European 2023 Grand Cherokee PHEV revealed

The fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee is now available to preorder in the UK, and it’s only available as a 4xe plug-in hybrid. It’s part of a wider move that will see the American brand offer just electrified models in Europe by the end of 2022. The first examples of the brand’s European flagship will arrive with customers this summer, and while pricing has still to be confirmed, it’s likely to cost from £50,000.

Based around a 2.0-litre fourcylinder petrol combustion engine, electric motors will bolster the Grand Cherokee’s output to 375bhp and 470lb ft of torque, while its 17kWh battery pack will provide a zeroemissions range of up to 31 miles between charges. Driving modes will include hybrid, electric and e-save, with the latter holding the battery charge until the driver decides to deploy it. It will also be possible to select a ‘Max Regeneration’ setting to put more energy back into the battery while decelerating.

Thanks to the instantaneous availability of torque, Jeep claims the Grand Cherokee 4xe ‘provides the brand’s flagship with benchmark off-roading capabilities’. This will be aided by the inclusion of Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system, Quadra Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain, which has five settings to optimise the SUV for Snow, Sand/Mud, Rock, Sport and Auto.

The interior design has taken a big step forwards, and the new model boasts walnut accents and Palermo leather upholstery. There are 16-way adjustable front seats with a massage function, while even the rear seats are heated and ventilated. The dashboard is dominated by Jeep’s UConnect 5 infotainment setup, with four 10-inch displays dotted around the interior. Features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air software updates, a digital rear-view mirror and a 4G hotspot that up to eight devices can connect to.

To cement its move further upmarket, luxury highlights will extend to a 950-watt McIntosh sound system featuring 19 speakers and described by Jeep as ‘one of the finest in the world’. LED lights around the cabin are customisable between five colours, and with different settings for day and night driving. The exterior design retains Jeep’s trademark seven-slotw grille, and the Summit Reserve trim available from launch gets 21-inch polished alloy wheels, a black contrasting roof and a choice of six exterior paint colours – Diamond Black, Bright White, Velvet Red, Baltic Grey, Silver Zynith and Midnight Sky. While available in the USA, the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L is unlikely to be offered in the UK, with only five-seat versions sold here.