The Longer, Three-Row Version Is Finally Here
TREND I 4.T
he fifth generation of the
Jeep Grand Cherokee
has been expanded—
literally—by introducing a
stretched seven-passenger
version called the Grand
Cherokee L, going on sale now.
A two-row version comes later
this year as a 2022 model.
Why add a third row to the
unibody SUV now? Customers
asked for it, and three-row
models make up 70 percent
of sales in the segment. The
unibody Grand Cherokee L
is to the Ford Explorer and
Chevy Traverse what the
body-on-frame Wagoneer will
be to the Ford Expedition and
Chevrolet Tahoe.
It rides on a new purpose-
built architecture, but execs
can’t confirm the new chassis
is borrowed from the Alfa
Romeo Stelvio, which has
sublime road manners. The
L is 14.0 inches longer with
a wheelbase that grew by 7.
inches relative to the outgoing
Grand Cherokee.The new platform features
front and rear multilink
independent suspension,
with an optional air suspen-
sion. The latter now offers
electronic adaptive damping
and features five ride height
settings for up to 10.9 inches
of ground clearance.
A base Pentastar 3.6-liter
V-6 (290 hp, 257 lb-ft of
torque) and optional Hemi
5.7-liter V-8 (357 hp and 390
lb-ft) are offered, with the
latter able to deactivate four
cylinders when not needed.
Both are mated to an eight-
speed automatic. Later in the
year Jeep will add the 2022
4xe plug-in hybrid.
Jeep will offer an AWD
system and two 4WD systems,
all with an active transfer
case that can route nearly all
torque to the axle with the
most traction. The new SUV
can tow 6,200 pounds with the
V-6; towing capacity is 7,
pounds with the 5.7-liter V-8.
The interior featuresupscale leather seats, a
suedelike headliner, and lots
of real walnut and oak wood
trim. The second and third
rows fold flat. The front seats
massage the occupants, and
there are personalized climate
zones. The first two rows of
seats are heated, recline, and
offer ventilation.
The second-row bucket
seats (or split-folding bench)
tip and slide, with 7.0 inches
of travel. There’s 46.9 cubic
feet of cargo space behind the
third row, and that grows to
84.6 cubes when the second
row is folded flat.
The top trims will offer a
19-speaker McIntosh sound
system. It has wireless Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto,
and an optional wireless
charger can charge two
devices simultaneously.
For safety, there are active
driving assist systems, drowsy
driver detection, parking
assist, a digital rearview
mirror, traffic sign recog-
nition, and more. Adaptive
cruise control, blind-spot
detection, lane departure
warning, collision warning,
and rear cross-path detection
are standard. A Level 2 auto-
mated driver assist system—
think GM’s Super Cruise that
allows hands-free highway
driving—will be added in the
second model year. Alisa PriddleIntake
NEWSI OPINIONI GOSSIPI STUFF2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
FIRST LOOK
14 MOTORTREND.COM APRIL 2021APRIL 1991
PRICE: $2.
If you liked future
cars, our “Top
Secret Spy Issue”
was the one for
you. Inside, we
detailed the
upcoming FD
Mazda RX-
Turbo, Bugatti
EB110, and the
1993 Chevrolet
Camaro and
Pontiac Firebird.
We also ran
a feature on
automotive spy
photographers—
those responsible
for catching
camouflaged
prototypes in
action—and the
tools of the trade.APRIL 2011
PRICE: $4.
Our April 2011
issue focused
on five-figure
supercars.
Inside, the
C6 Chevrolet
Corvette ZR1,
S197 Ford
Mustang Shelby
GT500, and R
Nissan GT-R
squared off for
supremacy. The
GT-R wound up
in first, Corvette
in second, and
Mustang in third.APRIL 1971
PRICE: $0.
April ’71 saw us
racking up airline
miles as we hit
auto shows
worldwide in
Italy, Japan,
Australia, the
U.K., Germany,
and, of course,From the MT Archive ...
REAR VIEW
the U.S.
Elsewhere, we
also examined
the impact
of Mercedes’
new “anti-
skid brakes”
(now known
as anti-lock
brakes), and we
checked out
the products
the Detroit Big
Three were
selling in Brazil.