The Jeep Of Luxury SUVs: How The Grand Cherokee Keeps Its Off-roader DNA

• Jeep Cherokee is on sale in India with first deliveries beginning later this month. 

• It’s imported as complete knock-down kits (CKDs) that are locally assembled. 

• The India-spec Grand Cherokee is powered by a 272PS/400Nm petrol engine. 

• It’s available in a single variant that costs Rs 77.5 lakh (ex-showroom). 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee name badge has made a comeback in India two years after it was discontinued in late 2020. While its predecessor first came here in 2016, the Grand Cherokee has been around in global markets since the early 1990s, offering a premium interior alongside the hardware to take on rough terrain. 

In 2022, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is now in its fifth generation. It’s more premium and feature-laden than ever (it has more screens than some of its rivals), but nevertheless, has the off-roading hardware and capability that its legacy is built on. 

Here’s a look at all the aspects that make the 2022 Grand Cherokee the kind of SUV that isn’t afraid to take the road that other luxury SUVs rarely would. 

Designed to tackle tricky angles 

The standard Grand Cherokee is still quite close to the trail-rated Compass SUV with its approach angle. With a longer wheelbase and rear overhang, the larger Grand Cherokee has lower but still respectable departure and ramp-breakover angles. 

The Quadra-Trac I 4x4 system

The India-spec Grand Cherokee gets Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I system, a full-time four-wheel drive system. It provides the on-road traction capabilities of an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, managing torque transfer to the wheels using a centre differential and a brake-based traction management system. 

In off-roading conditions, the brake-based system can act as a “differential lock”, sending 50-50 power to both wheels at each axle. This brake-locking differential (BLD) works automatically on rough terrain, but the Grand Cherokee allows you different terrain options as well, as discussed next. 

Outside of India, the Grand Cherokee gets more capable systems like Quadra Trac II and Quadra-Lift air suspension that can offer upto 287mm of clearance (depending on the variant and tyres).

Jeep Selec-Terrain system 

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Selec-Terrain is what Jeep calls its terrain management system. In the Jeep Grand Cherokee it offers automatic detection of terrains, adjusting the traction control and Quadra-Trac I system accordingly. 

Alternatively, the driver can opt from ‘Sand/mud’, ‘Snow’ and ‘Sport’ modes that adjust the traction settings to specific slippery conditions. 

Trailhawk version offered overseas

Jeep offers a specialised off-roading version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee overseas, called the Trailhawk. It offers better ground clearance (up to 287mm), wheel articulation and water wading capacity over the standard version. It also gets a more complex Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system with an electronic limited-slip differential and disconnecting sway bars. 

India-spec Grand Cherokee features 

In India, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a slew of tech features such as a 10-inch heads-up display (HUD), 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, centre touchscreen and another 10.25-inch display for the front passenger. It’s equipped with creature comforts such as a panoramic sunroof, first and second row ventilated and heated seats, a powered tailgate and active noise cancellation.  

• Jeep Grand Cherokee Arrives In India With A Price Tag Of Rs 77.5 Lakh

• Jeep Grand Cherokee 5 Things To Know Ahead Of Its Launch In India Tomorrow

The 2022 Grand Cherokee is available in a single, fully loaded trim that costs Rs 77.5 lakh (ex-showroom). It rivals the Audi Q7, Range Rover Sport and BMW X5.