What's the news?
The new 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is ready to hit dealerships - and the best news for buyers is that the latest models have been reduced by as much as €14,000 over their immediate predecessors.
The Grand Cherokee now starts at €70,950 and the 2017MY vehicles feature both a Start&Stop function and electric power steering, these measures said to reduce CO2 emissions by 14 grams (now 184g/km) while fuel economy climbs to 40.4mpg (7.0 litres/100km) on the diesel models.
Outside, the revised bodywork comes in three new colours - Velvet Red, Redline and Ivory Tri-Coat - while acoustic glass reduces interior noise. Within, a premium gearlever replaces the previous aircraft-style e-shift, while the centre console has new switchgear for the steering, the Stop&Start system and there's also a Sport mode button.
So, the three 3.0-litre V6 CRD models with 250hp now start at €70,950 for a Limited, €76,850 for an Overland and €82,450 for a Summit. Those prices represent reductions of €9,000, €13,000 and €14,000 apiece compared to their preceding equivalents.
The Limited comes with 20-inch alloys, bi-Xenon headlights, black leather upholstery and the Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen satnav. Overland adds leather to the upper dash, while the seats are upgraded to Nappa hide, while the 'CommandView' panoramic sunroof is included, and the luxurious Summit is loaded up with Natura Plus leather with ventilated front seats, a premium Harman Kardon sound system and additional safety features such as Forward Collision Warning Plus, as well as Blind Spot and Cross-Path Detection.
Fear not if you're a petrol fan, though, as the range-topping Grand Cherokee SRT is also reduced, its €109,950 ticket constituting a more than €10,000 price cut. This monster is powered by a 6.4-litre V8 'Hemi' engine with 468hp, and it comes with 20-inch 'Black Vapour' SRT alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli high-performance tyres, as well as Quadra-Trac active on-demand four-wheel drive.
"The fact the Jeep Grand Cherokee has won more awards than any other SUV in history speaks volumes for its quality, all-round ability and sheer appeal," said Paul Hunt, managing director for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Ireland. "The latest enhancements, additions and upgrades have made the model even better and even more appealing."
Anything else?
Jeep, as part of FCA, has been recently implicated in a similar emissions scandal to the one that engulfed Volkswagen, although FCA strongly denies any wrongdoing. At the moment, the situation is up in the air while investigations continue, but there's no doubt consumer confidence has been dented by the recent announcement.