The first American production SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a grand history. The car was showcased as the Jeep Concept 1 in 1989 while its production started in 1992. However, that version was named as the 1993 Grand Cherokee 'ZJ'. The vehicle has witnessed four generations and 20 different model changes since then. The latest Grand Cherokee has finally landed in India with a big price tag. We'll help you brush up your auto history so that you get to know this American SUV better.
First Generation
The latest-generation model still retains some resemblance to the first-gen model. The 1993 SUV came with a grey plastic panel on the lower half of the vehicle, which gave a two-tone effect to the paint scheme. Also, the SUV had five-spoke alloy wheels and, in addition, the limited-edition model – with a massive 5.9-litre petrol engine – had body-colour plastic panels, gold-colour exterior accents, leather seating, power adjustable front seats, heated ORVMs and a keyless entry. In 1994, Jeep discontinued the AX15 manual transmission due to low demand and continued with just the four-speed automatic transmission in both the 2WD and 4WD variants.
Second Generation
The second-gen model shared just 127 parts with its predecessor. It also had a new set of engines which were lighter and more efficient, trading some of the torque in return. This generation was also the first to use the Quadra-Drive technology – the automatic four-wheel option. The interiors were also completely redesigned with wider and more convenient doors. The limited-edition models also featured an automatic dual-zone climate control and a 10-CD–changer with the Infinity audio package.
Third Generation
The third generation emphasised on power and luxury. It introduced the Quadra-Drive II technology and a rear-seat DVD player. Also, with the introduction of the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine, Jeep had made the car as good on the tarmac as it was off-tarmac. In 2007, it was introduced in Europe and received five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests. In 2008, the SUV underwent a minor facelift with changes in the headlights and mechanical outputs.
Fourth Generation
The fourth- or current-gen model went on sale in 2010 as a 2011 model. This time, the boxy looks were ditched for a more modern and sleek look. The interiors were also redone, this time with leather and real wood accents. Features like Bluetooth and uConnect electronics options were introduced and the Selec-Terrain system was employed which allowed the driver to select from various drive modes – Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud and Rock. Also, this SUV also came in an ‘SRT' avatar, which has a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine which produces 475PS of power and 630Nm of torque. The 0-100kmph time for this mammoth SUV is clocked at just five seconds, and the speed needle goes all the way up to 257kmph.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is 27 years old and is ageing beautifully. It is priced at Rs 93.64 lakh for the Limited variant and Rs 1.03 crore for the Summit variant (ex-showroom, Delhi) in India. Only time will tell whether this SUV will attract Indian buyers. But we sure are glad that this legend is finally available in our country.
Source: CarDekho.com
