Jeep diesel arrives
It's here. The diesel version of the most improved car of the year - the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
And, at $50,000, the pricing is sensational.
In petrol form, this overhauled SUV has been one of my favourite drives this year.
Up hill and down dale in Tasmania and on forest and coastal tracks in our South West.
The car starts at $45,000 for the V6 petrol model, which provides 11.4L/100km fuel use and 2268kg towing capacity.
For an extra $5000, the 3.0-litre diesel gives better off-road skills, 8.3L/100km and 3500kg towing. Compelling.
The standard spec is amazing - classy cabin surfaces, five-speed auto, "keyless enter and go", heated power front seats, dual-zone air-conditioning, bi-xenon lights and seven airbags. High-tech offerings include the 16.5cm screen, rear-view camera, Bluetooth, voice recognition and a 6700-song hard drive. A dial adjusts the dynamics to the likes of sandy or rutted terrain - off-roading for dummies.
I don't like being bossy but I'm going to be with the optional air suspension. It improves all dynamics including off-roading and can raise the vehicle by 66mm.
At $2500, it's one of the all-time no-brainers in motoring, even if you need to pay for it with a part-time job. The $60,000 Limited diesel's additions include leather trim, memory settings, 20-inch alloys and a 506W Alpine stereo.
The $69,500 Overland has advanced safety features like collision warning, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
And its steering wheel can be heated, which shows how much even tough-hombre brands are into pampering these days.
Stephen Williams
