Mention the brand Jeep to most Pinoys, and most probably think of the iconic (and distinctive) Wrangler. We can’t blame them for that, given that it’s the company’s best-selling model in the land. There’s also the Gladiator, which is essentially a Wrangler with a pickup bed, but other models such as the Grand Cherokee don’t really register for local consumers.
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But Jeep Philippines wants you to know that it has more models up its sleeve, and it has recently done so with a bang. The company has brought back the Grand Cherokee in a, um, grand way by launching the longer, more practical long-wheelbase L version. With that, the Grand Cherokee L serves as the flagship model in the Philippines since the Wagoneer is not offered here, at least through official sales channels.
So, what’s the local Grand Cherokee L like? For the Philippines, only one variant is offered, and it’s the seven-passenger version in Limited trim. There’s a more premium six-seater model available in other countries with a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row, but Jeep Philippines opted for practicality for the local market.
It looks nothing like a Wrangler, but you won’t mistake it for anything else other than a Jeep product. The front bears the company’s signature seven-slot grille, and if you’re familiar with Grand Cherokees from the past, you could call the design evolutionary. For exterior features, the Grand Cherokee L gets chrome trim pieces on the bumper and window surrounds, 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, roof rails, and a panoramic sunroof. And for those who are curious about its size, the Grand Cherokee L measures 5204mm long, 1979mm wide, and 1816mm tall.
Inside, the Grand Cherokee L Limited gets a leather trimmed dashboard with contrast stitching, along with a digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen. The infotainment system uses the latest UConnect 5 software that allows up to five user profiles and a customizable home screen, plus it can connect to multiple smartphones for passengers.
Also included in the Grand Cherokee L is wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heads-up display, and ambient LED lighting.
Moving to the engine, the local spec uses a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that’s good for 278hp and 344Nm of torque. It’s a little less compared to the US version that makes 290hp and 348Nm of torque.
This being a Jeep, it has permanent four-wheel drive (no two-wheel drive mode here) with something called Selec-Terrain Traction Management System. Think of it as a selectable off-road drive mode that can be switched from Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow or Mud/Sand at the flip of a switch. Jeep was also rather upfront about its fuel economy with a claim of 8.1 km/l in the city (with stop-start mode engaged) and 11km/l on the highway.
As for price, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited starts at P5,490,000.
