Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Jeep Grand Cherokee enters its fifth generation, but not in a way you've expected it to be. Why? Because the newest version kicked off with the first-ever three-row variant known as the Grand Cherokee L. So, what's it all about the first three-row Grand Cherokee in history?

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The first-ever Grand Cherokee L starts at 38,635 US Dollars plus additional costs, which is more expensive than its equivalent, the Dodge Durango. While the Durango is made for showoffs who love to go louder in a big way, the Grand Cherokee L is made for cowboys and equestrians alike. From exploring through the Utah mountains to driving through Michelin-starred restaurants in the streets of Hollywood, from bringing exploration stuff for your next outdoor adventure to escorting VIPs, the Grand Cherokee L is built for almost all kinds of jobs.

In terms of design, the new Grand Cherokee's exterior is well-sculpted and handsomely reskinned from the previous model. Although adventurous in spirit, the long-wheelbase form is the key point of the new model, and whichever way you look at it, it's a Jeep thing indeed. One thing that will have everybody noticed is the implementation of the American flag near the Grand Cherokee banner, proof that it's proudly made by Americans for the so-called free world.

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L interior

Checking the interior, Jeep put a lot of effort into redefining the Grand Cherokee lineage as a luxury utility vehicle built for all kinds of situations. On the driver's side, they are greeted with a string of high-tech stuff from the instrumental cluster to the touch screen sat-nav with no buttons and dials to control the volume, which spells bad news for speedo boys behind the wheel. Good thing the climate control still has dials, which is essential indeed for a luxury car like this. Another nuisance for speedo boys behind the wheel is the rotary gear dial akin to Jaguars and Land Rovers of today.

Troublesome the driver's side is for speedo boys behind the wheel, the passenger side is where the Grand Cherokee L shines and because being the long-wheelbase Grand Cherokee, it has seating up to six or seven passengers. Whether if it's for a family outing, road-tripping with your friends, or escorting VIPs to their destinations, the three-row layout of the Grand Cherokee L really is the jack-of-all-trades or in some cases, jack-of-all-tirades. Take the second-row seats for instance. With the console or seat blocking the middle in the expensive versions, you'll have difficulty getting through the third-row seats but in cheaper versions without the massive thing in the middle, getting through the third-row seats is as easy as ABC.

Like most SUVs, the passenger seats can be folded down to accumulate up to 84.6 cubic feet of boot space. Enough room to fit your newly bought 8K TV from your nearest Costco or two BMXs for your next cycling trip.

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Grand Cherokee L is powered by a choice of two petrol engines; a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine with an updated engine start-stop technology and a more powerful 5.7L V8 engine with cylinder shut-off technology, all mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The V6 engine produces 290hp of power and 257lb-ft of torque while the V8 engine produces 357hp of power, 390lb-ft of torque, and has a towing capacity of up to 7,200 pounds.

The Grand Cherokee L is rear-wheel-drive by default but when opted with the four-wheel-drive configuration, it features numerous capabilities such as the available Quadra-Trac II with rear eLSD, Selec-Terrain traction management, and many others. Opt-in for the Overland variant with the available Off-Road Group and you'll have a Grand Cherokee L that can tackle almost everywhere with water fording through up to 24 inches of water, up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance, higher levels of articulation, and more.

Built on a new unibody architecture and improved dynamics underneath, the Grand Cherokee L, despite its long wheelbase, drives neatly like a proper luxury car. Not dynamic as such but it's surprisingly mild to drive on the streets and when taken off-road, it's almost as great to drive as a Land Rover Discovery.

The Grand Cherokee L boasts the most available safety and security features in its class. With such safety features equipped inside and out, the Grand Cherokee L is by no means the safest SUV in its class. Out of all the safety equipment that got drivers noticed, the night vision camera is the top pick. Although not military-grade, it's a cool safety feature that works after hours. What's also cool is the Interior Rear Monitoring Camera feature, which is ideal for those who want to check their little toddlers or fragile objects without looking away from the road. And then, there's the Digital Rearview Mirror that uses an LCD monitor for a distraction-free behind view.

The Grand Cherokee L is the luxurious, most capable, and technologically advanced SUV that emerged from the Land of the Brave and Home of the Free. Whether if you're a cowboy who loves taking it through the wild side or an equestrian who prefers a civilized life in the urban environment, this SUV is built for all walks of life, whether you like it or not.

Photo: Jeep