Jeep has taken the wraps off the all-new 2021 Grand Cherokee, a variant of which will be hitting European shores towards the end of this year.
The newest, fifth-generation iteration of a model that has sold nearly seven million units since launching in 1992 takes design cues from the Grand Wagoneer concept car that the American brand revealed in September of last year.
“When you set out to reimagine an SUV as beloved as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, building on its nearly 30-year legacy as an overachiever is paramount to every decision that is made,” says Christian Meunier, global president of Jeep. “With that legacy guiding the Jeep team, the new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is crafted to exceed expectations and do what no other SUV can do: deliver legendary Jeep 4×4 off-road capability blended with superior on-road manners. It is built on an all-new architecture and wrapped in a stunning new design that honours its iconic Jeep design heritage, while also extending to accommodate a third row to meet the growing needs of our Jeep customers who have asked for more space and functionality.”
The latter referring to the Grand Cherokee L, which for the first time ever will offer seating for six or seven thanks to a wheelbase measuring 3,091 mm.
“The Jeep design team envisioned a modern aesthetic for the all-new 2021 Grand Cherokee L – they worked to sculpt it down and gave it a clean and updated premium appearance tailored for today’s customer,” explains Mark Allen, head of exterior design at Jeep. “The design for the first-ever three-row Grand Cherokee pays respect to its heritage and honours its utilitarian roots. The results reflect its premium characteristics, contemporary style and legendary capability that has defined the Grand Cherokee since its inception.”
When it came to the interior, the design team says its objective was to create “a more refined expression” than previous versions of the model, with greater attention to detail and added functionality.
“We viewed the overall design process through a wide lens that allowed us to use a new generation of Jeep interiors,” comments Chris Benjamin, head of interior design at Jeep. “While the Jeep Grand Cherokee interior has been synonymous with sophistication, our approach to the three-row version was to showcase distinguished details, handcrafted materials and modern amenities that pair seamlessly with its tailored exterior.”
In terms of interior tech features, the 2021 Grand Cherokee L is not only the first production Jeep to offer a fully digital rearview mirror but also the first production Jeep to feature a windshield HUD. Also new is a standard 10.25-inch frameless digital gauge and cluster.
To be built at the company’s new $1.6 billion Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack Plant, the Grand Cherokee L is set to arrive in Jeep’s U.S. dealerships later on this summer and will be coming in four different trim configurations – Laredo, Limited, Overland, and Summit.
A “4xe” hybrid version is also scheduled to start production later in 2021.
