My new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit review

My new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit review

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Coolbanana

Original Poster:

4,415 posts

200 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
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Hi All,

I thought I'd offer my opinions of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee - Summit model, in my case.

In terms of competition, I would think it is aimed at the LR Disco 4, Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Shogun mainly, being a 'proper' 4x4 as opposed to being an SUV with some 4 wheel drive function added on.

In the past, I've owned an LR Disco 4, RR Evoque and RR Sport (2011 model) and driven Land Cruiser's and Mitsubishi Prado's so can compare them like for like.
Inevitably, its competition will also include the likes of the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and the Mercedes ML - all of which I find are 'beaten' by the top-of-the-range Jeep in their lower spec editions but ultimately offer greater refinement, more powerful and better engines along with an even higher spec and quality at the upper echelons of their respective ranges - but none will go off-road as well as the Jeep and are more SUV than 4x4. Perhaps the VW Touareg is a closer SUV than the rest to compare to in this line up since it is quite capable in its own right.

So what is the new Jeep like to drive?

Very good. For a large beast – and it is large, by British standards anyway – it handles corners well and I’d say as good as a Range Rover Evoque and noticeably superior to that of the LR Discovery.
On-road cruising is very comfortable and the car sure-footed. In terms of power, its 247bhp and 570Nm coupled with the 8-speed ZF auto box makes for a decent turn of overtaking acceleration albeit it seems to have a lag off the line. It’ll still get to 60mph in 7.8 sec however and returns 38mpg on the combined cycle with a CO2 rating of 198g/km.

I’ve yet to try it off-road but Jeep is as renowned for off-road abilities as the LR’s are and it has a similar electronic traction control system (Selec-Terrain for Mud, Sand, Snow, Rocks) and controls to compliment the mechanicals. It comes with the Jeep Quadra-Trac 2, with Electronic LSD and air suspension. Mine is set to comfort access mode and when Park is selected, besides lowering the seat and raising the steering wheel, it lowers the suspension to make access easier and means I can avoid the need for side-steps.

There is no Command Seating position made famous by LR’s and RR’s and no individual armrests but an adequate larger single armrest between the two front seats and the view is good simply because the car sits quite high by default. If I had one criticism of the view it would be that the A-pillars are huge and create a large blind spot that you need to adjust yourself to overcome.
So in terms of driving the car, overall I prefer it to the LR Discovery 4 and 2011 Range Rover Sport and the main opposition I outlined earlier. No doubt the new RR’s and top line Germans will outdo the Jeep on the tarmac but at its price-point, the Jeep wins here for me.

Exterior:

I think it is a smart looking 4x4 and one of the best designs out there at the moment albeit a tad too much chrome for my tastes. The Summit model is particularly ‘bad’ for this but a compromise for the extra spec toys it comes with over the Overland model.
I like the slim headlights and the LED lighting design, front and back.
Mine is Brilliant Black Metallic and actually appears as a very dark grey in sunlight which I like.
Scoring the design over its competition, I would call it a draw with the LR/RR’s and better, in my opinion, to the others.

Interior:

The space is good, more than the 2011 Range Rover Sport and closer to the cavernous LR Discovery 4. The seating is for 5, with no 7-seat option and for me, that is perfect as I’ve never had the need for a 7-seater.
There is leather everywhere and the quality matches that of the LR Discovery 4 in HSE trim and feels like a nice place to be. The steering wheel is quite thick – more akin to that you would find in a Sports car.

The Panoramic sunroof lets in lots of light but can be closed hidden by an electronic blind if the sun beats down too hotly.
Interior plastics are a mixed bag, some are really nice – like the controls for Audio etc – but others not so great, like the electric seat controls and some trim which feels decidedly cheap for what it otherwise a premium-feeling interior.
The headlining is Alcantara throughout – a nice touch and storage and boot space is good too.
Overall, I’d say unless you absolutely need 7 seats, the Jeep GC Summit compares favourably to the LR Disco 4 and better than the LC and Shogun offerings. The Germans and RR’s would provide noticeably higher quality in their higher specs but you would also pay a lot more for the privilege.

