Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary – Back to Basics

The Jeep is synonymous with freedom. It is the curiosity of the world and the exploration dictated by it. However, this freedom has not always been understood in the same way - and this is precisely what Jeep reminds us of with the release of the Grand Cherokee Special Edition.

The Grand Cherokee is one of the icons of the Jeep brand. Although it was created relatively recently, in the early 90s, it quickly became one of the most recognizable models. He was one of the first to show that it was possible to combine the luxury and off-road character of a car - which is what every premium manufacturer does today. The Grand Cherokee also showed that a self-supporting car could be driven off-road - this model was never built on a frame, and it won many off-road fans.

This icon, however, has always been called - no longer an icon, but a legend - Willis. However, like every Jeep. A characteristic feature of all models is a lattice consisting of seven ribs. And this tradition has been preserved for more than 75 years.

When we talk about a Jeep, we often think of freedom. It is an SUV, and not a sports convertible, which may be its manifestation. In an SUV, we are only limited by our imagination - we can drive it wherever we want. True, the tractor will save us from trouble later, but maybe the adventure is worth it ...

However, the jeep has not always been equally associated with freedom. He remembers times much darker than the present. When the average person wasn't wondering if they would get soy milk from a cafe, but if they would just eat something to eat. Will he live another day. He remembers World War II.

Willys MB was born during the struggle for freedom - the freedom of the whole world. We can say that it was the first serial all-wheel drive car. Although over 360 units were produced, all production was of a military nature. The vehicles were used by the US Army, but they were also handed over to allies fighting on the fronts around the world.

This will be discussed in the special edition of the Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary.

military green

Looking at the Grand Cherokee through the lens of Jeep history, we might have some thoughts. The special edition is covered in a gorgeous color reminiscent of military green. Metallic paint has little to do with the military, but it's not about turning a big SUV into a military vehicle either. The color Reckon Green, however, has a very interesting composition - in fact, it looks black, but shimmers green in the sun.

The configuration of this model looks great - an interesting color combined with black wheels and a copper grille is reminiscent of rough military vehicles, but modern details such as LED lights still remind of the civilian nature of the car.

Grand Cherokee getting old

Although the Grand Cherokee in the 75th Anniversary edition is one of the oldest models, he himself is not well done. 8 years on the market is a lot these days. As such, you may feel that the interior design is a little sugary and the onboard technology stands out from the competition.

Jeep also stands out in the finish - in a very American style there is hard plastic along with good quality leather. A breath of fresh air might be needed here, which would bring this model closer to European counterparts.

However, the Grand Cherokee still has a lot to offer. First of all, the car is comfortable and offers quite a lot of space. Rear passengers will appreciate heated seats and adjustable backrest angle. Behind them we find the luggage compartment with a capacity of 457 to 782 liters.

Okay on the road, off-road ...

A 250-horsepower engine in such a colossus may seem too weak, but ... it works very well. This is a diesel V6 developing 570 Nm. Thus, a 2,5-ton Jeep accelerates to 100 km / h in just 8,2 seconds.

Of course, you can feel the weight - whether it's when braking or turning. However, it helps to maintain stability when driving at higher speeds - in combination with the air suspension, which lowers in such situations. The Grand Cherokee is very pleasant on long journeys, thanks in part to the soundproofing of the cabin.

The journey will not be overshadowed by frequent visits to gas stations. The diesel is content with the consumption of 9 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km, and its fuel tank holds 93 liters. Thus, you can drive 1000 km without refueling.

The off-road capability of the entire range is a Jeep legend. Even the smallest Renegade, the Trailhawk version, can handle most obstacles. Just as every Porsche needs to be sporty to some degree, even an SUV, every Jeep needs to be able to go off-road. Otherwise, the brand would have lost that "something".

Luckily, he's not giving up yet, and the great Grand Cherokee is like a fish out of water in the field. The possibilities are huge, from corners to wading depth to Quadra Drive II. Jeep has everything that an SUV should be equipped with - a gearbox and a differential lock. The work of these mechanisms, however, is not clumsy - we activate everything conveniently with buttons.

Regular off-road vehicles usually end their adventures when they are dug in to the point where they settle on bridges. The wheels then almost hang in the air, and the only thing we can do in this situation is to screw on the winch or call a farmer friend with a good tractor. However, there is a third option - air suspension. It is enough to raise them one or two steps and ... move on.

The Grand Cherokee is a colossus, but it can't be stopped.

Before retirement

8 years on the market is a lot. The natural course of things in this situation is to look at the horizon - soon a new model should appear because of it. Jeep has already begun to consistently change the lineup - a new Compass has appeared, a new Cherokee has recently been introduced. The premiere of the new Grand Cherokee is already on the air.

However, the current model still does not lose its resonance. It still captivates with its off-road abilities. The design is also up to date, and the 75th Anniversary Edition brings out the best in it. However, it would be nice to have a look at the big SUVs from Europe when it comes to material selection. It is the improvements in this category that we are most looking forward to. Otherwise, you can be relatively calm - the new Grand Cherokee will certainly look good and even better off-road.

The Grand Cherokee's price is still compelling. We can get a better equipped version for PLN 311. PLN - with a 3.6 V6 engine with a power of 286 hp. With a proven diesel engine, it costs only 4,5 thousand. more PLN, but the offer also includes an old-style engine - 5,7 V8 with 352 hp. Even the sporty SRT8 seems promising compared to its competitors – it costs PLN 375.

The Grand Cherokee is doing well and could get even better.