2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland review

The previous WK2 generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the best-selling model ever for the iconic brand in Australia due to a number of factors.

It was stylish, it had a spacious and well-equipped interior, it offered decent off-road ability when equipped with the Quadra-Drive 4x4 system and height-adjustable suspension, there was a choice of V6 and V8 petrol engines as well as an excellent V6 diesel option, it carried a 3500kg towing rating and, compared to the popular Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol options, it was more affordable and more compact.

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That last point of size was especially important as the WK2 found favour with the caravanning set – which continues to this day – who were usually empty-nesters who travelled two-up and loved that towing capacity.

So we were very interested to see how the new WL Grand Cherokee would go when it arrived as a very different vehicle. First arriving as the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L in 2022, the five-seat version only reached Australia earlier this year.

Jeep has gone for more of a well-equipped luxury design for the WL in lieu of off-road prowess and towing ability, and not all models get a dual-range transfer case and height adjustable suspension.

JUMP AHEAD

• What it gets
• Safety
• Powertrain
• On-road performance
• Off-road performance
• Off-road specs
• Ownership
• Verdict
• Specs

What it gets

The example tested here is an Overland model equipped with the optional Off-Road Group package which adds a heavier duty 9-inch rear axle (up from 7.7-inch standard), underbody skid plates and protection, and drops the tyre size down to a more practical and comfortable 265/60R18 all-terrain.

A Trail Rated badge tells you that this is the off-road spec Grand and the Off-Road Group package adds $2750 to the $98,450 base price of the Overland.

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This test vehicle also featured the Luxury Technology Group, which adds ventilated second-row outboard seats, power adjustment and massage features on the driver and passenger front seats, window shades for the second row seats, a digital rearview mirror, four-zone climate control, and a wireless phone charging pad for a further $4500.

Finally, premium paint adds another $1750 to the price, bringing the total up to $112,050 plus on road costs.

That’s a fair whack for a Jeep Grand Cherokee but once you’re inside it you can see and feel the premium features that add up to this price. Nappa leather seats, a 10.5-inch A/V screen with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, LED interior lighting, a huge dual-pane sunroof, and a nine-speaker Alpine sound system are all among the standard Overland features.

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Safety

The WL Grand Cherokee is safer than ever before with standard kit including Active Emergency Braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, rear cross traffic detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning with active lane keeping, advanced brake assist, front and rear parking sensors and cameras, and TPMS.

Jeep took a bit of a hit in the recent ANCAP test results where the five-door petrol models were only given a four-star rating, while the Grand Cherokee L and 4x4e variants received a full five stars.

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The discrepancy was due to the performance of the seat belts in the rear seats of the five-seater and in regards to this Jeep says “modifying the rear outboard passenger seat belts for future productions is something it is actively considering”, while pointing out that the vehicle meets all current seatbelt design and safety requirements.

All these standard features contribute to an interior that is a very nice and spacious cabin to ride in. Jeep has certainly nailed it with the upmarket premium feel of the WL Grand Cherokee. The cabin is wider and more airy than the previous model and behind the back seat there’s a cavernous 1067 litres of stowage space.

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Powertrain

Until very recently, the WL Grand was only available with one powertrain but the $130,000 plug-in hybrid 4x4e variant has now added a second choice.

All other variants get the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine backed by a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine might be getting long in the tooth but with 210kW and 344Nm on tap it gets along surprisingly well considering the size and equipment in the Jeep.

While the engine’s performance is adequate for the WL Grand, where it does let the overall package down is in refinement, which doesn’t match up with the premium feel of the vehicle. The V6 is harsh when you put your foot down and it likes a drink when you do as well. Over our week of testing it used 14.3L/100km while the official combined figure is 9.9L/100km.

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The feel of the engine is somewhat overshadowed on some sealed-road surfaces where the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) levels are extremely poor, bordering on unacceptable. We noted this in our drive of the Grand Cherokee L last year but that vehicle rode on 21-inch wheels with lower profile tyres, so we had hoped the problem wouldn’t be as evident riding on 18s with more tyre sidewall.

