WL75 Grand Cherokee L Launch News
According to local news, it looks like the new Grand Cherokee L local ordering availability will be pushed to the new year, with delivery commencing in the first half of 2022.
According to Australian compliance documentation, only the only the 3.6L V6 will be available at launch, with Limited, Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve trim levels confirmed for the three-row model. Additionally, all variants are expected to have 7 seats standard, with the 6 seat, second row captain chair configuration only available as an option on Summit Reserve.
With the Hemi V8 not yet available to order in the US due to global chip shortages we are not surprised that it has yet to be complied in Australia. With a bit of luck, the Hemi will be added to the lineup in a future model year.
4xe has also been confirmed for both the two and three-row models, and expected to be the tow king in our market. We expect that as our locally tuned vehicles have historically had higher towing ratings than their US counterparts as with the WK2 at up to 3500Kg, we hope that the 4xe with its 637Nm of available torque should be close to comparable to the LandCruiser 300's 3500Kg capability at 3200kg+ in local spec. It has been since Munier's closer look at how we tow and haul in our market that Jeep have also re-tuned the Gladiator's global market specs to a higher payload capacity, so our hopes are high.
Further to this, Quadra Lift adjustable height suspension has been deleted from orders in the US due to the ongoing chip shortages, with customers receiving credits for the delete of the feature from their order, it is questionable whether Quadra Lift will be available in Australia at launch. This should mean that suspension vendors will be able to fill the void with lift kit availability, so watch this space for future product announcements.
With the chip shortage expected to last into 2023, Quadra Lift and Hemi V8 will hopefully return as options in the lineup by then.
Our thoughts on the Grand Cherokee L? We love the cues taken from the 2020 Grand Wagoneer concept, Grand Cherokee design language, elegant lines and stunning interior. We are excited to see one in person, with the Australian launch expected in Q3 this year, and can't wait to see what our local and US accessory brands will come up with.
We think that the addition of a three-row to Jeep’s lineup for the first time since the Commander in 2010 will be a great addition to the Australian market for larger families. Further to this, removing the third row will make the Grand Cherokee L a fantastic tourer for families and groups of 3-4 on longer, remote trips - where the two-row's boot space has been lacking in the past.