Jeep Grand Cherokee test drive since 2005 SUV

Supreme Council of Leaders

The ceremony of the transfer of power over the jeepy tribe was supposed to pass decorously, without unnecessary hype. The old leader who ruled over the past six years was about to proudly go into the valley of his ancestors, giving way to the new - young and strong.
 

But the gods ordered otherwise, and the freshly baked Grand Cherokee III unexpectedly, not at all in the leading one, but just the opposite, in a subordinate position. The volitional decision from above is the main Commander. Everyone now should obey him now.

 

Comander will not get to Russia soon, and all this time the coolest for us will be Grand Cherokee. It is clearly cooler than its predecessor: top-end modifies is no longer equipped with a 4.7-liter V8 High Output with a capacity of 258 hp, but a 326-horsepower 5.7 Hemi motor from Chrysler 300C. The diesel version now has 218 horses - instead of the previous 163. So the arms race are evident. But not a price race: if you compare the old 4.7 Overland with the new 4.7 Limited, the increase will be only a thousand euros. And this despite the fact that the list of equipment has grown: the standard, for example, entered ESP. Since we were not able to choose cars in equivalent trim levels, for the third Grand version 5.7 hemi limited, for the second - 4.0 limited.

 

The great leader hooked on fitness, dropping chubby kilograms and getting a dense muscles. Today, it is more like a brick than a loaf, but the individuality is also stipulated. The most expressive element was doubled headlights, from which the Yaguar double -barreled substetricians stretched along the hood. The rear doors took a professional look: now they cover the wheel arches, thereby saving passengers from contacts with a dirty body. And the fact that the body is simply obliged to be in mud of a variety of consistency is due to the positioning of Grand Cherokee as a serious SUV, rather than a parquet city dad.

 

Massive doors are easily closed, without any effort, with a dull noble cotton. Unfortunately, the trunk door lost a comfortable outer handle - there was only a key above the license plate. There are still no hints of the third row of seats in the cargo compartment. Apparently, multiple months will be one of the main attractions of the flagship model of Commander. And Grand Cherokee is still designed for five.

 

The architecture of the front panel of the salon has been preserved without any changes. Its geometry has become a little sharper, but attention to design trifles is an order of magnitude higher. This is the German vision of the new Kraisler style, which we have already encountered on the 300C sedan. Slender rows of flat buttons, a neat game with a pseudo -shuttle - and the interior already looks solid in a European manner. Any-expensive to watch! But not to feel any, because the dominant material in the cabin, except, of course, the skin, was booming hard plastic. This is despite the fact that inside the old Grand with its heavy and careless design, mild plastic was used with might and main. Miracles! In fairness, I note that official dealers are also not enthusiastic about such a substitution, and now they are ready to offer the client their own options for finishing the front panel with prestigious materials.

 

E one trace of European influence is a grace - chairs. They are much tougher than that of the old car, but therefore it is more convenient on the long road. This ensures not only the best distribution of loads, but also much more tangible lateral support. With ergonomics, in principle, everything is fine. It is convenient for the driver to get the easiest way: at his disposal a bunch of conceivable and unthinkable adjustments - even pedals go back and forth on an electrician. The rest is hindered by too high landing, and at the back there is also a high floor, which makes you greatly bend your knees.
 
Why is that? Yes, because below, underfoot, is a full -fledged all -wheel drive transmission. Of the four drive options, the Russian Grand Cherokee received the most perfect, named Quadra-Drive II. This is a constant all -wheel drive with the distribution of torque between the axes in a ratio of 48:52 in favor of the rear. There is also a reducing transmission and blocking of all three differentials. I remember that the previous model was also equipped with a Quadra-Drive transmission, but the first generation. What has changed?
 

The main news is the disappearance from the salon of the second lever that controlled the distribution. Instead, a small silver little thing appeared, connecting the lower row of the transmission (when the assault rifle is positioned in position N) and at the same time turning off the stabilization system. The second news is the replacement of the previous inter -road differential Vari -LOK with new ELSD, blocking multi -disc courses on the command of electronics. These couplings differ in speed and are able to ensure the complete blocking of differentials. Exactly such a scheme is also applied for an interdose differential. In other words, in the limit of Grand Cherokee it turns into a Mercedes Gelandewagen, who also has a harshly blocked all differentials!

 

It is believed that on real off -road, diesel with its huge torque at low speeds is especially useful. But almost six -liter V8 with the moment is also a complete order. The Hemi motor takes Grand Cherokee from the place of a rush of stormy wind - a plastic cup. True - non -child - the weight of the machine in these moments is absolutely not realized. However, in the first turn or during the first braking, he immediately makes himself felt. The brakes of the new Grand are clearly more powerful, but they are triggered in two stages: first smoothly and sluggish, and then abruptly and in full force. Most likely, this is a consequence of the increased capabilities of the engines, and therefore, the speeds that need to be extinguished. The old car slows down smoother.

 

The smoothness of the course was better. The former Grand treated the pits and joints and did not notice a small relief. But steering worse. The new Cherokee has practically got rid of the jacket inherent in its predecessor. He had an independent front suspension, which did not slow down positively on the feeling of a car and a feedback characteristic. Zero here is clearer, reactive effort is more pronounced and changes along a more adequate algorithm. Along the way, the rolls decreased, and the car is less. The limits of stability cannot be seen: steep turns with a wet coating are overcome at a good move so confidently that ESP does not receive the slightest chance to prove its benefits.


What a sin to hide: the main thing in Grand Cherokee 5.7 is a wild dynamics. The SUV briskly responds even to the patting of the gas pedal, and it is worth letting the motor will, so it will sincerely throw the car to the next traffic light or turn - which will come across earlier. If nothing comes across, but a direct road will be ahead, be prepared for the strength of the nerves. The speed in a large car is not perceived as acutely as in the city small -leaf, but the rapid take -off of the speedometer arrows to the top of the scale is no less than the uterine roar of the tasteful freedom of the motor. Against this background, the machine gun may not be surprised, but there is no need for it. It seems that Grand and Hemi will easily leave almost any opponent even in a company with an ancient Hydra-Matic box from the 1939 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. By the way, all the engine cylinders are involved only in acceleration or at very high speeds, in other cases, the Multi-DispLacement system leaves half of them in operation.


Obviously, the new leader - who, recently, seems to be like Vice -Way - will not produce a revolution. Instead, he will consistently develop the ideas of his predecessor. Jeep Grand Cherokee III in his most impressive performance of 5.7 hemi is expensive and easily falls into a niche saturated with toothy competitors. However, if you, studying the technical characteristics, first look at seconds, you will not find a more tempting option.
 

Autography
Jeep Grand Cherokee III
Predecessor Grand Cherokee II (1998)
Premiere April 2004
Body wagon
Engines 3.0-6.1 l (218-415 l.
US production, Austria
Expected replacement 2010
 

The car is provided by Aurore Auto, the official dealer of Chrysler/Jeep.
During the test, the car is insured by Rosno.
 
Text: Leonid Klyuyev
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 93/2005]