Jeep announced the debut of the Grand Cherokee L seven-seater SUV in the Australian market starting from mid-2022. This is the first new-generation Cherokee to be available Down Under, with the Grand Cherokee five-seater expected to follow before the end of the year.
Initially, the model is exclusively available with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine producing 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) and 344 Nm (254 lb-ft) of torque, which is slightly less than the US-spec’s 290 hp (216 kW / 294 PS) and 348 Nm (257 lb-ft). The more powerful 5.7-liter V8 is missing from the lineup but Australians will soon get the plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee 4Xe with a combined output of 375 hp (280 kW / 380 PS) and 637 Nm (470 lb-ft) of torque.
See Also: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Gains Front Passenger Display And Amazon Fire TV
The Australian-spec Grand Cherokee L is available in three trim levels. The base Night Eagle comes standard with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, automatic LED lights, 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated and power seats, six-speakers, the basic Jeep Quadra-Trac I active 4×4 system, and all of the ADAS. The mid-range Limited adds a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, the Selec-Terrain traction management system, Premium Capri leather, heated rear seats, ambient LED lighting, and a nine-speaker audio system.
Finally, the flagship Summit Reserve gets the more sophisticated Quadra-Drive II Active 4×4 System, the Quadra-Lift Air Suspension, Quilted Palermo leather upholstery, ventilated and massaging seats, four-zone automatic climate control, a 19-speaker McIntosh High-Performance Audio System, 21-inch alloy wheels and more. There are also optional features including the passenger interactive display and Night Vision system.
Pricing starts from AU$82,250 (US$58,973) for the Night Eagle trim, raises to AU$87,950 (US$63,080) for the mid-range Limited, and goes all the way up to AU$115,450 (US$82,804) for the flagship Summit Reserve. Naturally, this is more expensive than the prices of the model in the US where it is available in more trim levels ranging between US$38,890 and US$64,865.
Rivals in the Australian market include the Toyota Land Cruiser Series 300 and the Nissan Patrol seven-seater SUVs, with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L being larger than both of them, measuring 5,204 mm (204.9 inches) long. The seven-seat capability is expected to lure Australians, with a growing number of buyers being interested in large three-row SUVs.