs without much sensation of speed. Glance down at the dials and you’ll be surprised how quickly you’re going though, and it’ll keep on accelerating well past the national speed limit.

Basic models come with Jeep’s Active Drive I system, which cleverly disconnects the rear axle when not needed to save fuel. However, the 197bhp version is also available with Active Drive II, with a low range setting for improved off-roading. This adds £185 to the price, but doesn’t affect the car’s 2.5-tonne towing capacity.

Refinement is a little off the pace in such a competitive class. The Jeep is rather noisy at idle, but settles down at speed and doesn’t suffer too much on the motorway. A Mercedes GLC is much quieter, though, even on the larger AMG Line alloy wheels.

But it’s the suspension that caused us the most upset. Despite fitting a larger, more powerful engine, Jeep has done nothing to improve the way the Cherokee drives. That means it still fidgets over lumps and bumps in town, yet wallows and rolls over undulating B-roads. It’s a recipe for car sickness and feels sloppy compared to BMW’s X3 or even models like the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan.

You won’t be disappointed by the extensive kit list, though. This 197bhp engine is only available as a range-topping Limited model (the off-road biased Trailhawk version is reserved for the 3.2-litre petrol V6), while the lower-powered 182bhp car can be had in lesser Longitude and Longitude+ guises.

Our Limited spec car boasted a seven-inch TFT screen between the dials, electrically-operated heated and ventilated front seats, and xenon headlamps as well as larger 18-inch alloy wheels, a power tailgate and keyless go as standard. Jeep’s familiar 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen media centre and maps is standard on Longitude+ and Limited cars, too.

Practicality is unaffected, which means the reasonable 591-litre boot is still extendable to 714 litres with the rear seats in their foremost position. While that’s competitive against rivals, fold them flat and the 1,267-litre load bay falls short of the 1,698-litre Land Rover Discovery Sport. If you need more passenger space, the Cherokee is available with seven seats.

Key specs

• Price: £36,795
• Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl diesel
• Power/torque: 197bhp/440Nm
• Transmission: Nine-speed auto, four-wheel drive
• 0-62mph: 8.5 seconds
• Top speed: 130mph
• Economy/CO2: 49.6mpg/150g/km
• Equipment: Leather seats, Bluetooth, 8.4-inch touchscreen

Jeep Renegade

 

The Jeep Renegade is Jeep’s smallest ever model, and designed to bring true off-road ability to the trendy crossover class.

 

The Jeep Renegade breaks new ground for America’s iconic 4x4-maker – it’s a downsized compact crossover designed to wade into the furiously competitive market dominated by the Nissan Qashqai and Juke, MINI Countryman and Skoda Yeti.

The Renegade’s brand heritage, genuine off-road ability and stand-out looks set it apart in such a competitive class, but if you’re merely after extra space and a commanding driving position rather than exceptional mud-plugging ability, there’s a sense the little Renegade is just a little over-endowed for what most UK drivers will throw at it.

Pricing starts at £16,995 for the 1.6 E-TorQ EVO 110hp Sport and rises to £27,995 for the 2.0 MultiJet placing the car between the Nissan Juke and top-spec MINI Countryman models.

There’s no doubt the Renegade drips with character and appeal all on its own, but it’s not the greenest or most fun to drive car in its segment, which means it’s likely to be another Jeep that remains a fringe product in the UK, albeit less so than its bigger brethrin.

Jeep says the Renegade’s polarising toy-like looks combine the sophistication of the Grand Cherokee with the rugged appeal of the classic Wrangler. The main challenge was to set the Renegade apart from some of its ‘cuter’ doe-eyed rivals, hence the bluff ‘seven-slot’ nose, squared-off wheelarches, and bulbous tail lights inspired by old American army petrol cans.

The eccentric bodywork and dropping beltline evoke cues of Jeep’s back catalogue, but the overall effect is very spec-sensitive. In darker, military-like colours, and especially in Trailhawk guise with more off-road friendly bumpers and coloured towhooks, the Renegade actually looks quite purposeful. However, the standard versions are far more dumpy and likely to be just as controversial as Nissan’s Juke was when it arrived on the scene.

Inside, Jeep squeezes in even more character touches. The Jeep ‘face’ of round headlights and the seven-slot grille is emobossed into the rear-view mirror, speaker surrounds, and the tailgate. The vent surrounds are apparently inspired by base-jumping equipment, the pod-like central vents by ski goggles, and you even get a mud splatter graphic instead of a redline in the rev counter.

If you’ve stepped out of a mature Qashqai or Skoda Yeti the Renegade feels like playschool, but the sense of fun of say, a MINI is here, like it or loathe it.

How impressive the Renegade is to drive depends entirely on the environment you’re in. If you dare to venture off-road, you’ll discover the most capable all-terrain vehicle in the compact crossover class. Adaptive all-wheel drive with settings for different surfaces, plenty of ground clearance and good body control means the little Jeep is almost unstoppable off-road, with much of the light-on-its-feet feel that a Fiat Panda 4x4 enjoys.

If you want a small car that can tackle fearsome terrain and are put off by the age of the Suzuki Jimny, look no further than the Renegade, which is excellent off-piste. Whether on or off-road, the six-speed gearbox is a surprisingly positive and enjoyable shift, and the smooth nine-speed automatic is a real winner too.

If you’re worried the car is massively compromised on the road by how capable is it off it, don’t worry. In fact the Renenagde Trailhawk, with its chunkier tyres, has the best ride of the bunch. Plus, the car doesn’t lean too much in corners and grip remains superb. However, the steering is totally numb, the engines unremarkable, and overall the Renegade, while competent, can't match the MINI Countryman, Mazda CX-5 or Nissan Juke for driving fun, nor the Nissan Qashqai for refinement.

Given drivers spend the majority of their time firmly on the road, rather than mud-plugging, it feels as if Jeep has lost sight of what most customers actually want from this type of car.

Jeeps’ patchy history for reliability is on the up with its recent products, as it looks to improve upon its placement of 28th out of 33 manufacturers in the 2014 Auto Express Driver Power survey. More worryingly, Fiat, which owns Jeep, came 27th. The Renegade is based on Fiat’s new 500X crossover, given the parts-sharing between these two brands, we’re not reassured by the ownership satisfaction potential.

Safety is a better bet, with Renegade’s offering up to 60 safety features in an effort to be the safest car in the class. It’s yet to be tested by EuroNCAP, but with all models getting a high-strength steel body construction, a multitude of airbags and optional automatic city braking on the options list, the Renegade stands chance of living up to its tough looks in an accident.

Jeep has cannily sized the Renegade between supermini-sized compact crossovers and larger cars from the Ford Kuga and Hyundai ix35 mould, so that tactic along with its boxy shape means interior space is a strong suit. The doors open outwards seventy degrees at the front and eighty degrees at the rear, easing access, while the car’s lofty ride height isn’t a difficult to climb into.

The boot offers a competitive 351 litres with the seats up, and up to 1297 litres with them folded. Only top-spec models get split 40:20:20 folding seats as an option, however. Trailhawk models have a more utilitarian feel inside thanks to rubber mats instead of carpets in the footwells.

It’s a pity that the Renegade’s funky cabin doesn’t enjoy the same tech features as the new Cherokee. The infotainment system centres in Limited models around a 6.5-inch touchscreen sourced from Fiat and Alfa Romeo models, rather than the impressive new 8.4-inch interface exclusive to new Jeep models. Standard on basic cars are 17-inch alloy wheels, a five-inch touchscreen and electric mirrors, plus air-con and electric windows.

Conscious of UK fuel prices, Jeep isn’t offering the 2.4-litre petrol engine to the UK. We still get a good choice of engines though: a 1.4-litre petrol, a 1.6-litre turbodiesel and two 2.0-litre turbodiesels with either 138bhp or 168bhp.

That latter is only available with the nine-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. If off-roading isn’t your priority, the cheapest Renegade to run is the mid-range model. Jeep claims the Renegade 1.6 MultiJet diesel achieves 54mpg, yet is still good for 0-62mph in an adequate 10.2 seconds. The best petrol version, the 1.4 turbo MultiAir, is good for up to 47.1mpg.

Jeep Grand Cheroke

 

The facelifted Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV has a comfortable ride, but it's not exciting.

 

Jeep has done a good job of closing the gap between the Jeep Cherokee and the competition, as this new car is comfortable and well equipped 4x4, yet retains its serious off-road ability. It’s full of some great hi-tech equipment and luxurious materials. However, it’s just not as good to drive as the latest X5 and doesn’t even work out that much cheaper, either. 

