Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee Launched At Rs 71.59 lakh And Rs 93.64 lakh Respectively

After much speculation and suspense, the moment is finally here. The Jeep brand has finally arrived in India after almost three years of the announcement being made. Jeep has launched two of its global flagship SUVs today in Jodhpur, the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler with prices starting from Rs 71.59 lakh and Rs 93.64 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi. 

It’s after almost 70 years that Jeeps will be sold again in the country. The last time they were here was just after the Second World War. The Wrangler is a rugged and Jeep’s flagship off-roader that has been in production since 1986. The current car which will be sold here is powered by 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine dishing out 200PS of max power and 460Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission which should make things easier for off-roading. Then there is the standard low ratio box with locking diffs. The chassis is a body on frame configuration with solid axles front and rear which could eat into the handling capabilities of the car. 

Aesthetically, it has changed little over the years. The friendly front face with round headlamps and the seven slat grille is intact and the long boxy car comes with a removable hardtop. The interiors though well equipped are far from luxurious. The plastics are hard and on the rougher side but on the other hand, the cabin is completely washable. Even the Alpine sound system is weather proof. That just goes to show that the Wrangler is built and marketed as true blue off-roader. The Wrangler will only be offered in its long wheelbase variant, the unlimited.

The Grand Cherokee on the other hand is the brand’s luxury SUV and the big imposing car will be available in three variants, Limited, Summit and SRT. The variants are priced at Rs 93.64 lakh, Rs 1.03 crore and Rs 1.12 crore ex-showroom New Delhi respectively. The Limited and the Summit are powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine which makes 240PS of max power. The SRT on the other hand will be powered by a massive 6.4-litre V8 petrol engine dishing out no less than 470PS of max power and 624Nm of peak torque. All three variants will come with 4x4 and will be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. 

The interiors of the Cherokee are nothing short of luxurious, there’s liberal usage of leather, soft-feel plastic and wood. It also gets 8-way adjustable front seats with memory function and heated seats all round. It also comes with heated steering wheel dual zone climate control and a 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Cherokee will lock horns with the likes of BMW X5 and the Mercedes GLS class which could prove to be an uphill battle. But given the heritage behind the Jeep brand the features it offers in its price, it might work in the Cherokee’s favour.