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The iconic American SUV luxury brand, Jeep will make its official launch on 1 September, 2016. Jeep will launch two of its models, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in India. The Cherokee is expected to be priced between Rs. 40 to 55 lakh, ex- showroom and will rival against BMW X5, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. What makes the Jeep Grand Cherokee a tough competitor with the above-mentioned models is not only the price, but also its off-road capabilities as well as the features it comes loaded with. We have positioned the key specifications of the Jeep Cherokee against its competitors to find out the differences between the vehicles.
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Engine: The Cherokee is powered by a 3.0 L, V6, EcoDiesel engine that produces 237 hp of power and 549 Nm of torque. Paired to an 8-speed Paddle-Shift automatic gearbox, the power is sent to its Quadra-Drive II 4WD system with rear Electronic Limited Slip Differential for better control and grip. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 d runs on a 2987cc, V6, diesel motor which generates more power than the American SUV at 258 hp and 620 Nm of power and torque, respectively. Under the hood, the Audi Q7 gets a 3.0 L, TDI, V6, quattro unit which is good enough to generate 245 hp and 600 Nm of torque. The BMW X5 makes 258 hp of power and 560 Nm of torque with its 3.0 L, V6 engine. The Volvo XC90 is powered by a 2.0 L, In-Line, diesel unit that develops 225 hp and 470 Nm of torque and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This implies, the Mercedes-Benz GLE is the most powerful of the lot. However, power figures on paper alone aren't enough to declare a winner. What matters most is the real-world drivability, which depends on multiple factors, which can only be ascertained after a road-test, which we'll bring to you very soon.
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Dimensions: Dimensionally, the Volvo XC90 is longer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and has a longer wheelbase of 2,984 mm. This means the XC90 has more spacious interiors based on available figures. The Cherokee is 1,943mm wide, but has a height of 1,802mm, which is taller than X5, GLE and XC90 and should help it offer a more imposing road-stance. However, the Audi Q7 offers more space than its rivals as it comes with a length and wheelbase of 5,052mm and 2,994mm, respectively. In terms of sheer size then, the Audi Q7 seems to be the winner with the Jeep pretty close to it.
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Features: The Jeep Cherokee, as we have said earlier, comes loaded with features. The SUV maker has equipped the Cherokee with features like Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps with dedicated LED DRLs (LED Daytime Running Lamps). The head lights also feature automatic high beam control and automatic headlamps. The exteriors also include side roof rails, cap less fuel fill with power locking, ORVMs (Outside Rear View Mirrors) with memory and heated mirrors. The SUV also gets rear window wiper and washer. The SUV also comes with active and passive safety features such as 4-wheel traction control, cruise control, active head restraints, Electronic Rear Limited-Slip Differential, hill descent control, hill start assist, ParkSense front and rear with park assist system and rear backup camera. The BMW X5 does come with bi-xenon headlamps and also gets headlamp washer and heat protection glazing. The Audi Q7 comes with Matrix LED lamps, which are controlled by a camera paired to sensors and operates automatically as per the road visibility. The XC90's Thor-hammer shaped headlamps however have the most striking design according to us. The XC90 and BMW X5 also take another brownie point as it is equipped with a Head-up Display (HUD) system.
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Price: As the Jeep Grand Cherokee is yet to be launched, we expect it to be priced between Rs. 40 to 55 lakh, ex- showroom. In this price range, the Jeep is cheaper than its competitors. The Audi Q7 carries a starting price of Rs. 74.2 lakh, ex-showroom while the Mercedes-Benz GLE is priced between Rs. 61.9 to 89.6 lakh. The BMW X5 is priced between Rs 67.9 lakh to Rs 78.5 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. Here, the clear winner is the upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee, provided the company manages to price the Cherokee at the expected price point.
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