Jeep Grand Cherokee test drive since 2010 SUV

All inclusive

Well, it happened. In Moscow, the new Prado was officially presented. At the same time, we received answers to the part of the questions that we had in the winter, when the will of fate fell into our hands diesel Land Cruiser in the Belgian configuration (cars N1/2003). The rest could be answered in only one way ...
It is worth considering whether it makes sense to sacrifice the usual joys of a passenger life, if rare cases of asphalt movement imply simply a dirt road and often not of the worst quality. However, among the consumers of SUVs, there are many and those for whom patency in the list of automobile values \u200b\u200bis far in last place and implies a slightly larger than a simple opportunity to cross through a curb or a shallow puddle.
Most of the really off -road vehicles sold with us have a complete set, known by the name full of minced meat or, speaking the language of travel agencies, all inclusive all inclusive.
Alas, All Inclusive, and that’s it! Nothing else is taken to Russia due to the lack of demand. Here is the new Prado there: the price list we received included only one modification, the long description of which began with words of 4.0 liters, gasoline V6 and ended with the number of 54900 and twice crossed out by the indicated amount is not included in the indicated amount). But there were no problems with the search for competitors for the test at all, we only made a list and phoned the company. And here they are, equipped with the most, I can’t Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland (57490 euros without sales tax) and Chevrolet Trailblazer Ltz ($ 45,999 without sales tax).
Taste and color
Once, the Japanese were tired of listening to endless claims about the design, they took and hired European designers. They put them in different beautiful corners of Europe, created geniuses appropriate conditions and began to wait for the crop. Seeds were not slow to give out, and so violent that in other cases I already want to talk about the extremes.
However, with Prado everything turned out as well as possible, the atmosphere of the design center on the azure shore affects the spiritual potency of automotive artists.
So now, to the unconditional advantages of Land Cruiser, we can no doubt add a bright memorable design.
However, the characteristics of appearance are characteristic (sorry for the tautology) for all participants in our test: looking at Trail-Blazer and Grand Cherokee, it is difficult to doubt that this is precisely Chevrolet and Jeep.
And with the interior of Toyota designers, everything turned out even better than with the appearance, so in terms of the interior and the quality of Prado decoration in our test, an unconditional leader.
As for competitors, I would like to give preference to Grand Cherokee: the hard plastic plastic of the Chevrolet Trailblazer dashboard does not add aesthetics to the interior.
Personal acquaintance
Toyota Land Cruiser brainchild of modern rational layout ideas. Its body is high and due to the vertical landing of the driver and passengers is roomy and convenient. And although after the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Prado salon may seem not cheap, it is pleasant to feel the supply of free space above your head.
Chevrolet Trailblazer
 
+
High smoothness
Good sound insulation
Moderate price
 
–
Low sensitivity of steering
Limit in profile patency
Mediocre interior

 
I remember that in winter we complained that it is not so simple to quickly understand the abundance of buttons and inscriptions on the central console of Land Cruiser. So, perhaps, even for the better, that in the top Russian version of the television-Audio-Climato-navigation system, it gave way to two separate devices, the management of which is much easier and more understandable at first glance. Otherwise, no differences, and therefore the question remained open why, blocking the center differential, the driver of the SUV is forced to almost dive under the instrument panel.
The real Yankee Chevrolet Trailblazer is wide and spacious: after it, the salon of any classmate will seem narrow and cramped. Everything is traditional-American here. And imposing landing in wide, without a hint of side support, chairs, and a scary host of pens and buttons. But on the other hand, the driver's seat has a powerful lumbar support adjustable in height.
It is difficult to say why GM ergonomists with such rejection relate to the right -wing steering switches, but it will be better to learn the movement in advance that you will grop and turn the strange flag on the left lever when a dirty stream suddenly collapses on the glass. A much more pleasant impression is made by a separate rear wiper switch on the front panel. The main thing is in a hurry not to confuse it with a switch type of drive located in a similar depression, but a little higher.
In Chevrolet, you are surprised that the transmission selector is not on the steering column, as is customary for respectable Americans, but on the central tunnel. In Grand Cherokee, this is perceived for granted its salon could well belong to the European or, rather, Japanese SUV. The latter comes to mind because both the parking brake and the machine gun selector are located as if they would use them sitting on the right.
The jeep dashboard is strict, laconic and rational, and clear white scales of the devices, coupled with a low ceiling, evoke passenger and even sports associations. The front seats are trying to echoing the devices, covering the body with dense side support. The small range of their longitudinal adjustment can be compensated, strongly tilting the pillow back. If these seats were even a little worse!
 