Technology:

The Jeep excels in this department – especially considering its price point.
There are no options other than rear seat Blu-ray players, everything else is standard on the Summit model and include:

1. 8.4” Infotainment screen which controls everything – Settings, Audio and Sat-Nav etc – is one of the largest I’ve seen and has a good hi-res appearance; noticeably better than the LR Disco 4, 2011 RRS and RR Evoque I owned.
2. There is a 7” screen in the centre of the instrument cluster which looks fantastic with its hi-res and can show all manner of different information from the traditional speedo to a combination of things, like speedo and live MPG readouts, Trip, Off-road articulation, Individual Tyre pressures and much more.
3. Electrically adjustable front seats.
4. Electric windows, Panoramic sunroof and Blind
5. Auto Wipers.
6. Adaptive Bi-Xenon Headlights with auto High beam and auto on function.
7. Adaptive Cruise Control – this is good in that you can use it as a ‘standard’ cruise with no radar or set a radar distance to match the speed of the vehicle in front.
8. Eco mode to reduce fuel consumption. smile
9. Sport mode to increase fuel consumption. biggrin (and stiffen suspension for less body-roll)
10. Electrically opening and closing boot.
11. Tyre Pressure Monitoring with live individual pressures for each tyre.
12. Sat-Nav.
13. 19 speaker and sub Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi with Surround Sound. (Possibly one of the best factory systems I’ve heard).
14. Heated seats, front and back with Ventilated cooling seats front.
15. Rear camera with active guide lines.
16. Lots of USB charging points.
17. Forward Collision Warning System and Blind Spot warning. (Uses the radar thingy and an orange triangle lights up in the wing-mirrors if a car is in your blind spot).

In terms of its obvious opposition, I’d score the Jeep very highly here and give it a win.

In conclusion, I rate the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit a success. It has moved the game on in Jeep terms and brought it to the table as a serious contender against the LR Discovery 4.
I prefer it to the RR Evoque I used to have as well as the previous model RR Sport, matching them on refinement, feeling more refined than the LC and Shogun while offering similar levels of off-road prowess to all and beating them all for its on-road abilities.
To find a better handling, more luxurious 4x4, you have to move to the far more expensive Range Rovers (new Sport and Full-Fat) or forego the extra 4x4 ability and opt for a high spec German SUV.

Personally, I like to have the extra 4x4 ability on demand and therefore, my choice would always be Discovery, LC, Shogun or Grand Cherokee and of those, my current fav is the Grand Cherokee.


pills

1,718 posts

237 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
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Thank you very much for that. Am considering one of these for my next car (might take a few years of saving)!

jhonn

1,567 posts

149 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Great review! We have a 2011, the model below the Summit and really like it. We also have a LC3 Landcruiser and find the Jeep a better on-road car. We prefer the Landcruiser for towing though - I think the difference is that the LC has the body rubber mounted on to the chassis which means less noise and shocks are transmitted through to the occupants.
Ours has been pretty reliable though it has had some niggly problems - problems with the Xenons, front window and it's booked in this week as it's using a bit of coolant. There's a recall on the brake booster (servo?) too.
There's some great features on the car, stuff that we've never had before - I miss them when I drive a different car. I haven't used it much off-road but it's nice to know it can do it if necessary - the low-box is useful when reversing trailers.
The performance is great - lot's of punch when overtaking; I also agree that it's a fine looking vehicle - nice lines, good stance and not too shouty (ours has the 18'' wheels).
Enjoy your Jeep! - it's a fine vehicle.

skyrover

12,671 posts

204 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
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Coolbanana said:
So what is the new Jeep like to drive?

Very good. For a large beast – and it is large, by British standards anyway – it handles corners well and I’d say as good as a Range Rover Evoque and noticeably superior to that of the LR Discovery.
I found this comment quite interesting...

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Length 189.8 in (4,821 mm)
Width 76.3 in (1,938 mm)

Land Rover Discovery

Length 190.5 in (4,838 mm)
Width 79.6 in (2,022 mm )

Range Rover

Length 196.8 in (4,999 mm)
Width 81.6 in (2,073 mm)


Coolbanana

Original Poster:

4,415 posts

200 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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skyrover said:
I found this comment quite interesting...

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Length 189.8 in (4,821 mm)
Width 76.3 in (1,938 mm)

Land Rover Discovery

Length 190.5 in (4,838 mm)
Width 79.6 in (2,022 mm )

Range Rover

Length 196.8 in (4,999 mm)
Width 81.6 in (2,073 mm)
The Full-Fat RR does stand out as larger but the Disco is close enough to be in the same mid-size category size-wise and the 2011 RR Sport I had was a bit smaller but in the same bracket.

