FIRST DRIVE
2008 Jeep Cherokee 2.8 CRD Auto
Rocky, sandy, watery – whatever the terrain the new Jeep Cherokee has it covered.
That’s right IMN has driven the all new Jeep Cherokee and we put it to the test on some of the roughest terrain the UK has to offer.
The boffins have went back to the design board as the boxy design has made a come back. Jeep has gone back to the future with the looks and this is sure to please the die hard fans as the previous generation was too much of a soft roader for their liking.
The new Cherokee has a starting price of £24,495 and has been given a complete makeover both inside and out.
On the inside, there’s plenty of room in the rear for two adults and you could squeeze another one in if you’re on a short journey. Load lugging is child’s play as the Jeep has a boot that should swallow your luggage with ease. There’s also the standard 60/40 split fold-flat rear seats and to give you even more room for awkward items the front passenger seat also folds flat. The rear seats have a recline feature which is a boon – this should make long motorway trips really comfortable for those in the rear.
The build quality is just as impressive. The Cherokee has been updated and the cabin has been transformed with brushed aluminium, although the majority of the dash is still a little lack lustre and just has too much grey plastic on it.
The maker has used quality materials on the seats and over long journeys seem comfortable. While all the shut lines fit neatly together and the doors shut with a quality-sounding thud.
Under the bonnet our test car had the 2.8-litre CRD diesel engine, which has an output of 174PS. The Cherokee works brilliantly off-road. On road the 4x4 copes well with urban life while the figures are respectable for this size of vehicle – Jeep claims the Cherokee with the Auto ‘box will get from zero to 62mph in 10.5 seconds while it has a top speed of 111mph. A downside is that the oil burner feels a bit sluggish when moving off but once in motion the 460Nm of maximum torque will get you past the majority of slow moving traffic.
Thanks to its well weighted steering the Jeep Cherokee is a pleasant motorway cruiser however it can be buffeted by side winds which can be off-putting.
It’s not bad on B-roads either, the 4x4 doesn’t roll as much as some rivals do when cornering.
It comes into its own when you get it on the rough stuff. The new Cherokee makes it look easy. Our test route included driving up rivers and traversing off-road trails - child’s play. The Jeep Cherokee uses a new Hill Descent Control Sytsem which is so good that you can even pull a caravan weighing 750kg across rough terrain. The Hill Descent Control Sytsem gives you superb downhill control in low traction conditions – stop on a slope with a caravan on tow start up and the Jeep Cherokee will pull away with no slippage – remarkable. And if you accidentally put the gear stick into neutral or reverse, the Hill Descent Control Sytsem will still work and get you safely up or down the terrain you’re on.
Safety is high on the maker’s list and Jeep has installed All speed traction control, and ABS with ESP all as standard. There’s also multiple airbags, a pair of airbags up front for the driver and the passenger and there are also side curtain airbags. Our test car had the Sky Slider which is optional but well worth the extra £950 as offers a full canvas roof that opens and closes at the flick of a switch.
Jeep claims the Cherokee will return 31.4 on the combined cycle with the auto ‘box. The 4x4 emits 242g/km of CO2 emission which again is quite healthy for a car of this size.
Simon McBride