The suspension does a superb job of managing the Jeep over all sorts of terrain and roads

One thing that might be responsible for this NVH transmission to the cabin is the fact that the front suspension is mated directly to the engine and the harshness of the road surface is being transmitted directly through the front tyres, suspension links and engine mounts to the vehicle body. This on-road NVH lets down what would otherwise be a highly polished performance and ride quality.

The suspension does a superb job of managing the Jeep over all sorts of terrain and roads. It is well planted on twisting mountain roads, and balanced on the highway. Raise the Quadra-Lift air suspension to give up to 276mm of ground clearance when off road and the Overland becomes an accomplished go anywhere wagon.

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On-road performance

The Grand Cherokee has always been a superb grand touring wagon and the WL takes that tradition and exemplifies it. The full independent suspension delivers dynamic handling while the V6/eight-speed powertrain delivers just enough performance for spirited driving.

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The sumptuously appointed interior and large glasshouse make the Grand Cherokee a comfortable place to tour in with an excellent view of the great outdoors rolling on by. There’s just that NVH to tarnish the performance but it's certainly worth sampling.

The Grand Cherokee is a more dynamic on-road tourer than most other off-road capable, 4x4 wagons of its size. Certainly better in the twisties than a Toyota Prado or a Ford Everest, and a challenger for a Land Rover Defender if not the Discovery.

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Off-road performance

While the Jeep might be able to better the aforementioned competitors on road, it wouldn’t compete so when the going gets rough.

While the Quadra-Lift suspension allows for plenty of ground clearance and the Quadra-Trac 2 transfer case gives drivers low-range gearing, the WL isn’t as polished off road as those other wagons, or even the previous Grand Cherokees.

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Jeep no longer includes locking differentials in the Grand with Quadra-Trac 2 like it used to offer with Quadra-Drive. While this system will get adventurers over most terrain, it's not as capable as others, while only the Land Rovers can outdo the Jeep for a premium feel and ride.

Interestingly, Jeep did previously offer a Trailhawk version of the regular WL Grand in the USA but for 2023 this most off-roadable variant has now been made exclusive to the 4x4e powertrain, and it's not yet offered in Australia.

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Off-road specs

Ownership

A good thing about a naturally aspirated petrol engine like the Jeep’s Pentastar V6 is that it’s a relatively simple engine and as such should be reasonably reliable and affordable to service and maintain.

The service intervals for the Grand Cherokee come around every 12 months or 12,000km, and capped-price servicing lists them at $399 a pop for the first five services.

That capped-price servicing comes as part of the brand’s ‘Jeep Wave Commitment’ which gets you the capped servicing, five-year/100,000km warranty and lifetime roadside assistance, providing you keep to the regular service schedule at your Jeep dealer.

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Verdict

If you were to drive your WH2 Grand Cherokee into your local dealer looking to trade up to the latest model to do a similar job to your current model you might be in for a rude shock.

For a start, you’re not going to be able to buy one with a diesel or a V8 engine; nor will it tow your three-tonne-plus caravan; and it’s going to cost you a fair bit more to get a similar model spec for spec.

The WL Grand Cherokee is better equipped both in standard features and safety, its cabin is more spacious and has a more luxurious feel than before

On the plus side, the WL Grand Cherokee is better equipped both in standard features and safety, its cabin is more spacious and has a more luxurious feel than before, and you now have the option of a seven-seat model and/or the 4x4e PHEV powertrain.

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While some of those negatives might be deal-breakers that send buyers looking elsewhere, the positives should be enough to bring a whole new group of buyers to the historic nameplate. The WL Grand Cherokee is a nice car to drive on road and bush tracks but is let down by NVH levels from both the chassis and engine that don’t live up to what the superb cabin deserves.

There are other vehicles that do the light-duty all-wheel drive SUV job well, and other 4x4s that deliver better performance in the off-road and towing disciplines. Think about the large soft-roaders from Volkswagen Group, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai for the former, and Toyota LandCruiser, Ford Everest, Nissan Patrol and Land Rover Defender for the more heavy-duty options.

While the WL brings a step up in its premium feel and equipment, it also sees a step up in price that will encourage buyers to look to broader options in that price range.

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2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland specs

*Australian Design Rule ‘Combined-Cycle’ claim

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