WE TEST-DRIVE THE NEW JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L ON A TRIP TO THE SNOW

IT’S SNOWTIME!

Central Coast Life & Style photo editor Josef Nalevansky puts the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L through its paces as he heads off from the Central Coast in search of the season’s first snow.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEF NALEVANSKY It had been years since I’d been to the snow – thanks, covid – so needless to say I jumped at the chance to trial the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee L in search of the season’s first snow, just as it turned unseasonably cold for June. If there’s anything I love more than image making, it’s four-wheel-driving, good coffee and craft beer, so this assignment was shaping up to be quite promising. There was a definite hint of snow in the air when I left Bensville at 5am, as snowfalls had been reported in the Hunter Valley the night before. Bypassing the big smoke as quickly as possible, I was determined to reach my favourite cafe in Bowral for a late breakfast. Having grown up in Southern California, it never fails to amaze me when driving in Australia how quickly you leave capital cities, finding yourself amid the majestic colours of the bush. Though the M7 was clear, with nine points on my record I waited to open the Cherokee up between cameras. Wow, hitting the 210KW 3.6L V6 was a “grand” departure from the former model’s diesel, which was all torque and no manners – finally a Grand Cherokee that was quiet, smooth and well-mannered; very unAmerican.

Before arriving in Bowral, I accelerated up the curves of Mount Gibraltar, which at 860 metres above sea level has incredible panoramic views over Bowral and deep into the Mittagong Valley. Jumping out for a photo-op, the drop in temperature was a shock to the system, and I was more than happy to get back in the Jeep after shooting to turn on the heated steering wheel and seats. Indulgent I know, but all in the name of research! The Press Shop in Bowral’s photogenic Bong Bong Street still serves up great coffee and food. A substantial dish of avocado, feta, poached egg, garlic and sesame on toasted sourdough is millennial heaven – and at $14 you can afford to have a mortgage, too. With my stomach suitably lined for a keenly anticipated wine-tasting in the afternoon, it was time to head off road and put the Jeep’s quad track system through its paces.

My next stop was Bendooley Estate, a seriously stylish 200-acre farm, vineyard and wedding and event venue. Book-lovers might know that the estate is the childhood home of Paul Berkelouw, of Berkelouw Books fame; it’s where Paul’s father, Leo, set up the family book business, which actually dates back over several generations to Holland in the 1800s. Paul and his wife, Katja, have done a magnificent job of transforming the estate. Its centrepiece, the historic Book Barn, is now both a restaurant and bar and probably the most beautiful bookstore in the country. I digress. The manager had kindly agreed to let me go paddock-bashing on the estate’s less manicured grounds, so we let it rip. The autumn rain had created a soggy, rutted farm track for the challenge, and I can report that even with touring rubber the Jeep measured up – it was certainly fit for doing the milk run from udder to cereal bowl! An overnight stay in one of the estate’s cottages after sampling a couple of Bendooley’s finest reds was a tempting prospect but my mission was to find snow, so it was onwards to Canberra for an overnight stay at A by Adina.

Jeep Grand Cherokee L: Specs • Engine: 3.6 litre V6 petrol • Drive type: 4-wheel drive • Transmission: 8-speed torque convertor automatic • Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System and

Quadra-Lift® Air Suspension allows all-weather driving • Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System features up to five modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow or Mud /

Sand at the flip of a toggle switch • Storage: up to 2395 litres of cargo space • Seating: 3 rows accommodating up to 7 passengers • Uconnect 5 Navigation with 10.1-inch Touchscreen

Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

That evening I caught up with renowned ACT photographer and good friend Paul Chapman, whose extensive local connections could no doubt find the season’s first snow. Over a few martinis and WhatsApp broadcasts, a local park ranger reported snow from 3pm at a place bizarrely called Piccadilly Circus. Unless you’re planning on visiting London, bypass Apple and go straight to Google Maps. WhatsApp groups with locals is a wonderful thing. About an hour’s drive from Canberra, back in NSW on the way to Brindabella, the road turned from red dirt to slushy grey and then to white as we drove further uphill. At last, I had to engage the quad rack snow system. You just flip a switch – too easy – and the differential held perfectly in the soft white powder. Shooting conditions were ideal and as we reached the peak of the hill, right on cue it started to snow – Hollywood had arrived in Piccadilly Circus! Mission accomplished. Well, not quite. No trip to the ACT is complete without a visit to the BentSpoke Brewing Company in Braddon. First introduced to BentSpoke at the Annual Kincumber Pub Brewfest, a few school dads and me have been devotees ever since. An excellent lunch washed down with a pint of Sprocket set me up nicely for the return trip.

THE VERDICT

My daily drive is a custom 5Litre V8, 2001 Disco II so my initial impression when I got behind the wheel of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L was that I was getting into a La-Z-Boy on four wheels. Something that might be useful for navigating the Central Coast's potholes, or the gravel driveway at Georges Fruit Barn while charging wirelessly and dictating to Siri. Well, I’m the first to admit I was wrong. The Jeep performed as promised on rough tracks, in snow and on the highway. It has enough room to comfortably accommodate a kids basketball team or, in my case, all the photography kit I need to lug everywhere. The highlight for me was the heated steering wheel. After shooting for long periods in freezing conditions (real men don’t wear gloves) that warmth was as welcome as a double of Woodford Reserve.