[Star Test Drive] Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the textbook of 'North American' luxury off-roaders

*This content was translated by AI.

Verdict

A vehicle that does not compromise on off-roader and SUV, nor on American-style luxury

Good

- Tougher than Land Rover, quieter than BMW, and more affordable than Mercedes-Benz

- Possesses a delicate sense of luxury unique to American cars, distinct from European automobiles like Asiana Airlines

Bad

- The McIntosh system looks impressive but does not fulfill expectations

- At 4,000 rpm where maximum torque kicks in, the 'Grand' feel is lost

Competitor

- Audi Q7: "This month's discount" is an opportunity that may not come again

- Toyota Highlander: Calmer in almost every aspect, yet far more overwhelming in durability

No matter what anyone says, the homeland of SUVs is the United States. And no one can dispute that the root of SUVs lies with Jeep. The seven-slot grille, angular wheel houses, and fender lines precisely show where this car's heritage originates. Based on the overwhelming brand color of being an authentic off-roader in terms of length, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a vehicle that puts emphasis on the keyword 'luxury'.

The Grand Cherokee L, named after the North American Indian tribe 'Cherokee', is a car filled with American characteristics as its name suggests. It even features a U.S. flag badge next to the car door. The powerful body, which seems to pour out nostalgia for 'Tetnam', highlights straight lines and surfaces, showcasing an impressive appearance as a large and majestic SUV.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L has a length of 5,220 mm and a height of 1,795 mm. With multi-chamber air suspension, the ground clearance can be raised high enough to look down on most other vehicles. The wheelbase is as long as 3,090 mm, making it more than sufficient to catch attention on the road. Of course, the interior space is just as large and spacious as the wheelbase. In fact, regardless of these specifications, encountering this car inevitably creates a sense of intimidation. This first impression generally reflects design elements that appeal to the 'masculine charm' commonly pursued by American cars, especially North American SUVs. Overall, it seems to be a strategy that emphasizes the solid weight of a large mass rather than highlighting details.

In contrast, the interior adopts a completely different strategy, showcasing a charming reversal. The seats are upholstered in brown-toned leather, while the doors and dashboard feature artificial leather and chrome metal arranged to stand out across all trims. Particularly, the door trims and seats incorporate a square block quilting technique to further elevate the sense of luxury. Everywhere within reach features ergonomic curved designs, ensuring comfortable sensory consideration.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L carefully selected not only materials but also infotainment elements to enhance luxury, with 'McIntosh' as its representative keyword. As the world's largest market for car audio, the United States demonstrates global-level standards in AV units and tuning sectors. Especially, McIntosh is a brand that has remained strong at the top of the high-end AV market for a long time, with both deep roots and sturdy bones. Personally, this was the most radical element I felt when the Grand Cherokee L first appeared.

The rear view of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is second-row seating. With ample space, an open field of vision, and a glass roof added, it truly offers an IMAX-level experience. It is also welcome that it features North American-style independent captain seats rather than European-style bench seats. The third row is not just for show; it is designed to be genuinely comfortable for sitting. This is the moment you can understand exactly what role the 'L' appended to this car's name plays.

The powertrain of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a 3.6L naturally aspirated gasoline engine. Known as the Pentastar engine in North America, it is an engine with proven versatility ranging from naturally aspirated to turbocharged and racing engines. Here, ZF's 8-speed automatic transmission has been improved through Jeep's own tuning to deliver engine power to all four wheels. The drive modes, fitting for an off-roader, cover almost all terrains. It supports terrain modes including gravel, sand, mud, and even steep downhill roads. Additionally, the essential air suspension is equipped with large-diameter components that fill the inside of the wheel houses. In terms of undercarriage setup, it can be proudly claimed as one of the best ever.

By this point, you may have noticed that the greatest advantage of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L lies in its flashy 'equipment power'. Active driving assistance, night vision using infrared cameras, driver drowsiness detection systems, a separate screen in front of the passenger seat, auto-dimming digital rearview mirrors, and rear-seat monitoring cameras are equipment that even the most luxurious flagship sedans often struggle to fully equip. This holds true even considering it is a large SUV model priced just over 100 million won. The fact that such equipment is already included alone is enough to assert that these factors are sufficient reasons to choose the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

After reviewing all this, curiosity about driving performance began to rise further. Rather than squeezing power through a turbocharger, the combination of the 3.6L V6 naturally aspirated engine and torque-converter-type 8-speed automatic transmission, which is rarely seen these days, forms a unit that is harder to fail.

The test drive route covered a long-distance stretch of approximately 700 km round trip from Seoul to Sokcho in Gangwon Province. The course even included winding national roads for a thorough evaluation. To summarize the conclusion, we experienced the typical running style of North American SUVs. In sharply turning corners, it did not respond with agility, but on straight highways, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L truly demonstrated heavenly harmony. Vibrations were tightly controlled, and there was no room for noise to intrude. With a clear view and abundant engine power, there is no reason for driving stress to arise. Even at the same speed, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a different flavor. Although its curb weight of 2,325 kg is considerable, it is not lacking when considering its vehicle class. A notable point is that the front-rear and left-right balance was well-adjusted so as not to lean toward any side at any moment during driving.

The drive modes are a key point where the Jeep Grand Cherokee L can clearly differentiate itself from German competing models. Equipped like an off-road encyclopedia, the drive modes adapt to different terrains, demonstrating overwhelming performance. Forest roads are trivial, and most mountain paths are traversed without hesitation. Driving performance that perfectly matches its reputation can be confirmed anywhere.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a strong and clear signal from the Jeep brand aiming to establish itself as a luxury SUV. At the same time, it retains Jeep's inherent off-roader heritage and the characteristic driving performance of North American SUVs, making it a vehicle with strong individuality. It possesses distinctly different charm compared to European automobiles like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, or large Asian SUVs from Toyota and Hyundai Motor Group. Even for those who are not off-road enthusiasts, it is a car filled with charm and value as a family SUV, making it recommendable to everyone.

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*This content was translated by AI.