Review - Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Taking its platform from the standard Grand Cherokee and throwing even more space into the cabin thanks to a stretched-out platform, the Grand Cherokee L is the company’s biggest and best option for large Australian families that demand acres of space.

Just how good is the latest Grand Cherokee L, then, and how does it stack up in terms of price, features, fuel economy, practicality, and safety tech compared to its rivals? Let’s find out.

Starting Price: $82,250

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Jeep Grand Cherokee L - NIGHT EAGLE (4x4) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Jeep Grand Cherokee L car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L lineup kicks off from $82,250 for the entry-level Night Eagle 4x4, while stepping up to the L Limited 4x4 brings the price to $88,500, while the range-topping Cherokee L Summit Reserve 4x4 is priced at $115,700.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by using one of OnlineAuto’s car agents to assist you in finding the best car for you. As one of the leading car buying services in Australia, our team have access to a range of dealerships across the country to help find you the best deal.

What Features Does the Jeep Cherokee L Have?

Jeep’s entry-level Cherokee L Night Eagle comes riding on 20-inch alloys and receives LED headlights & daytime running lamps, adaptive cruise control, a powered boot lift, leather upholstery with heated seats, keyless entry & start, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charging, 8.4-inch infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, as well as a six-speaker sound system.

Stepping up to the Limited adds an upgraded 10.1-inch infotainment system, nine-speaker Alpine sound system, ambient lighting, premium leather upholstery with ventilated seats and heated second row seats.

The range-topping Summit Reserve rides on 21-inch alloys and receives air suspension with semi-active damping, a panoramic sunroof, massaging front seats, off-road camera, Walnut wood inserts and a 19-speaker sound system.

Range Features:

• 20-inch alloys

• LED headlights & daytime running lamps

• Adaptive cruise control

• Powered boot lift

• Leather upholstery

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster

• 8.4-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• Six-speaker sound system

• 10.1-inch infotainment system (Limited)

• Ambient lighting (Limited)

• Ventilated front seats, heated rear seats (Limited)

• 21-inch alloys (Summit Reserve)

• Air suspension (Summit Reserve)

• Panoramic sunroof (Summit Reserve)

• Massaging front seats (Summit Reserve)

• 19-speaker sound system (Summit Reserve)

Jeep Grand Cherokee L Colours

The Grand Cherokee L is available in a range of colours, including Bright White, Silver Zenith, Diamond Black, Velvet Red, Baltic Grey, Ember, Rocky Mountain, Midnight Sky and Hydro Blue.

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

As you can expect from a manufacturer like Jeep, the Grand Cherokee L is a strong performer in a mix of everything from short hops of town driving, long distance cruising and even off-road adventuring.

Power comes supplied by a 3.6-litre petrol V6 pushing out 210kW of power and 344Nm of torque which is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that offers enough power to get up to speed in a brisk and smooth manner.

Considering its size, the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t have a huge amount of power at its disposal, but there’s more than enough for the majority of driving situations, and is only noticeable when taking a look at braked towing capacities.

For those interested in towing stats, the Grand Cherokee L’s braked towing capacity tops-out at 2813kg, which drops to 2268kg in the range-topping Summit Reserve.

Around town, the Grand Cherokee L is user-friendly and surprisingly simple to pilot around town, so long as you’re aware of its proportions while in tight environments. The steering is lightweight, while the suspension makes light work of the urban grind and is well-suited to Australia’s rough country roads, making for a great long-distance tourer.

One thing separating the lineup in terms of off-road driving is that the range-topping gains a two-speed transfer case and an air suspension system which can help it manoeuvre over terrain the base models might struggle with.

Approach angles increase from 20.6 degrees to 28.2 in the flagship Summit Reserve, with ground clearance increasing from 215mm to 276mm in the Summit Reserve, while departure angles increase from 21.5 in the Night Eagle & Limited to 23.6 degrees in the range-topper.

All up, the Grand Cherokee L retains all the important hallmarks of a Jeep that make it undeniably comfortable on the daily grind, while retaining impressive off-road credentials.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

As you might expect, the Grand Cherokee L’s massive stature lends itself perfectly to a spacious, comfortable and surprisingly refined interior cabin that is perfect for large families.

Up front, the cabin’s design is sleek and comfortable thanks to the massive, power-adjustable seats and the huge amount of headroom for the driver and front passenger, with a great view out of the front windscreen.

The Cherokee L has also received a heap of practical elements that help it swallow up loose items that families accumulate, with a pair of storage trays in front and behind the transmission dial, two levels of storage inside the folding arm rest, and a pair of large door bins either side of the cabin.

Step into the second row and you’ll find enough space for a tall adult to get comfortable in the rear of the cabin, and while there isn’t acres of space in the second row, you’re unlikely to hear any complaints from kids on long journeys.

The second row gains a pair of ISOFIX anchors to accommodate child seats, a set of air vents, four USB chargers and a power outlet, while the second row itself can slide back and forth and even recline.

Move to the third row and you’ll find above average space for those seated in the back of the Cherokee L, making it a genuine seven-seater that can compete with the segment’s heavy hitters.

Finally, in terms of boot space, the Cherokee L can accommodate up to 487L of cargo in a seven-seat configuration, increasing to 1,328L with the third row folded and maxing out at 2,395L with both rows folded.

Is it Safe?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is yet to receive an official ANCAP safety rating, however as a point of reference, the standard Grand Cherokee has received the five-star ANCAP tick.

As standard, the Cherokee L comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, a reversing camera with parking sensors, driver fatigue monitoring and traffic sign recognition across the range.

Upgrading to the range-topping Summit Reserve adds a highway assist feature, active driving assistant and a surround-view camera.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With a relatively modest V6 petrol tasked with moving the large and heavy platform, fuel economy for the Grand Cherokee L isn’t a particularly strong selling point.

On a combined cycle, the Grand Cherokee L returns fuel economy figures of 10.6L/100km, which is considerably more than some of its turbocharged rivals.

Our Verdict: Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Worth it?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is an undeniably comfortable and well-credentialled seven-seat SUV that is capable in everything from a daily run around town to some adventurous off-road driving.

For large families, It improves upon the standard Grand Cherokee’s recipe for smooth and comfortable driving with an incredibly spacious and practical package that makes light work of a family of seven.

As a result, it’s hard not to recommend adding the Jeep Grand Cherokee L to your shortlist if you’re looking for a large, practical, well-equipped and versatile family SUV package.

On that note,  if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/100,000km warranty

2. No official ANCAP safety rating, yet

3. 3.6-litre V6 engine

4. Fuel economy figures of 10.6L/100km

5. 487L boot in seven-seat configuration

Pros

• Sleek and spacious cabin perfect for large families

• Filled with practical elements, features and clever technology

• Generous entertainment & safety equipment lists

Cons

• Thirsty V6 petrol

• Could use some added torque from a turbocharger

• Some cheap interior trim elements

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Jeep Grand Cherokee L Competition