FOR many Jeep fans, tough and rough seem to be virtues.
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So we'll be curious to see what they make of the new Jeep Cherokee, because it is sleeker, safer and smoother than any Cherokee that has come before.
We collected a mid-range Cherokee Longitude from Peter Stevens Chrysler Jeep with an expectation it would be a good deal better than any previous generation Cherokee. We are pleased to report that, on first impressions, it exceeded even those expectations.
It certainly looks different - a lot different. From the front and rear angles in particular it looks less Jeep-like than anything we can remember. Sure, it has the familiar Jeep grill and wheel arches but the overall shape (not to mention those squinty headlights) brings it into line with a lot of those other similar-sized SUVs which are quite the rage at the moment.
The interior is (finally!) thoroughly modern too with a centrally mounted touchscreen for audio, communication and climate functions, along with simple to use controls. Even some of the materials have a softer, higher quality feel too. Jeep has an each way bet, though, and there is still a robust, slightly rugged appearance about it so it doesn't look like every other compact SUV out there. The combination works very well.
The drivetrain feels up to the job as well. The front-wheel-drive Cherokee Sport has a 2.4-litre "Tigershark" four-cylinder engine but the all-wheel-drive Longitude steps it up with Chrysler's Pentastar V6 with 200kW peak power and 316Nm of torque. There is no diesel available yet but we quite like the Pentastar anyway even if it is a tad thirsty. The transmission is a nine-speed automatic, which means a ratio (or two) for any possible eventuality.
On previous Cherokees, on-road ride and handling was not necessarily in the first division as Jeep steered things towards off-road capability (at least compared with its obvious competitors) but the improvement on this one is so substantial, it smacks you in the face. We drove around the streets of Ballarat, out to Nerrina, Brown Hill and Invermay and found the Jeep a match for some of the better soft-roaders.
In terms of going bush, the Longitude isn't quite as hard-core as the Cherokee Trailhawk and doesn't have the Trailhark's low range gearing, but it still feels considerably more capable than most city-based SUVs. The ground clearance is above average and the switchable four-mode Selec-terrain system where the computer adapts the four-wheel-drive traction to the terrain, up to most challenges. We didn't push the Cherokee especially hard but we were impressed with what we saw in conditions which may have worried some faux-wheel-drives.
There were also a few surprise-and-delight storage features, including a storage bin under the passenger seat and power lift gate operated from a button to the right of the steering wheel. On more than one occasion we had raised eyebrows after discovering some clever new thing.
Earlier Cherokees best suited enthusiasts or those SUV buyers with a serious off-road bent. The new one should have even non-Jeep enthusiasts checking it out. It is still great on the dirt, vastly superior on the bitumen and feels very well screwed together.
The Jeep badge fans may need to reconsider what the brand stands for. So should plenty of others looking at a midsize SUV.
We certainly have.
Your local dealer is Peter Stevens Chrysler Jeep: 5336 8777
Jeep Cherokee Longitude
ENGINE: 3.2-litre V6
POWER: 200kW at 6500 revs
TORQUE: 316Nm at 4400 revs
TRANSMISSION: nine-speed automatic
DRIVE: all-wheel-drive
FUEL: petrol, 10.0-l/100km (ADR 81/02)
BRAKES: ventilated discs front, solid discs rear, with electronic stability control, ABS and brake assist
ANCAP SAFETY RATING: five stars
FEATURES: selectable traction control, touchscreen audio with Bluetooth connectivity and 3.5-inch display, rear view camera, dual zone climate control, fabric seats.
PRICE (RRP): $39,000 plus on road costs
PRICE AS TESTED: $41,400
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
MAZDA CX-5 AWD SPORT: from $36,620
NISSAN X-TRAIL ST-L AWD: from $39,080
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA PRESTIGE: from $38,990
