SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you can get at home.

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Techno review: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Overland

It gets complicated

Posted 15 April 2014

The engine:
The US-spec L630 edition of the 2987cc, V6, VM Motori commonrail diesel develops 179 kW (240 HP) and 569 Nm (420 lb/ft) of torque to haul this WK-2 series Grand Cherokee to 100 km/h in 8,2 seconds and on to a top speed of 202 km/h. It was specifically developed to meet challenging emissions requirements in the North American market.

Main technical features include a 2000-bar injection system, chain-driven, double overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder, cooled EGR system, a cast graphite iron cylinder block and an electrically actuated variable geometry turbocharger. It’s fitted with specific sensors to meet mandated on-board diagnostic requirements (OBD-II). Bestowing a “Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines” award for 2014, the judges cited real economy, performance and good NVH as factors that impressed them.

The gearbox:
The ZF8HP70 eight-speed automatic is an electronically controlled, modular unit that can be adapted for a variety of applications; rear-wheel drive, awd with Torsen or mechanical differentials, and either single range or dual range gearing. It consists of four gearsets and five shift elements and is designed to be economical, fast-shifting and versatile, enabling one-step downshifts from eighth gear to second in extreme circumstances. Created by Zahnradfabriek Friedrichshafen, variants are used in most major luxury vehicle brands. Chrysler builds it under licence at its Kokomo, Indiana, plant. The number 70 indicates that this version is intended for torque loads up to 700 Nm.

The off-road kit:
Here’s where it gets complicated. With most other makes, you get one awd system, one suspension type and one terrain response setup. Grand Cherokee offers you a choice of steel or air suspension, three 4x4 systems and two terrain response programs. Luckily your choice of trim level and engine mostly dictates which combination you will get. For example SRT has the sophisticated steel suspension with Bilstein Adaptive Damping, while Limited and Overland models automatically get Quadralift air suspension that can raise the car from its normal ride height of 220 mm to a maximum of 280 mm in two steps. When cruising at over 100 km/h in Eco mode, the ride height drops by 13 mm to 207, and a “park” position puts the Jeep down to 180 mm for loading or off-loading passengers and cargo.

As 4x4 systems go, only Limited gets the slightly less sophisticated Quadra-Trac ll setup; unless you buy an Overland with 3.6-litre petrol engine, when you get it too. Quadra-Drive ll with electronic LSD is fitted standard to diesel and V8 Overlands, but can be fitted as an option to Limited. Getting complicated enough? The main difference between the two systems is that, in 4WD Low, Quadra-Trac ll’s torque split defaults to 50:50. With Quadra-Drive ll it remains infinitely variable. Quadra-Trac (no number) is a purely “on demand” system without low range and fitted exclusively to the pavement-shredding SRT.

Limited and Overland models are all fitted with Selec-Terrain that offers users a choice of five response modes; snow, sand, auto (that you could use all the time because it thinks for you), mud and rock. Separate buttons are provided for 4WD Low, Hill Descent and height control. There is also a button labelled “N.” That’s to disengage the diffs when or if you ever suffer the disgrace of being towed home by something British or Japanese. Selec-Trac, with five modes plus launch control, is exclusive to the SRT. Our test unit was a diesel Overland so it had air suspension, Quadra-Drive ll with electronic LSD and Selec-Terrain.

The only non-variable is the eight-speed ZF gearbox; it’s standard across the range.

The equipment:
Apart from various coloured or chromed trim items, the highlights of the Overland package are bi-xenon HID smartbeam headlamps (not adaptive), powered and heated fold-away exterior mirrors with auto-dim, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, 20” aluminium wheels, eight-way powered Nappa leather seats with heating and ventilation, two memory settings for driver’s seat, radio and mirrors, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Safety equipment includes seven airbags, ABS with ESC and ERM, hill descent control, hill start assist, tyre pressure monitoring, parking radar with backup camera, automatic wipers and fog lamps. Convenience items are a nine-speaker, 506 Watt sound system with media hub, UConnect voice command with Bluetooth, 8.4-inch smart-touch screen with satnav and a 7” TFT touchscreen in the instrument cluster.

The experience:
A safety feature on this car is an interlock on the electronic throttle to prevent users accelerating and braking simultaneously. My shameful confession is that I usually brake left-footed when driving automatics, so my wicked habit caught me out on a few occasions. The slightest overlap; touching both pedals simultaneously, triggers a screen warning to “service the electronic throttle.” At the same time, the throttle disconnects for a few seconds, leaving you coasting without power. Lesson: Comply or be punished. Keep your left foot away from the brake.

Performance-wise the added torque of the diesel motor, versus the 3.6-litre petrol burner driven last year, made a pleasant car even better. It did what I wanted it to do; overtaking more easily, kicking down more smoothly and maintaining speed up inclines with less effort. The R95 000 price gap between these two Overland versions might be hard to swallow, but for long-term satisfaction one would probably find a way.

Test unit from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles SA press fleet

The numbers
Price: R837 990
Engine: 2987 cc, V6 turbodiesel
Power: 179 kW at 3600 rpm
Torque: 569 Nm at 1800 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 8,2 seconds
Maximum speed: 202 km/h
Real life fuel economy: About 9,4 l/100 km
Tank: 93 litres
Luggage: 782/1554 litres to roof
Max. trailer mass: 3400 kg
Approach/departure/breakover angles (front airdam removed): 35,8/29,6/23,5 degrees
Fording depth: 574 mm
Maintenance plan: 72 months/100 000 km

Our review of the 2012 Grand Cherokee with older version of this motor is here

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so they can see I do actually exist.


Comments?
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