Jeep has been milking the Grand Cherokee moniker for over 27 years now and it is still one of the top-selling models for the automaker. The SUV is showing its age in the current iteration, but that doesn’t mean the demand is going low. So, instead, Jeep decided to tap into another niche with the same formula. Called the Grand Cherokee L, this SUV rides on an extended platform and has a third row of seats.
As I mentioned earlier, the Grand Cherokee moniker is showing no signs of slowing down. Since 2016, the company is consistently moving over 200,000 examples of the Grand Cherokee every year in the U.S. While a new generation of the two-row SUV would’ve given the sales numbers a slight push, introducing a three-row iteration would do much more than that. Developing this three-row iteration would’ve cost Jeep a fraction of what they would have to spend to build a new vehicle from the ground up. Not to mention, it allows Jeep to retain the same success formula with the existing credibility of the moniker and have another offering in the three-row SUV segment.
Being a three-row version of the Grand Cherokee, it will look pretty much the same, except for the length, obviously. The SUV measures 204.9 inches in length, 77.3 inches in width, and 71.5 inches in height. It has a wheelbase of 121.7 inches. This makes it 15 inches longer than the two-row SUV. The Grand Cherokee L seems to have drawn inspiration from the Jeep Grand Wagoneer also, which means similar styling cues could be seen on the upcoming two-row Grand Cherokee as well. It is based on an extended version of a brand new platform built for the upcoming standard Grand Cherokee and it doesn’t underpin any other SUV in Jeep’s lineup at the moment.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L exterior dimensions
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Length |
204.9 Inches |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Wheelbase |
121.7 Inches |
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Height |
71.5 Inches |
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Width |
77.3 Inches |
It looks quite proportionate overall and not a weirdly stretched two-row SUV. Jeep has stated that around 60-percent of the body is composed of high-strength steel. The automaker has also made use of aluminum for the hood, tailgate, the front sub-frame, and shock towers to keep the weight on the lower side.
The approach angle is rated at 20.6 degrees, breakover angle at 18.2 degrees, and departure angle at 21.5 degrees. If you’re willing to shell out some extra money, you can opt for the adjustable air suspension as well. The ride height here is 8.3 inches, but can be raised up to 10.9 inches.
In the highest setting, it will have an approach angle of 30.1 degrees, a breakover angle of 22.6 degrees, and a departure angle of 23.6 degrees. These will be the ratings for the off-road friendly Overland trim. The top-of-the-line Summit trim will feature a different front bumper, which reduced the approach angle to 28.2 degrees.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L off-road specs
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Approach |
20.6 Degrees |
30.1 Degrees |
|---|---|---|
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Breakover |
18.2 Degrees |
22.6 Degrees |
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Departure |
21.5 Degrees |
23.6 Degrees |
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Ground Clearance |
8.5 Inches |
10.9 Inches |
The highlight of the cabin, of course, is the addition of the third row of seats. There is no word on the dimensions yet, but don’t expect it to offer Chevy-Suburban-like space at the back. You can choose to have either a bench seat in the second row or two bucket seats, which means the Grand Cherokee L will be sold in six- and seven-seat configurations. If you want a plusher vibe, you can choose for real wood and leather trim, too.
The layout will be similar to the upcoming Grand Wagoneer’s, but not as tech-heavy with screens all around the cabin. The center console will be graced by a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system irrespective of the trim level. It will run on FCA’s UConnect5 software. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
Behind the steering wheel will be a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that is highly customizable to display off-road data, navigation, and feed from the night vision camera over and above the standard drive-related data. A 10-inch head-up display can also be had as an optional accessory. For you audiophiles, a McIntosh sound system will also be available.
How Much Cargo Space Does The Jeep Grand Cherokee L Offer?
With all the seats in place, the SUV will offer 17.1 cubic feet of space. Flip the third row and the space increases to 46.9 cubic feet. Flip the second row also and you will have 84.6 cubic feet of space available at your disposal. In comparison, the maximum space you can get on the two-row Grand Cherokee is 68.3 cubic feet.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L cargo room
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Cargo room - all seats up |
17.1 |
|---|---|
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Cargo room - second row folded |
46.9 |
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Cargo room - third row folded |
84.6 |
How Many Trims Will Be Offered On The Jeep Grand Cherokee L?
Jeep will offer the Grand Cherokee L in four trims – Laredo, Limited, Overland, and Summit. Being a Jeep product, there will be no dearth of optional accessories and packages. For now, Jeep hasn’t announced all of them, but still mentioned that the Overland trim will be available with an Off-Road Group package that will include:
-* Skid plates
-* 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-season off-road tires
-* Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system
What Will Power The Jeep Grand Cherokee L?
Both engines will come with an eight-speed automatic as standard. Furthermore, Jeep also has plans to introduce a 4xe hybrid model, too. As for the towing capacities, the V-6-powered SUVs can tow up to 6,200 pounds, whereas the V-8-powered models can tow up to 7,200 pounds.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L specifications
|
Engine |
3.6-liter, V-6 Pentastar |
5.7-liter V-8 |
|---|---|---|
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Horsepower |
290 HP |
357 HP |
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Torque |
257 LB-FT |
390LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
eight-speed automatic |
eight-speed automatic |
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Towing capacity |
6,200 pounds |
7,200 pounds |
Three Different Four-Wheel-Drive Systems Will Be On Offer
Jeep has upped the ante in the off-road department by offering three different four-wheel-drive systems on the Grand Cherokee L. The first one is a single-speed automatic system called Quadra-Trac I. Next is the Quadra-Trac II which comes with a low-range gear set. The top system is called the Quadra-Drive III which offers an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential in addition to the Quadra-Trac II’s features. Jeep says that all the three drive systems can disconnect the front axle automatically.
What About The Safety Features and Driver-Assistance Features?
The Grand Cherokee L will come with a host of standard and optional features. These include:
-* Full-Speed Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking System
-* Rear Cross-Path Detection
-* Adaptive Cruise with Stop-and-Go
-* Lane-Keep Assist
-* Lane-Departure Warning
-* Advanced Braking Assist
-* Night Vision
-* Head-up Display
-* Intersection Collision Alert
-* Drowsy Driver Detection
-* Traffic-sign Recognition
-* 360-degree Camera
You can also opt for the company’s new Active Driving Assistant, which is essentially a Level 2 autonomous system that makes use of lane-centering and adaptive cruise control.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L will hit production soon and be will reach the dealerships in the second quarter of 2021. As for the pricing, expect it to start in the ballpark of $40,000, around $6,000 more than the standard Grand Cherokee.
The standard Grand Cherokee and the 4xe hybrid will enter production later and go on sale probably by the end of this year. For now, there is no mention of special off-road or performance trims, but expect the Trailhawk or Trackhawk versions to roll out soon after the launch. An SRT version could also be in the making and could be launched a couple of years down the line.