GRAND OL' TIME

The Grand Cherokee is back! And it's better than ever

- Rivan RS

The fifth-generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has arrived in India, and it looks to create quite a stir in a segment that's more or less dominated by European rivals from the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. After all, local assembly has helped Jeep India price the new Grand Cherokee at a very competitive 78.5 lakh, ex-showroom, India, but is the American brand's flagship an actual match for the GLE, XC90, F-Pace, and their ilk? Or is it in a league of its own? We put the Grand Cherokee through its paces to find out.

Grand Design 

The 2023 Grand Cherokee is unmistakably a Jeep, no matter what angle you look at it from. Yes, that Russian doll aspect - where people might mistake it for a Compass or Meridian from the front is rather strong, but the Grand Cherokee's size makes sure you know this is the flagship. It has a simplistic design that harks back to the older models, and is still as modern as the rest of the Jeep range. The iconic seven-slat grille dominates the front, and combined with the sleek and traditionally rectangular LED headlights, they lend the Grand Cherokee an intimidating presence on the road.

I'm a fan of those understated 20-inch rims, which fill those squared wheel arches quite well, but I can understand why its potential buyers would want alloys with a bit more pizazz. It's a similar situation at the rear the simple design theme continues with a single-piece chrome strip on the bumpers, and sleek LED tail lights. There's none of that overdramatic (and usually faux) quad exhausts, overliberal usage of chrome, or anything of that sort. Like I said, those looking to buy a car in this segment might want some more bling, but I have to commend Jeep for keeping the Grand Cherokee true to its roots.

... I have to commend Jeep for keeping the Grand Cherokee true to its roots