Jeep Cherokee, is this finally a decent alternate to the Germans?

Jeep CherokeeGenerally speaking American cars are a bit rubbish; like a McDonalds cup, built to do a job but leave your Coke in one for more than 30 minutes and you begin to see some fundamental issues appear.

Of course there are exceptions; and honestly I think a majority of those fall under the Jeep nameplate. The Wrangler, for example, is just exceptional as an off-roader. The Grand Cherokee blends comfort and ruggedness on an almost Land-Rover-like-scale, only offering better value.

The Cherokee on the other hand has failed to impress through its history, suffering from McDonald’s cup syndrome. Until now, that is.

Jeep CherokeeThe new Jeep Cherokee is at last a huge step in the right direction. Safe to say its radical in the looks department and you know what? I like it. More manufacturers should dare to be so different. Underneath we’re treated to a remarkably smooth and refined 3.2 litre V6 unit, producing 200kW via a 9 speed automatic ‘box. There’s a sophistication that belies the Jeep’s American heritage, with smooth gear changes and no laziness to the manner in which the motor responds to throttle inputs. Unfortunately it is very American in the way it guzzles fuel around town.

The marketing blurb explains how Jeep did its utmost to move away from traditionally agricultural road manners, focussing on a more car-like feel. That they have achieved. This Jeep is far less wobbly and generally behaves well on tarmac, yet offers a level of comfort that easily surpasses the competition.

Inside there’s plenty of space in the well-appointed cabin, while the soft cushy seats further enhance that sense of comfort. Lots of toys to play with too, like an electrically opened and closed boot and an 8 inch screen with all sorts of multimedia capability.

The SUV segment is crowded, and fiercely competitive. Now even more so with the introduction of the new Jeep Cherokee.

Price: R536 990
Engine: 3239cc four cylinder turbo charged diesel
Power (kW): 200
Torque (Nm): 315
Consumption (l/100km): 9.5 (claimed)
Service: 6 year/100,000km maintenance plan

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