Jeep for every day? Test drive Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

“Jeep Cherokee is a wide jeep”, so they said in my childhood at school. What’s true is true, Jeep Cherokee has been on the Russian market for a long time, we love it and has its own audience. Yes, this is not a mass car, but it has always had its own buyer. Today it has grown in size, has received more than one restyling for its current 3rd generation and is available in our market in special versions. What one cannot but rejoice at.

If the Wrangler is too austere and rude for you, but you still want to boldly leave the asphalt, then pay attention to the Trailhawk version. This is the Jeep Grand Cherokee I’m testing.

Specifications:

• Engine: V-shaped internal combustion engine, 6 cylinders, 3.6 liters, 95th gasoline.
• Power: 286 hp s., 347 Nm.
• Eight-speed automatic.
• Full-time all-wheel drive with downshift and differential locks.
• Average fuel consumption during the test drive is 15.6 liters per 100 km.
• I drove 1006 km.

welcome aboard

Everything is calm and without unnecessary elements.

Someone will object and say: “This is definitely a modern car, also for a price above 5 million?” I answer: “Yes!” The necessary systems for a comfortable life are available. And adaptive cruise control, and heated all seats and steering wheel, and electronic adjustment of the front seats and steering wheel. Moreover, from non-trivial things – air suspension, capable of rising above the base 218 mm to 274 mm. And this is the basic trick of the Grand Cherokee. Also, there is a very convenient mode of loading / exiting the car, the car crouches for more comfortable use.

In the center of the multimedia. The display is already standard in size, 8.4 inches. Inside it has its own logic, which requires a little getting used to, but on the whole is clear and understandable. The menu is divided into many icons, just like on a smartphone display. Some are directly responsible for functions (for example, seat heating / ventilation) or open additional settings menus. There is support for Android Auto and CarPlay. There is also a branded Jeep “application” – Off-road Pages. It contains all the necessary information about the suspension, the temperature of fluids and components, the angle of rotation of the wheels, roll and pitch. Even a visualization of the axle load is available. The only thing I can find fault with the system is general sluggishness and not the best localization into Russian. So, “Controls” are translated as “Controls”. But when the multimedia is just loading, it already has heating icons so as not to wait for a full load, this is great! The only thing I want is for the screen to be turned towards the driver.

Combined tidy. Center display with customizable information. You can display a digital speedometer, you can display the flow rate and distance traveled, or you can display information about the enabled assistants. A nice little thing: in the menu, you can customize the information displayed in the corners of the display (temperature overboard, consumption, and so on). On the sides are the physical scales of the tachometer, oil temperature and gasoline supply. The only thing is that the animation of the menu slows down a little.

The steering wheel is interesting. So, all the control of the wipers is transferred to the left handle … and the right one is not at all. Because of this, the lonely handle was somewhat overloaded. That there are only two control rings for front and rear wipers. And we will also squeeze for washing and there is a risk of accidentally blinking with a high beam. At this point, I remembered that the current Grand Cherokee is a relative of the Mercedes-Benz M-class, and they have the gearbox control on the right lever. Another interesting point about the steering wheel: from the rear of the spokes there are multimedia control buttons. Also available are paddle shifters, 286 horsepower, do you remember?

On the gearshift knob and modes. I have a Jeep after all. Here is the most interesting part. The lever itself is ordinary, but with clear positioning. But about the modes it is worth telling separately. The default is Auto, there are also Sand, Snow, Mud and Rock. Everyone, one way or another, changes the operation of the engine, gearbox and gas pedal. There is also a separate downshift button, this is just a feature of the Trailhawk version, as well as the presence of an electronic locking of the rear differential.

It’s also nice to note that many of the climate and multimedia functions can be toggled with physical keys on the center panel. The only thing missing is a physical button for heating the steering wheel and seats, they are in the menu. In general, Jeep is a big plus for the large number of physical keys.

What else? Armrest with two tiers. Inside the large compartment there is a cigarette lighter socket, there is a backlight. The glove compartment is just like the door cards without any unusual features. One and a half liter bottle fits in the door, and good. It’s time for the back row.

The first thing that I would like to note right away is that these are very large windows by modern standards. After all, now manufacturers like to underestimate the roof line, which is why the glazing area suffers. Right there, on the contrary, there is an almost even rectangle. Also, I cannot fail to note the ability to adjust the backrest tilt, the ability to choose whether to blow on the legs or blow from the center console. And also USB-connectors in the amount of two pieces. Large bottles will not fit into the door cards, and there is also a folding center armrest without access to the trunk. But both in width and in height, it’s a sin to complain about space, there is plenty of it!

Here, finally, I must declare the presence of a panoramic roof! It stretches to the second row. Nice and light. It’s a pity it’s not the season on the street.

And about the trunk. Inside there are several hooks-hooks for your luggage, as well as a light, which, lo and behold, on the end side of the tailgate and in the amount of two pieces. Also available with a cigarette lighter socket. About volume: 457 liters, if the second row is tilted back as much as possible, and up to 1554 liters in the case of folding the second row completely. And remember about the suspension in loading mode?

What’s the bottom line inside? Without flirting with the driver and passengers on the issue of the manufacturer’s know-how and fantasies. Everything is decorous, serious and working. I got the impression of a well-tailored salon, in which they decided not to complicate anything and not to experiment. I would call it a modern classic. Here are just a second lever under the steering wheel. Separately, I would like to note the combined upholstery of the armchairs, it is not as hot in it as in a leather armchair.

