Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Overland

Nov 20 2008 Mike Torpey

STYLING, street cred and comfort are all-important in the cut-throat world of the full-blown 4x4 market.

Being king of the wild frontier is an accolade that has to be earned and, with its trademark splashes of Americana, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has long been up with the best.

And this year the Stateside manufacturer piled some extra pressure on its off-road rivals with fresh features and a new interior that makes this Jeep the most luxurious ever.

The latest 'Grand' is a seriously stylish looking vehicle, both inside and out. It's rugged, handsome, instantly recognisable as the archetypal American 4x4 and sophisticated with it.

The cabin is a comfortable and classy place to be in all versions, and sumptuous in top spec Overland trim with big leather chairs, heated rear seats, simple dash layout and richly coloured wood-effect inserts.

Leg and headroom is more than adequate for five and the boot is huge and accessible, with neat touches like rear glass that opens independently of the tailgate.

Hardware to cope with the toughest of conditions includes the likes of Quadra-Drive II, which can keep the Cherokee going even if only one front wheel has traction.

It also improves handling stability in wet weather and on slippery roads by making maximum use of traction during acceleration.

Hill Descent Control is also now a standard feature - and it can deal faultlessly even with steep, roller-coaster type slopes. You just engage HDC, take your foot off the brake and let the system do the rest as the Jeep picks its way confidently down.

The majority of the Grand's time though will be spent in everyday conditions and to that end it's a smooth, reassuring 4x4 to drive if a bit noisy in its slower paces and awkward to park.

All bar a handful of brave petrolheads - the 6.1 V8 Hemi model makes no sense - will opt for one of the four diesel models that house the same Mercedes-sourced CRD oil-burner.

This is a 3.0-litre V6 unit producing 214bhp and mated to a slick five-speed auto gearbox. It needs some strong revving to get up to speed but performs beautifully once there - especially on fast roads.

The downside is that it guzzles fuel, returning a good bit less than the official 27.7 average mpg figure, and has some body roll and unresponsive steering through fast bends.

Both trim grades, Limited and Overland, offer plenty of standard kit though the latter includes one of the slickest infotainment systems around.

Known as MyGIG, it boasts MP3 player compatibility, touchscreen controlled satellite navigation - definitely one of the simplest I have used - Bluetooth hands-free communication and the ability to store up to 1,600 songs on an integrated 20GB hard drive.

FAST FACTS

Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Overland

Price : £35,700

Mechanical : 215bhp, 2,987cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 5spd automatic gearbox

Max speed : 124mph

0-62mph : 9 secs

Combined mpg : 27.7

Insurance group : 15

CO2 emissions : 270g/km

BiK rating : 35%

Warranty : 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 7yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust