MOTORS Jeep’s Grand Cherokee

Making American cars great again: the new Jeep Grand Cherokee

Always regarded as a bit of a brute, a new version of Jeep’s flagship Grand Cherokee could be the American car that’s sufficiently civilised to take on luxury British brands Land Rover & Range Rover

AMERICANS, as we know, are not subtle. Nor are their cars, traditionally sporting large V8 engines or sold as massive pick-up trucks that pay scant regard to manoeuvrability in tight spaces. But the new version of Jeep’s Grand Cherokee could be the car that changes all that. The brand new car launches with just a single engine choice and it’s a 2.0 V4 unit with a plug-in hybrid powertrain generating 380hp. No V8 units here, at least not yet... for a performance version will probably follow, as inevitably as night follows day. That’s a refreshing change for the traditionally bullish Grand Cherokee, but what hasn’t changed is that the car is definitely not a soft-roader. As standard the car has a ‘QuadraTrac II’ all-wheel drive system with low range gears, Jeep’s version of a terrain management switch, plus Quadra-Lift air suspension which provides up to 27.8cm of extra ground clearance upon request. More rugged-spec models feature additional options for locking differentials and modes for rock-crawling and towing but suffice to say the Grand Cherokee is built for the rough stuff. It’s also built for comfort. Even entry-level Limited cars have adaptive cruise, heated front and rear seats and power tailgate as well as navigation and wireless phone charging all as standard. Overland models add a panoramic sunroof and Nappa leather seats, Trailhawk models add off-road cameras and Summit Reserve models provide night vision, autonomous driving and walnut trim. We’d stick to the entry-level spec, at just under £70,000, which, with equivalent spec, puts it on a par with the Defender and Discovery, undercutting the Range Rover Sport. It’s a shame that Jeep isn’t affording the option of seven seats, but otherwise the Grand Cherokee is definitely fit for purpose. With 30 miles of electric-only range, and about 57mpg combined – with judicious use of charging – and emitting just 66g/CO2, the Grand Cherokee isn’t just rugged and well-equipped, its not a bad option if you’re running the car as a company vehicle. For all these reasons the Jeep may provide all that you’re looking for from a big 4x4. Land Rover, we think, should be worried! n

THE DETAILS Jeep Grand Cherokee

Price: £69,900 (Limited). Powertrains: 2.0V4 PHEV, 380hp, eight-speed automatic gearbox, full-time 4x4 with switchable low range gearing. Equipment: 20” alloy wheels, rear camera plus front/rear parking sensors, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise, keyless entry, wireless phone charging, power tailgate, navigation, two-zone climate control. n

ALL THE CAR YOU’LL EVER NEED The Kia EV6 GT

Nobody quite saw it coming, but Kia has re-invented itself as one of the UK’s most well-regarded car brands, and its flagship electric vehicle is nothing short of brilliant...

EVERY YEAR, dedicated motoring magazines like Auto Express and What Car? survey their readers to determine the most well-regarded or most reliable motoring brands. This year, Auto Express named the Kia XCeed ‘the nation’s No1 car to own,’ and in What Car?’s 2021 reliability survey of cars up to five years old, Kia beat BMW, Mercedes, Audi Tesla and Land Rover.

In a few short years Kia has gone from being a budget brand specialising in superminis to one of the most popular and well-regarded brands loved by customers; a fact underwritten by its willingness to offer a brilliant sevenyear, 100,000 mile warranty as standard. Kia’s cars, too, have grown in size and luxury, with its seven-seater Sorento challenging the Discovery for those seeking a big SUV. This month the first deliveries will be made to customers of this, the EV6 GT. At £61,595, you’d be forgiven for thinking Kia is taking a risk charging BMW iX3 money for a car without a posh badge, but when you consider the amount of car you get for your money, the EV6 GT is phenomenal value and a really great vehicle for anyone looking to make the transition to electric car ownership. A 77.4kWh battery powers two motors with an impressive 577bhp and 740Nm torque, in turn driving all four wheels. The car has a range of 252 miles between charges, emits zero CO2 and reaches 60mph in 3.5 seconds which, for reference, is faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera.

Charging to 80% capacity takes between seven hours from a home charger, to as little as 18 minutes using a DC fast charger.

There’s just a single powertrain and a single trim level available with no optional extras, and happily, no packaged options on the list.

The EV6 GT also looks phenomenal, akin to a Jaguar iPace or a Tesla Model Y. With five seats, and boot space on a par with a Range Rover Evoque, the Kia is a spacious, smart, well-equipped and modern SUV promising the efficiency of electric motoring and a very satisfying ownership experience. n

THE DETAILS Kia EV6 GT

Price: £61,595. Powertrain: 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery with 577bhp and 740Nm torque, all wheel drive, single-ratio automatic gearbox. Performance: 0-60mph: 3.5 secs. Top speed 162mph. Range 252mi (WLTP), 0g/km. Equipment: Adaptive cruise control, 360° around view monitor, remote smart parking, wireless phone charging, head-up display, heated seats and steering wheel, smart power tailgate. n