2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee falls short in ANCAP testing – for some variants

The latest 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee large SUV has received a split ANCAP safety rating.

While all 7-seat Grand Cherokee L variants – and the short-wheelbase Summit Reserve plug-in hybrid – have scored a five-star rating, the five-seat Grand Cherokee petrol V6 lost a star due to rear seatbelt differences.

All testing was conducted under the older 2020-22 criteria, with the ratings applied to Grand Cherokee vehicles built from September 2022.

ANCAP or Euro NCAP have yet to publish vehicle results under more-stringent protocols introduced in 2023.

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ANCAP said it found “a difference in the performance of the seatbelts fitted to second row outboard seats” compared to SWB PHEV and LWD 7-seat models, with a nil score applied for rear passenger chest protection.

While the results for the petrol five-seat are identical to the five-star Grand Cherokees in all other testing, ANCAP said a ‘poor’ result for a critical body region “limits a vehicle’s overall star rating to four stars”.

This is irrespective of its adult occupant protection score, which is above the 80 per cent threshold for a five-star rating.

The technical report states the belt load limiter – also known as a seatbelt pretensioner – in five-seat petrol variants had a 'high load', with four points deducted compared to Grand Cherokee models with a five-star rating.

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ANCAP chief executive officer, Carla Hoorweg, said it encourages Jeep to “implement a production change to improve the safety performance of the rear outboard seatbelts” for the affected variants.

“This result highlights the importance and rigor [sic] applied through independent vehicle safety testing to ensure Australian and New Zealand consumers are provided with information relevant to the vehicles supplied into these markets.”

A score of 81 per cent for adult occupant protection (31.06 out of 38 points) applies to four-star Grand Cherokees, while five-star variants have an 83 per cent score (31.83 points).

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Overall, all models scored 93 per cent for child occupation protection (45.89 out of 49 points), 81 per cent for vulnerable road user protection (43.79 out of 54 points), and 84 per cent for safety assist (13.60 out of 16 points).

“The long-wheelbase Jeep Grand Cherokee L and short-wheelbase PHEV achieved sound results across all areas of testing and assessment, seeing them eligible for the five-star rating,” added Hoorweg.

As with other larger SUVs and utility vehicles, ANCAP noted increased risk to occupants of oncoming vehicles in a crash, with a full 4.00 point ‘vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility’ penalty applied.

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The latest Jeep Grand Cherokee has eight airbags: dual frontal, side chest, side head, curtain, and driver and passenger knee.

Standard safety equipment includes; autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and intelligent speed limit assist.

It is not fitted with a front-centre airbag to prevent head clashes between the driver and front passenger in a side-impact collision, or junction-turning detection for its AEB system.