According to the capacity of the Grand Cherokee, also an not -established American: sitting in the back seat, not only crowded the three of us, but also lack space for the legs.
Asphalt question
Land Cruiser pleased with the passenger nature of acceleration. Of course, he does not tear from his place, but accelerates confidently, especially after 3000 rpm in the tachometer.
The nature of the Toyota motor requires the active operation of the machine, which copes well with its task, only thinks a little in Kick-Down mode. The Mercedes scheme for moving the selector is convenient for the active use of forced modes, but braking by the engine in position 3 is ineffective, and more often than I would like to use brakes. Which, by the way, really liked it.
The only thing that somewhat spoils the impression of the acceleration of the Land Cruiser rude roar of the motor, well -audible in the cabin.
Not without surprises. And they all fell to the defense of controllability and smoothness. That adaptation for Russia, which we assumed (or rather installation of a package for bad roads), apparently, nevertheless happened. In winter, we wrote about the Belgian Land Cruiser that even in the most comfortable suspension mode, the car is not perceived excessively soft and rocker ... assembled, reactions are quite sensitive, fast, the steering wheel is informative. Here, everything is from the opposite: even in the very sporting mode, Prado remains rather a comfortable SUV than a car. Accordingly, the rolls grow faster, the steering sensitivity fell, there is not enough reactive action (especially in the center). And in comfortable modes, the suspension also allows swinging on gentle waves.
Toyota Land Cruiser
 
+
Elegant appearance and interior
High quality decoration
Decent cross -country ability
–
High price
Loud operation of the engine during acceleration
Swinging the body on gentle bumps
 
The in -line six Chevrolet Trailblazer sounds completely like a classic American V8. Everything else is also American: the engine easily raises a two-ton car from small revolutions, so even the delay of the machine in switching does not give a special reason to complain about the dynamics. In American traditions, the engine braking is absent in any modes except 2 and 1, and you need to get used to the large moves of the brake pedal. But the efficiency of braking is not American, in the best sense of the word.
Trailblazer is literally floating over the road, practically not noticing small and medium irregularities. He does not notice a quick turn of the steering wheel. To cause an adequate reaction in a similar situation, you need to turn the steering wheel on an angle more than you expect.
The Grand Cherokee motor immediately puts everything in its place in the tables of ranks. Still, a 4.7-liter V8, and besides, High output! And although this high return, or, more correctly, liter power, is high only according to American concepts (about 55 hp), but the torque is also American. Add to this a very quick automatic machine, which also allows you to intensively slow down in any gear with the engine, and you will understand why we were so upset by some other sled properties of the great Indian. Judge for yourself. After Prado and Trailblazer, the steering wheel Grand Cherokee seems tight, it is poured with a reactive effect, allows you to feel good, and its turning to a small angle is accompanied by a fairly fast and clear reaction. And at the same time excellent stability! Well, here it is, our favorite?
But it is worth more sharply and to turn the steering wheel to a larger angle, as Jeep suddenly thinks tightly ... And if the road is uneven, then the stability of the Grand Cherokee begins to scour, swims in corners. Drinking on the primed primer forces the primer to focus even on straight lines. There is no need to be shaking about comfort here. That's why he needs such soft seats!
Profile discipline
Well, what about cross -country ability? It is clear that heavy soils from the program of our test, we excluded the wrong rubber. And according to the shallow smoky near Moscow, all three moved with the same success.
If we talk about a very crossed area, then it should go to travelblazer more accurately than everyone, it is obviously squeezed than rivals, and its spectacular steps limit structurally laid off -road opportunities. Jeep is traditionally tall and not burdened with decorative excesses, in the assets of Prado the ability to increase the road lumen due to the adjustable rear air suspension.
Much more interesting is the abilities of the automation to which the drive systems are equipped. As it turned out, in motion along the sand, along a damp clay field, when climbing a sand hill, with diagonal hanging, the driver had the right to forget about the center blocking: all three automatics worked very efficiently. However, we still admit that the system of electronic imitation of locks (and hence the brakes!) Prado in this situation has to work much more intensively!
HARD CHOICE
It seems that it turns out that in terms of qualities, including the price, Toyota is the best for today. It is logical: nevertheless, Prado was the youngest of the Trinity and embodied more new technical and stylistic solutions.
However, let's not forget that the Chevrolet Trailblazer is almost 9 thousand dollars cheaper, and there will probably be a lot of those who first of all appreciate the impressiveness of his appearance and the spaciousness of the salon. The strengths of the Jeep Grand Cherokee are still unpretentious and, which, from our point of view, is important, the presence of diesel modification in our market (cars, b6/2002). Which, by the way, is much cheaper than Overland, and is almost in great demand with us.
And further. I remember that in winter we wondered what name the new Land Cruiser will appear in our market. The answer seems to be unambiguous: in all avenues and other advertising materials, as well as in the official documentation, Land Cruiser Prado is listed. However, to be honest, we did not find Prado by the Schildik car. Take a closer look at the pictures ...
How do they look:

OUTSIDE:
Surprisingly, despite more than 10 years of design, Jeep is attractive, and its style, especially in comparison with the purely American tramic classic Chevrolet, also looks cosmopolitical. A fierce nationalist in the top three can only be called Prado. Some puffy of his plasticity brings to the appearance of the car that became the inconsistency of the figure of a sumo -wrestler, and at the same time respectability, which has become familiar in the previous generation. From the face, everyone in their own way develops the family features of their brand. At first glance, the easiest way is to jeep, and thanks to the toothy cladding of the radiator, it will be recognized at a time. The CHEVROLET emblem of the CHEVROLET emblem cutting the front optics of the corporate cross is also used to, but the new face of Toyota with the eyes of the fiber eyes has not yet been associated with the SUVs of the glorious Land Cruiser family. What dynamics or swiftness can a true all -terrain vehicle have? It turns out, maybe. Take a look at Trailblazer. In his lines there is no lulling well -being Grand Cherokee and solid, and from this static, the masses of Prado. In addition, the representative of GM is most competently expressed by off -road paraphernalia: the bottom of the body is protected by a plastic lining, and the front and back are noticeable for the protection of the corners of the congress/entry. And behind Trailblazer, not to confuse the optics is very original, and the disguised rear racks on SUVs are not often found.

Results:
Chevrolet Trailblazer solid design, in which the share of extreme is balanced and combines with the reliability and thoroughness of the style of a dynamic car.
Assessment 5

Jeep Grand Cherokee, this solution cannot leave indifferent either fans of the historicity of the brand, or enthusiasts of progressive solutions in the auto design. However, time ...
Assessment 5
Toyota Prado characteristic style, high -quality performance of details that demonstrate the Japanese tradition and an unconventional view of the design of the SUV.
Assessment 5

INSIDE:
Everything is organic, but inside the distance between competitors is tangible than when comparing their appearance. Differences are not only in the nuances of the finish, they are more serious. Naturally, the most patriarchal architecture of the instrument panel in Grand Cherokee, and the most trakovsky interior in Chevrolet: functionally and without any special undertaking. Prado demonstrates the most modern reading of the topic: here is the compositional priority of the display on the central console, and the neighborhood of wood and silver aluminum in the decoration. There are delights. For example, how the Zagogulin was swept away, which combines a combination of instruments with the central console Trailblazer, or how luxurious a wooden bedside table, in which the audio system is rich in! The shape of the door panels is diverse, and it is difficult to say which car it is stylistically more successful. However, the rules are also similar: they are solid four -spokes and only Prado does not gleam with the buttons of the service of the service group, integrated into the knitting needles.

Results:
Chevrolet Trailblazer typical (in a good way) American. Everything in the usual places is very convincing, and as for the finish, we should not forget that in front of us is a light, but truck.
Assessment 4
 
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a rare correspondence of parameters from the outside and inside. It seems that even a wooden decoration can be found on the outside. It is whole, rich, but, unfortunately, is already out of place.
Assessment 4
 
Toyota Prado is a whole and characteristic style solution, entirely aimed at increasing the image of both the car and its owner.
Assessment 5
THE OVERALL RESULT:
Chevrolet Trailblazer 4
Jeep Grand Cherokee 5
Toyota Prado 4
 
 
Text Valentin Ivanov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

Source: Cars