A couple more points! The handbrake here is in the form of a pedal on the left, and very steep deep rugs, you don’t have to worry about cleanliness after you sit in the car with dirty shoes. That’s all, let’s go already!

And the appearance? Masculine. He could definitely be accused of sexism if the Grand Cherokee weren’t a car. Somewhat simple, big touches … and, you know, I love these little details that distinguish the Trailhawk from the “civilian” version.

Let’s hit the road

Everything here is in an amazing balance, and it also runs nicely.

Now there will be a sudden, but pleasant moment for any auto geek. Even two. The first is the pleasant sound of doors closing and opening, with a slight metallic tinge. Second, here is the power steering! Compared to the empty and lightweight modern rudders, there is a pleasant reinforcement and heaviness, an understanding of where you are steering, and, in general, a very good taxiing experience. Didn’t expect such a start?

The naturally aspirated V6 is very close to the weight of 2.2 tons. He is cheerful, although there are always those who are not enough (there are Trackhawk- and SRT-versions for you), perfectly picks up on the track at no longer low speed, and in general allows you to feel confident and bold both in the city and on the track, make maneuvers.

I know a lot of people love the Grand Cherokee for the ability to sink. Honestly, with a car weighing more than 2 tons, this is not the coolest idea, although the engine allows it. But! The Trailhawk version, in contrast to the charged SRT, stimulates you more off-road, and in this I see the spirit of the Grand Cherokee. A combination of comfort and confidence inside, with the ability to get to less accessible places.

It is worth remembering that it comes with an adaptive cruise. This greatly facilitates long journeys on the highway. It works perfectly, and slows down very smoothly, without harsh gestures. It should be noted that he will not allow to stand in a traffic jam. After a complete stop, the car will warn about the disconnection of the assistant and … turn it off.

In general, you feel very calm in the car. Despite his desire to jerk at the start, he is composed, holistic and even soothing. Instills peace of mind in the driver. You sit high, visibility is decent, although the front pillars are large (they also have tweeters built into them).

In the autumn-winter time, it is more difficult to assess sound insulation, thanks to the studded tires. But here it is worth noting the presence of an active noise suppression system. Yes, just like with headphones. The car picks up noise in the passenger compartment through four microphones and “subtracts” them. I will not argue, the interior is not the quietest, but again, in the summer it will be more comfortable.

Let’s do this: in the city, on the highway, in general on the asphalt, this is an excellently coordinated and not boring car in terms of steering and dynamics. But what is there in places where there is no asphalt? Trailhawk’s Quadra-Drive II system promises off-road adventure. Keep in mind that I have winter studded tires that are not as effective outside the tarmac. I slide on a wet dirt road, turn on the Mud mode (mud), the pedal becomes less sensitive and I calmly drive 30 km / h on a field road. The Grand Cherokee lifts the suspension by itself and in general it is a child’s test for him. Although even here you feel calm.

I complicate the task and go to a not very driven dirt road. I discount the season and tires, so I play more or less simple scenarios. And here is the rise with a track, where there is even a hanging of one wheel. Difficulties? None. I drive slowly, go up and … voila, it didn’t even come down to a drop.

But what it came to was to the front axle falling into a puddle under the ice thirty centimeters deep. This is where it gets interesting. It was decided to get out back, so as not to dive entirely with all wheels. I just try to raise the suspension and back it up, it doesn’t go. There is not enough grip on the wheels. I think okay, I will not force the units, I will immediately turn on the reduced one. The position of the handle “N”, I press the button “4WD Low”, a little buildup (auto allows you to change gears at speeds up to 10 km / h) and slowly get out. Of course, planting the Grand Cherokee is not difficult, its mass plays against it, like winter tires that do not work in the mud. Here, as always, you need to soberly assess your skills and environment.

The bottom line? Pleases! Yes, I want to try it with suitable tires outside the asphalt and something tells me, and the Internet confirms this, it can handle it. Yes, this is not a car for extreme driving, but it will definitely take you in comfort and to less accessible places.

Review

Possibly the last passable crossover of a bygone era

The age of the internal combustion engine, it is worth admitting, is indeed slowly ending. Another 10-15 years (and they will fly by quickly), and the market will change rapidly. Today, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk offers a good old V-6 engine (no turbine!), Increased flotation thanks to differential locks, permanent all-wheel drive, low gear and air suspension.

After the test, I caught myself thinking: after all, the usual, let’s call it the basic (236 hp) Grand Cherokee, the Trailhawk, which you just read about, and the SRT version (468 hp) are very different cars. Hope to tell you about the SRT when it’s warmer outside. But there is also Trackhawk, there are already 710 horses …

And yet, it seems to me that the Trailhawk version I described is closest to the true spirit of Jeep. And let’s be honest, you want to safely move off the asphalt, right?

Yes, this is no longer a new car, and I am waiting for a new generation to appear on our market. He is somewhat simple, but without flirting and comfortable.

Pros:

• in the presence of everything you need (cruise control, climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, and so on);
• balanced dynamics;
• increased cross-country ability;
• power steering;
• general ergonomics in the cabin.

Minuses:

• no keyless access to the trunk (by flick), even as an option;
• there is not enough camera in front;
• inclusion of heating in the menu.

May not like:

• all control of headlights and wipers on one handle;
• no flirting with modern design.