Ever since Fiat added a bit of European glamour, this writer has enjoyed most seriously batting round the countryside in various modern Jeeps. OK, so nothing can compare with the old World War II workhorse, but the majority of today’s drivers simply fail to get any enjoyment driving a basic vehicle without any of the electronic aids, including power steering.
This latest Cherokee, starting in two-wheel drive at €39,000 and moving upwards in price and specs – the absolutely stunning 2.0 Mjet 11, 170bhp TD, nine-speed auto, 4X4 Active Drive to the top, Limited spec, with a showroom price of €50,000 – is a true bargain.
I have for the past 60 years been a true Alfa Romeo devotee and it is with absolute delight that we found the new Cherokee has an Alfa chassis and an Alfa engine. Could this be the reason why the vehicle handles like a sports saloon and wafts up to 100 km/h in a very reasonable 10.3 seconds and peaks out at 175 km/h?
In reality, top speed is academic in Malta and Gozo and, of a certainty, there is a multitude of cars chuntering round our mixed-up road system with theoretical top speeds in the same area, that in reality are most dynamically unsafe at speeds over 145 km/h.
The new Cherokee felt absolutely right at all speeds, the ride through tight bends was remarkably flat, the power steering was responsive to a degree normally only found on the better European saloons and the brakes, not ferocious on application, imparted a great degree of confidence when the desire to stop in a hurry got the better of us.
Most of us expect a vehicle to go well and stop on a sixpence but we also hope for a degree of comfort and a standard of finish that was unheard of a couple of decades ago.
Frankly, the Cherokee comes up trumps with all flags flying. This is a remarkably comfortable, well sorted and beautifully finished means of enjoying the entire motoring experience with five people making the expected oohs and ahs at just the right time. The driver on the other hand has the real pleasure of enjoying the whole experience while realising that in the combined cycle she is doing 48.7 miles per gallon, which translates into 5.8 litres per 100 km covered. That Alfa diesel is really a delight.
This new Jeep seems much larger than it is in reality, but once onboard and enjoying the drive, the pilot realises that the vehicle handles like a mid-range car and it can be persuaded through indecently small gaps. In fact, it can be parked, with all the aids working in remarkably small spaces as it is in fact only 4.624mm long, 1,859mm wide and 1,670mm high.
The total list of the various goodies included in the model is enormous, so we will highlight as many as space permits. ABS on all four disc brakes. Enhanced Accident Response System, Hill Start Assist, Brake Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Roll Mitigation and Trailer Sway damping. Park Assist Group, Rear Back-Up Camera, Park Sense, Front/rear Assist with Stop and Power Multi function Fold Away Mirrors, Powered Tailgate, Keyless Enter and Go, Tyre Pressure Monitoring Display, Automatic Air Conditioning Dual Zone with Humidity Sensor, Tyre Pressure Monitoring Display, Child Seat Anchor System and ISOFIX.
You get airbags up front for the front seats, sides and driver’s knee bag and front and rear window bags. Front passenger fold flat seat, Passenger seat is six-way adjustable. The driver’s seat is eight-way power adjustable and the driver’s seat has four-way adjustable lumber control. One also finds Premium Nappa leather-rimmed bucket seats and Premium Interior Accents.
Rain Sensitive windscreen wipers are always popular and so is the Uconnect Media Centre with 8.4-inch touch screen display. DAB integrated voice command with Bluetooth.
The exterior mirrors come with a memory. You get rear seats that fold 40:60, a cargo net, an automatic headlamp levelling system, light sensitive automatic headlamps, an automatic headlamp levelling system and a host of other desirables.
All in all, this becomes one of the safest, most attractive and well-fitted means of enjoying family motoring that takes no account of the fact that with a permanent four-wheel drive and polished aluminium 18-inch wheels, you can either set it for mud and sand or normal offroad use and really enjoy a Jeep as was originally intended.
Verdict
Comfort
It’s really pleasant to find out just how comfortable this modern Jeep is.
Performance
Turbo diesel working hard, 100km/h comes up in 10.3 sec.
Cool
Possibly a 1944 model would be even cooler, but the modern Cherokee is pretty darn good.
Quality
There must surely be something to moan about. However I fail to find it.
At a glance
Top speed
175km/h
0-100km
10.3 seconds
Economy
Combined 5.8 litres/100km
C02
154g/km
Engine
Four cylinders in line; 16 valves
Power
168 bhp
Maximum torque
350 Nm
Transmission
Nine-speed automatic