Count the SUVs on any road and you’ll probably spot a few BMW X5s and plenty of Audi Q7s, but not many of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. In an effort to put more on the road, Jeep has introduced a new facelifted Cherokee to the UK.

There’s only ever been one engine available – a 3.0-litre V6 diesel – and that’s the same this time around. It’s been updated, though, with power up from 237bhp to 246bhp. That hasn’t changed the 0-62mph time, which is still 8.2 seconds, but it has lowered emissions from 218g/km to 198g/km and upped fuel economy to 37.7mpg.

The engine itself is quiet unless you’re accelerating hard and it feels quick enough once you get used to the auto gearbox. You floor the throttle and then wait for what seems like a fraction too long for it to kick down, and launch you forwards.

The ride is comfortable – our top-spec Summit model gets air- suspension as standard – but the soft set-up means there’s a bit of pitch under braking and plenty of roll in corners. The steering is too vague to let you have fun in bends, as well.

It is a good-looking car, though, inside and out. The facelift adds some narrow new headlights with a stylish LED design. Meanwhile, the cabin gets a huge 8.4-inch touchscreen which can be found in other Fiat Group products like the new Maserati Quattroporte.

You can’t argue with the space on offer inside: the back seats are large enough for tall adults and the boot can hold 782 litres – more than double what you get in a Volkswagen Golf.

This Summit model also comes packed with kit like sat-nav, full leather upholstery, a 19-speaker stereo and heated seats all-round. The issue is that an X5 xDrive 25d SE is just as fast, better to drive and costs about the same as the £50,205 Jeep when the extra options are added. It’s also 10mpg more frugal and emits less CO2.

Key specs

• Price: £50,205
• Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel
• Power: 246bhp
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
• 0-62mph: 8.2 seconds
• Top speed: 126mph
• Economy: 37.7mpg
• CO2: 198g/km
• Equipment: Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen, full leather and heated seats, climate control, 19-speaker stereo

Jeep Cheroke 140 Multijet

 

Verdict on lower-power, front-drive Jeep Cheokee 140 Multijet diesel that’s set to be the top seller.

 

The Jeep Cherokee 140 Multijet is comfortable, efficient and good value for money in this spec, but it’s not the best option for on-road dynamics or quality. If you’re not buying a Cherokee for its fantastic off-road ability, there are better choices out there – such as the premium Q3 or the well rounded Qashqai. It’s by no means a bad choice; it’s just not the one we’d go for.

We've already sampled the 168bhp four-wheel-drive Jeep Cherokee with a nine-speed auto, but the big seller is set to be this 138bhp front-wheel-drive Jeep Cherokee 2.0 Multijet 140.

It uses essentially the same 2.0-litre diesel as the more powerful Cherokee, yet where that car comes as standard with the nine-speed auto, this one has a six-speed manual. Still, it feels punchy enough, doing 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds.

Avoid four-wheel drive with this engine, though, because it’ll slow the figure to 12 seconds. Sticking with front drive benefits efficiency, with 139g/km of CO2 emissions and 53.3mpg. A similar Audi Q3 will get 54.0mpg and 137g/km.

Clearly, going without the auto and with less power, this engine feels like it needs to be worked harder than the 168bhp car. It seems a little harsher and the overall package a little less premium. No doubt adding the nine-speeder would improve matters, but at least the manual is light and accurate. The suspension still feels geared more towards comfort than handling, which means you glide over cracked roads without much fuss but lean into corners a bit too much.

This basic model, in Longitude trim, starts at £25,495 – only £100 less than a near-identical Audi Q3. Thankfully the interior’s nearly up to those premium quality levels, despite some scratchy plastics and a few cheap-looking details.

Bluetooth, rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control are included, but paying an extra £2,200 for Longitude+ ups the premium feel even further with an 8.4-inch touchscreen sat-nav. Our top-spec Limited car is £31,195.

Boot capacity is 412 litres with seats up and slid right back. Move bench forwards, and it’s 500 litres. Engineers have set up suspension more for comfort than fun, so the ride impresses on uneven surfaces, but the body rolls a little bit too much through corners.

The Cherokee’s main issue, though, is that buyers of this kind of car will be looking to stay on the road – and we’d pick an Audi Q3 or Nissan Qashqai ahead of it for that. Granted, the off-road prowess of 4WD models is a stand-out attribute, but this front-wheel-drive Jeep fades into the crowd in a very competitive class.

