Jeep is a name you automatically associate with rough-tough go-anywhere ability but over the past few years here in Britain they’ve been encountering a rather different kind of rocky road. Business has been tough with sales flagging, dealers deserting and the whole future of the brand languishing with a huge question mark hanging over it. Quite simply, they’d lost it having taken their eye off the ball on what customers here wanted from their four wheel drives.
No matter how significant the Jeep name was historically, people with money were buying Range Rovers, BMWs and Audis and those who were watching the pennies found great bargains in Kia and Hyundai and some fine specimens from Nissan, Honda and Toyota. Two years ago, straight-talking New Yorker Steve Zanlunghi arrived to take over at the helm of parent company Fiat Group’s UK operations. Since then – and a lot of credit must go to him – there’s been a big turnaround and he promises more to come. The dealer network has been revamped and expanded and he says they’re going to be much more aggressive after being in what he calls “survival mode” in the past.
The new Jeep Cherokee is leading the charge. It will be available for the time being with a two-litre diesel with outputs of either 140bhp or 170bhp. The more powerful engine has a nine-speed automatic gearbox. There are three trim levels: Longitude, Longitude+ and Limited and either two or four-wheel drive. A tougher, off-road focussed Trailhawk model with a 3.2-litre petrol engine will be available by special order from the end of the year. It’ll have exclusive interior and exterior colours plus front tow hooks, skid plates and wider wheel arches to accommodate larger all-terrain tyres.
Across the range new suspension and a rigid bodyshell help with the ride. The Active Drive I four-wheel drive system automatically switches between front and all-wheel drive when needed and the Selec-Terrain system offers up to five different four-wheel drive modes for the most suitable settings for the conditions, whether it’s mud, snow, ice or sand. It’s certainly impressive off-road and is full of technology including the option of a clever charging pad that can replenish smart phones without the need to plug them in.
It’s well put together, is well-behaved onroad and looks pretty good all the way from the classic seven bar grille at the front. Jeep is back in a big way.
TEST CAR: Jeep Cherokee 2.0 140bhp 6 Speed manual 4×4 Limited
PRICE: £33,195
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 117 mph. 0-62 mph 12 secs
MPG: 50 mpg combined
CO2 EMISSIONS: 147 g/km
