The first mass-produced off-road vehicle was produced in America just after World War II for army purposes. The name ‘jeep’ was given to this vehicle by American soldiers. It’s short for GPV (Genereal Purpose Vehicle). That is translated as the vehicle for general purposes. Nowadays, SUVs have become one of the most popular vehicles in all classes – from economy to premium. And today in this article we will find out what SUV is better – Jeep Wrangler or Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Jeep Wrangler
In its new generation, the legendary American SUV Jeep Wrangler (JL) remains true to its heritage. This car combines authentic design, improved finish materials, a high level of comfort, and excellent driving characteristics. With the change of generations, Jeep Wrangler managed to maintain the iconic look with the brutal angularity of the body, round headlights, recognizable grille, wideners wheel arches. Many stylistic elements have undergone light touch-ups, the most updated are the headlights, which can be fully diode henceforth for an extra charge. The SUV is based on modified frame construction with improved rigidity. Due to the use of aluminum (bonnet, fenders, doors, windshield frame), Wrangler weight was dropped down by almost 100 kg. Suspension layout of the new Wrangler remains the same, but according to Jeep, the chassis has been carefully reconfigured to achieve more precise handling and improved ride comfort.
Features
The interior of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler has noticeably evolved from its predecessor in terms of comfort and functionality. The materials are of higher quality, the ergonomics have been revised, and the second row has more space. When developing the new Jeep Wrangler, a key role was dedicated to the safety of the passengers. The all-terrain vehicle can be equipped with a number of various tools and assistants, including blind-spot monitoring, the rearview camera with guidelines, and the all-around parking sensors. The power line of “American” includes absolutely new 2-liter turbocharged engine with 272 powers, and also the familiar from the previous generation atmospheric petrol motor V6 3.6 liters (285 powers). The first variant is able to work in conjunction with an 8-speed automatic, for V-shaped “six” is available to choose the same automatic transmission or 6-speed manual gearbox.
Best Variants
There are only three options for the Jeep Wrangler: Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon. In the most affordable version SUV has halogen headlights, fog lights, a black hardtop with 3 sections and fenders, steel wheels R17, air conditioning, cruise control, heated seats and steering wheel, power windows, rear parking sensors, light sensor, the 3.5-inch display on the dashboard, Uconnect 5.0 media center (5-inch display and radio). The Sahara version includes alloy wheels R18, painted fenders and top, tubular running boards, ambient interior lighting, climate system with 2 zones, 7-inch instrument panel display, Uconnect 7.0 multimedia system (7-inch screen, smartphone interface support), premium sound system Alpine with 9 speakers. Special configuration Jeep Wrangler Rubicon features alloy wheels with off-road tires, power sills, mechanical axle lock. Options include leather-covered seats, Uconnect 8.4 multifunction media system with navigation, LED headlights, remote engine start, and blind-spot monitoring. Front and side airbags, stability, and traction control are standard equipment on all Jeep Wrangler models.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The fourth generation of the legendary American jeep Grand Cherokee debuted at the New York Motor Show in April 2009. Production started a year later. The Jeep Grand Cherokee (WR2) is based on the Mercedes M-class 2nd generation platform. The updated Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV inherits the main trends of the previous development in improving the vehicle’s dynamic qualities and interior space. In 2013, the company introduced a restyled version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The new premium SUV from Chrysler features an athletic design, a new interior with improved ergonomics and quality trim materials, a new engine range, and the legendary capabilities of a reliable all-terrain vehicle.
The 2018 Grand Cherokee is offered in four configurations: Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, and Overland, their main differences lie in the multimedia capabilities and 18- or 20-inch wheels. Pricing for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is fairly pragmatic compared to its competitors, making this vehicle more attractive to the average buyer. The Grand Cherokee is available with one of two V6 engines: 3.0 TD and 3.6.
Features and Options
The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s features are worth a closer look. The initial version of the flagship off-road Laredo is equipped with polished light-alloy wheels R18, bi-xenon headlamps and diode lights, heated mirrors and electric (adjustment and folding), multimedia system Uconnect with 5-inch display, front seats with electric, keyless access, monitoring wheel pressure, and lights off. The Limited version features leather upholstery, heated front, and second-row seats, heated steering wheel, remote engine start, power tailgate, a rearview camera (+ dynamic markings). The flagship Overland version features upgraded Nappa leather upholstery (+ leather trim on the front), ventilated seats in the front, a two-part panoramic sunroof, a Uconnect multimedia system with an 8.4-inch screen, and air suspension. The Trailhawk Special Edition features exclusive exterior styling elements and is equipped with R18 wheels with all-terrain tires, specially shaped seats, and Selec-Terrain with additional ride modes.
Conclusion
The first off-road vehicles began to appear at the beginning of the last century in the form of four-wheel drive military vehicles. These vehicles were usually produced in small batches and were designed to transport commanding officers. And today we have examined the characteristics of two Jeep models. In short, there are no winners in the “confrontation” of these vehicles, in my opinion. Both guarantee comfort and all-terrain mobility. Each of them is unique and individual, but the choice of the best SUV is yours alone!