Key specs

• Price: From £25,495
• Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel
• Power: 138bhp
• Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
• 0-62mph: 10.9 seconds
• Top speed: 112mph
• Economy/CO2: 53.3mpg/137g/km

New Jeep Renegade 2015

The Jeep Renegade is an interesting newcomer to the fastest-growing sector in the world. With the Renegade, Jeep didn’t want to water-down its heritage so it's a crossover that’s brilliant off-road - but average on it. If heading out of bounds is your thing, then look no further, but we suspect the Renegade is just a little too skilled in one department.

Famous for producing large and very capable off-roaders, the American Jeep brand will add a number of new models to its range over the next three years to finally take on the Europeans head-to-head. And leading the charge is the Renegade, a brand new entry-point to Jeep ownership.

Using the new Fiat 500X as its base, the new Jeep enters the fiercest and fastest growing model sector in the world – the compact crossover segment, dominated by the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Audi Q3. But while this marketplace is home to crossovers designed with the King’s Road in mind rather than the Cairngorms, Jeep is keen to reverse this trend. It’s throwing its near 70-year heritage at the little car and endowing it with best-in-class off-roading ability. There’s even a special Trailhawk model designed to take on genuinely challenging off-road trails.

 
We got behind the wheel of the car set to lead Renegade sales in the UK – the mid-spec Limited fitted with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive. First impressions are good; the Renegade’s boxy styling looks different from more curvy rivals like the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka, even bearing a striking resemblance to a Hummer, but one that’s shrunk in the wash.

It’s large too – it’s almost the same size as Nissan’s Qashqai from the class above and this translates to a roomy cabin. Up front the driver and passenger sit far away from each other; in the back, there’s loads of head and legroom and the boot space is almost on par with the Skoda Yeti – there’s 351 litres with the seats up which swells to 1,297 when they’re folded. The cabin’s build quality is decent enough but cheap-feeling in places. Limited is well-equipped, though as it comes with sat-nav, dual-zone air con and DAB.

Inside, the climate control dials and central 6.5-inch touchscreen are recognisable Fiat parts bin pieces, but that’s alleviated by a massive dose of Jeep ‘Easter eggs’. Logos of the Jeep grille, a bold ‘Since 1941’ motif and even a ‘mudsplat’ instead of a redline in the tachometer all inject – slightly clunkily – some quirky appeal.

Beneath the garnish, the cabin has a few foibles however, like the seat headrests which don’t adjust high enough causing them to dig uncomfortably into your shoulders. While the top of the dashboard you never touch is all squidgy plastic, the materials around the centre tunnel that you’ll feel every time you release the parking brake are hard and scratchy.

And though the boxy shape and its wide-opening doors offer plenty of room front and rear for a medium-sized family, the thick pillars mean visibility is dreadful. Add in slow steering and you’ve got a little car than manages to feel rather cumbersome and unhelpful around tight urban streets.

If you’re a fan of the chunky looks but don’t need to climb mountains and ford streams on your way to work, you can just buy a regular front-wheel-drive Renegade instead. In total, Jeep will offer a staggering 16 different powertrain variants of the Renegade, including three different four-wheel drive systems, an automatic gearbox, a manual and a twin-clutch transmission, and in the UK, three engine choices.

On the move and the 140bhp 2.0-litre is a strong and quiet performer with 0-62mph taking a respectable 9.5 seconds, and returning 55.4mpg and 134g/km of CO2. However, the boxy shape increases wind noise and the ride is bouncy.

The Renegade’s party trick to trump rivals is its auto 4x4 system that switches between two- and four-wheel drive and it’s impressive off-road upholding Jeep’s rugged reputation. But we can’t help but feel it’s a little too focused on going off-road – an activity most small crossover buyers aren’t interested in. We’d go for the 2WD 1.6 diesel in Limited spec saving £2,500.

There’s no doubt the Renegade is an interesting alternative to other compact crossovers, but while some rivals are stronger in all areas, the Renegade will appeal to those who want to buy into the Jeep lifestyle.

 
Key specs

• Price: £25,395
• Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, turbodiesel
• Power: 140bhp
• Transmission: Six-speed manual, four wheel drive
• 0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
• Top speed: 113mph
• Economy/CO2: 55.4mpg/134g/km
• On sale: Now