The larger US SUV's (Escalade ESV for example)come in at around +/-5600mm and +2000mmm - even larger than the big RR.

My point being that the current GC does feel to me like it goes around corners better than both Disco and 2011 RRS which are medium size SUV's in the States - cars I've owned previously. Over here in the UK, we tend to think of the Disco et al as large, not mid-size.

Pay a lot more and the new RRS will be even better around the corners - a lot better as it is quite an improvement over the old one.

ian964

534 posts

252 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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I've just taken the plunge and ordered a GC Overland. I had a test drive a couple of weeks ago and was very pleasantly surprised. My current car is an Evoque, and a D3 HSE prior to that. I'd come to the conclusion that the Evoque is just too small, especially the boot, so the obvious choice was to go back to a Discovery, or possibly a new RRS (though somewhat over budget). However, having driven the GC, as the OP mentions there's a lot less body roll than the Disco and the ride is just as good. It does feel like a large Evoque in a lot of ways. It's also a lot of car for the money when compared to LR products, so looking forward to it!

Coolbanana

Original Poster:

4,415 posts

200 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
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ian964 said:
I've just taken the plunge and ordered a GC Overland. I had a test drive a couple of weeks ago and was very pleasantly surprised. My current car is an Evoque, and a D3 HSE prior to that. I'd come to the conclusion that the Evoque is just too small, especially the boot, so the obvious choice was to go back to a Discovery, or possibly a new RRS (though somewhat over budget). However, having driven the GC, as the OP mentions there's a lot less body roll than the Disco and the ride is just as good. It does feel like a large Evoque in a lot of ways. It's also a lot of car for the money when compared to LR products, so looking forward to it!
Congrats on the new car! I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying mine; as you say, it is a lot of car for the money and easily comparable to the LR's.

jsmjsm

3,287 posts

146 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Can anyone comment on the eco mode issue that is out there for the GC at the moment?

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee's new Eco Mode alters the shift schedule in the gearbox for fuel efficiency and is defaulted to "on" when you set off. If you want sportier performance you have to turn it off every time you drive it.

I have read about this but wondered if anyone that has one can comment whether its been fixed, over ridden or its just a non issue?

I am just about to order one.

Thanks

Coolbanana

Original Poster:

4,415 posts

200 months

Friday 17th October 2014
quotequote all
jsmjsm said:
Can anyone comment on the eco mode issue that is out there for the GC at the moment?

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee's new Eco Mode alters the shift schedule in the gearbox for fuel efficiency and is defaulted to "on" when you set off. If you want sportier performance you have to turn it off every time you drive it.

I have read about this but wondered if anyone that has one can comment whether its been fixed, over ridden or its just a non issue?

I am just about to order one.

Thanks
It is indeed defaulted to on - never knew this was an issue though so does fall into the non-issue camp for me. On my every day commute, I leave it on as there is still plenty of overtaking power.

You have the option of pressing the Eco-mode button and it is off and the engine will rev more freely as you say. In addition, you can put the car in Sport Mode which is even 'sportier' and, if you wish, use the paddles to change gear when you want to.

If you want to drive without Eco and couldn't be bothered with turning it off all the time, simply select Sport straight away instead of D and Eco mode is turned off automatically. Driven with paddles, I can match the standard economy anyway in this mode but have the 'sportiest' setting available instantly too.

jsmjsm

3,287 posts

146 months

Friday 17th October 2014
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Thanks for clarifying.

How is it now you are a month or two into it? I still haven't seen a new shape on the road which is part of the attraction to be honest.

Coolbanana

Original Poster:

4,415 posts

200 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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jsmjsm said:
Thanks for clarifying.

How is it now you are a month or two into it? I still haven't seen a new shape on the road which is part of the attraction to be honest.
I've done just over 1600 miles now and it is a great drive, very comfortable and practical with no issues to report, not even a rattle or squeak. I've seen 3 other's since I bought mine and about 100 LR Discovery's so with you on the rarity being a part of the attraction.

There is one oddity though - it has a cap-less fuel filler and the pump nozzle has to go in deeper than I've needed in any other car to avoid splash-back and it helps to have the fuel pump nozzle at an angle. Dunno why, but for some reason this makes it work normally but shallow insertion of the pump nozzle and in 'straight' and you risk fuel splashing back.

jsmjsm

3,287 posts

146 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Thanks mate, appreciated.

