This story first appeared in the May issue of DieselTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
Disclaimer: I’ve always liked the WK2 series Grand Cherokee ever since I first drove it at its Australasian media launch in Tasmania in late January 2011.
Jeep had rounded off the boxy awkwardness of the previous WK-series Grand Cherokee to produce the smoother, more contemporary WK2 design. It’s a vehicle that has aged well since it first appeared on the North American market in mid-2010.
Many people prefer the Grand Cherokee with the 259kW 5.7-litre Hemi V8 petrol engine on offer in the luxury Overland variant, or the bonkers 344kW 6.4-litre Hemi V8 in the track-focused SRT version.
But of all the engines on offer for the 2017 Grand Cherokee 4×4, the one that most impresses me is the 3-litre V6 turbodiesel (184kW and 550Nm) engine in the Limited version pictured here.
Diesel engines are all about bottom-end torque and the VM Motori A630 common rail injection unit develops all 550 Newton Metres at the lower rev range of 2000rpm.
Thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission, the Limited never runs out of puff from a standing start but it also cruises quietly at 100kmh, sipping fuel at an average of 7.5-litres per 100 kilometres.
It’s a Euro V emission rated engine but doesn’t use an AdBlue urea additive. With a 93-litre fuel tank, the Limited should in theory provide more than 1000km of travel per tank.
Because it weighs 2949kg (gross vehicle mass) and has a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg, any driver using the Limited for that purpose will need a class 2 driver’s licence as the combination of the two units exceeds a gross combined weight of 6000kg.
On the road, the driving behaviour of the Limited belies its bulky dimensions and weight. It offers a good ride quality, despite being fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels, and safe yet friendly handling from its European tuned suspension package which also includes a load levelling function for towing.
The amount of cargo space is also impressive. Folding the rear seats flat provides 1554 litres of space inside. With the rear seat backs in place, it shrinks to 782 litres but that’s still pretty sizable.
The tailgate offers a remote electrically operated open and close function at the touch of a button on the key fob or from within the vehicle. You can also start the engine remotely as well from the key fob, a boon on chilly mornings when the vehicle requires defrosting.
The Limited uses Jeep’s Quadra-Trac II active four-wheel drive system, which allows drivers to engage low-range forward and reverse gears if required when travelling off-road.
And it also has a Select-Terrain system which offers a choice of driving modes for snow, sand, rock, mud or auto, and electronic hill descent control for the best possible traction and safety in any conditions.
Throughout its lifetime, the WK2-series Grand Cherokee has seen numerous updates and cosmetic enhancements and the latest for the 2017 model include new alloy wheel designs, reshaped headlights and a reshaped seven-slot front radiator grille.
The new grille and headlights come from the 75th anniversary edition models of 2016 but without the bronze-painted accents.
However, inside the Limited’s cabin, the bronze accents from the 75th anniversary have continued and the previous glossy black trim favoured by Jeep has been ditched in favour of a matte wooden finish that looks better and doesn’t mark as easily.
The 2017 Limited is also equipped with a conventional automatic transmission shifter rather than the electronic “Monostable” unit used previously. That’s a good move as occasionally people didn’t always select park correctly.
While not as ritzy as the Overland, the Limited is still well specified with leather upholstery, seat heating for all occupants, a heated steering wheel, dual exhaust pipes, an Alpine 9-speaker premium audio system, Uconnect voice command with Bluetooth and an 8.4-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system.
Parking is made easier by front and rear parking sensors as well as a reversing camera with dynamic grid lines.
Thanks to the addition of a diesel engine, the Grand Cherokee Limited is a well-appointed luxury workhorse with plenty of towing capacity. It’s also a functional wagon for business and family use.
