By Jude Katende

We recently looked at the all new seven-seater Jeep Grand Cherokee and I told you about the five-seater Jeeps that were not in the country then. The good news is that they are now very much available including a demo for test drives.

Let’s look at the many new features

Inviting interior

The all new Grand Cherokee offers two (5-seater) or three rows (L – 7 or 6 seater) of exceptional accommodation with a cabin crafted to make travels as remarkable as they are unique.  16-way available adjustable front seats with memory and massage. There is an interior rear-seat-monitoring camera on the L versions. 12 available USB ports, four in each row.

Also available is Command View Dual pane power panoramic sunroof invites more sun and fresh air. An expansive use of sound dampening acoustic glass. Also available is a heated, leather wrapped multifunctional steering wheel.

To keep everyone cool or warm and cosy. Available are programmable climate controls that adjust the temperature and airflow in up to four separate vehicle zones. There is a new second row console that holds the control panel for the two zones in the rear that include adjustable vents in the side pillars.

Entertainment

Available is either an Alpine premium surround sound system or a McIntosh premium surround audio system with 19 impeccably placed speakers, 10-inch sub-woofer, 19-watt channel 950-watt amplifier, precision sound with unrivalled clarity. This is really impressive if you ask me.

Other features

A quadra-lift air suspension-This available system sets the Jeep Grand Cherokee apart by lowering ride height for optimal access or rising higher to meet your on-road demands. Now, the system reacts even faster and raises even higher, so you are handed exceptional ground with water fording capabilities up to 610 millimetres.

-Optimal on and off-road traction is instantly at hand. Up to five selectable settings electronically coordinate 12 different vehicle management systems to adjust your traction control to match the road ahead. Whether you are caught in snow covered city streets or climbing back country hills, you will have the confidence to bravely meet all challenges.

-Advanced safety and security-more features offer next generation engineering for complete peace of mind.

-New drowsy-driver detection-monitors wheel movement and provide an audible alert if the system detects that the driver is not correctly handling the wheel or if the vehicle is off track.

-New 360-degree cameras-your vehicle’s entire perimeter is monitored and displayed on your dash touchscreen. These cameras provide you with several views, like top view, rear view and panorama view, to assist you when parking either to manually or automatically.

-New head up display windshield-drivers can maintain focus on the road ahead with the help of this full colour inch transparent windshield display. Driving cluster data is projected onto a safe viewing area on the windshield in front of the driver.

-New night vision cam-monitored on the front grille detects pedestrians and animals crossing the vehicle’s pathway. The driver is notified in time to take appropriate action.

-New interior rear-seat-monitoring camera. Get a view of everyone in the second row. Image is displayed on the main touchscreen.

-Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop and go. Take the guesswork out of keeping a safe following distance from the car ahead while cruising on the highway. The system automatically adjusts cruising speed to maintain a pre-set distance between you and the vehicle ahead and can bring the Grand Cherokee to a complete stop without driver intervention, to help avoid a collision.

-Forward collision warning with active braking-sensors detect when Grand Cherokee may be approaching another vehicle too rapidly, sending an audible and visual alert to the driver and providing 1.5 seconds of brake assistance if the driver does not react in time.

-Parkview rear back-up camera-brings previously hidden rear objects to your attention, either on screen or with an audible warning, in good time to react. You can also keep an eye on anything in tow while in motion.

-Blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection. Monitors the space between you and other drivers and you are notified when a side or rear blind spot is encroached.

-Available parallel and perpendicular par assist-this active guidance system controls steering automatically using ultrasonic sensors that help you ease into parking spots. Includes ParkSense Front Park Assist sensors.

-Lanesense, Lane departure warning with Lane Keep Assist provides a visual and audible warning should the vehicle drift outside of lane boundaries or if the driver’s hands are off the wheel.

Speaking to Edmund Atwebembeire, a Sales Administrator at Spear Motors Limited, he says the five-seater Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in black, red velvet, white, blue and grey colours.

Atwebembeire adds that, “The Limited trim goes for $110,000, the Overland is from $125,000, while the Summit Reverse is from $144,000 on the road with all taxes cleared.” You can visit Spear Motors Limited at Nakawa for a test drive of this awesome SUV.