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Motoring
Out and about in the Jeep Cherokee

obviously you will never experience ride is a little unsettled but once
this. With torque at 325lb-ft at underway the ride is excellent. For
2500rpm the Jeep Cherokee feels me, it is a little too soft but most
eager right from the off. buyers will be pleased, I expect.
A high point is the nine-speed Relax, stick your elbow on the sill,
gearbox which offers swift and accept that this car is a cruiser and
smooth shifts and endeavours to you’ll be happy.
get the car into the highest suitable During a lot of urban driving I
gear as soon as possible. That’s good achieved a commendable 37mpg
for economy. If you prefer you can and on a run I suspect that the
switch the big lever to manual and ‘official’ figure of 49.6mpg would be
shift sequentially. approachable. This is no doubt aided
‘Selec-Terrain’ 4WD offers a choice by the inclusion of an unobtrusive
of ‘Auto’ for everyday use, ‘Sport’ Stop/Start and the smooth gearbox.
for when you want to open the taps I like the simple dashboard layout
Geoff Maxted of Drivewrite.co.uk takes the Jeep Cherokee for a spin a bit more, ‘Snow’ for more control which has some button controls
on the dreaded white stuff and (there are more on the multi-
In the ever-expanding world of the in the UK. Prices start at around ‘Sand/Mud’ for a bit of off-roading. function heated steering wheel)
SUV the Jeep Cherokee 2.2L Multijet £26,000 for a six-speed manual It’s simple and it works well. although most of the functions are
4WD Auto Limited has much to with 2WD. At around £38k for a I suspect, unless you were beyond controlled through the ‘Uconnect’
recommend it. Although it says range-topping 4WD model, the stupid, that it is impossible to touchscreen. As usual, Bluetooth,
‘Since 1941’ on the steering wheel Cherokee is starting to get a bit accidentally bump into things when navigation, climate, USB, SD and
this big car has little in common costly but against that is the fact manoeuvring the Cherokee, say in the other usual suspects are all
with the original legend. Sharing an that you get an absolute ton of a car park, such is the level of all standard kit.
Alfa Romeo platform, the Cherokee worthwhile kit for the money. round alert systems and a very good The Jeep Cherokee is not perfect.
has lost the rugged American looks There’s a range of engines on offer rear-mounted camera. Go near It is not a car that will press
in favour of something more sleek but the pick of the bunch is the anything, or if anything comes near on along twisty country lanes
and European. new 2.2L Multijet. This new 197bhp you and the Jeep knows before you and deliver up a great driving
The Jeep Cherokee comes in a diesel makes a strong case for itself. do. experience, but it does seem to be
choice of models although the most It is quicker than the old 2.0L (8.5s The good news doesn’t stop there. a car that will cope with everything
expensive, the 3.2L V6 Trailhawk, to 62mph) and faster too, reaching This is a very comfortable vehicle. a family and/or long-distance travel
is only available by special order a top speed of 127mph although On our broken roads the low-speed can throw at it.

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