Will keep you posted.

leni789

3 posts

114 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I've got a Mineral Grey Summit being delivered next week. I was a little put off by the negative reviews I've read from American owners, but soon realised that there are equally bad things said about every car if you look for them. Considering the vast number of Jeep GC's sold, the number of complaints is pretty negligible. Really looking forward to getting my GC now. I didn't go for the £1500 rear entertainment package as a couple of 3G enabled tablets with headrest mounts off Ebay are a lot more flexible, as well as being much much cheaper. The USB charging points in the rear will come in very useful for those! Will post some photos in due course.

Pesty

42,655 posts

256 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Thanks for the review.

I was thinking of reducing my fleet and replacing 2 or 3 cars with one pf these.

Ive always liked the look of them.

Eyed up a red S limited a few weeks ago but reading reviews im wondering if its worth waiting a little for the new 8 speed box version with 20% more fuel economy plus updated front lights etc

ian964

534 posts

252 months

Friday 12th December 2014
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The 8-speed box was introduced mid last year, so any late 2013 onwards car should have it.

Still waiting for mine, due in the next 2-3 weeks.

Sarge 4x4

2,371 posts

205 months

Friday 12th December 2014
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Like the Jeep but a bit concerned about residual values.

I am a Toyota man but think the Jeep holds it's own very well.

One of my businesses is servicing and repairing L/Rovers so says it all. wink

Anatonic

114 posts

159 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Seriously tempted by one of these as my next car... I just think for the money they offer a really good alternative to the other makes out there. As much as I've fallen in love with the new L405 FFRR after a drive (and Mrs Anatonic is about to take on an Evoque), these seem like so much more bang for your buck.

What are the residuals like on the Summit model? Best answer I guess is to find out myself and go run some figures with a dealer - any recommended dealerships in and around Oxfordshire / Berkshire? Any idea on discount they offer - I read someone got 20% somewhere?!

I'd be looking at either PCP or Lease. I get a very measly car allowance of around £180pcm which I simply see as a salary increase to go towards running whatever car I happen to have at the time (no other restrictions thankfully from my business). I commute around 100 miles a day (M4 mainly) when I'm in the office, but work from home a few days a week so my mileage is only around 15k a year at the max. I'm not quite sure that means I can run the SRT8 mind you wink

Seems like most people who own these cars have nothing but praise for how good they are everyday, without breaking the bank. Seems those who haven't driven the latest incarnations either have no real opinion as they never see them as a valid option, or stereotype them with being terrible fuel guzzlers that will topple at the sight of a corner (plus can't handle offroad which is a load of tosh)

Lambman

4 posts

109 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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I'm keeping a close eye on price too. The cheapest summit I've seen is £33k (MY14) on a '13 plate - approved used jeep website has the best prices I've seem. I'm struggling to find decent finance examples (with a GMFV) on a summit or overland though so if anyone knows...

Sheepshanks

32,724 posts

119 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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jsmjsm said:
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee's new Eco Mode alters the shift schedule in the gearbox for fuel efficiency and is defaulted to "on" when you set off. If you want sportier performance you have to turn it off every time you drive it.
I know this is an old post, but that's an emissions thing - the car has to default to the condition it was tested in.

ian964

534 posts

252 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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Well I've had my Overland for a few weeks and 1000 miles now, and so far really happy with it!



As per Coolbanana's comments, the eco mode is a non-issue - it's just a push on the button on the centre console to turn it off but generally I don't bother. The only minor issues I have are the foot-operated parking brake and the auto-dimming of the instrument panel. I've gotten used to the EPB on the Evoque and Disco 3, so a manual parking brake just takes a bit of getting used to. The instrument panel lighting is linked to the auto headlamps, so sometimes dims when it's still fairly bright outside (but the lights still come on). You can override this, but then the panel's a bit bright at night.

Overall I prefer this to both the Evoque and Disco. Interior quality is on a par with the Disco HSE, a bit below the Evoque - most noticeable on the quality of the leather and stitching on the dash top. Good to drive, there's a lot less body roll than the Disco and just feels a bit more secure than the Evoque.

Given the price, it's a bit of a bargain - you should be able to get 20% discount off list. Residuals will be nowhere near LR (I traded my 2 year old Evoque for over 75% of what I paid for it new), but as I'm planning on keeping this for a few years I'm not too concerned.