Nearly 30 years ago, the Jeep Grand Cherokee exploded onto the scene, and it instantly became a status symbol, picking up right where the Wagoneer left off. I remember a friend in college pulling into the parking lot behind the wheel of a brand new one, and I was green with envy.
Fast forward to 2021, and more than 7 million Grand Cherokee’s have been sold globally as it enters its fifth generation, a radical departure from the vehicles before it. And after spending a week with it, I can wholeheartedly say that Jeep really knocked it out of the park, delivering a car with an unmatched combination of even more legendary 4×4 capability, superior on-road refinement, premium styling and craftsmanship inside and out, and a host of advanced safety and technology features.
And for the first time, the all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is available with a third row, allowing for seating for six or seven, and thus making it more competitive against the growing number of SUVs out there that offer third row seating. Why Jeep waited so long to offer a long wheelbase Grand Cherokee is anyone’s guess, but we’re glad that they finally did.
Visually, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee undergoes a vast transformation, leaving that chunky, rugged look behind, instead opting for a clean and premium appearance that borrows heavily from the all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, with a slimmer seven-slot grille, along with sleek headlights and taillamps. From the side, a lowered beltline and expansive glass allow for a more spacious cabin and increased visibility.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the new styling, as I feel like the iconic SUV has lost a bit of its personality in the process, and from a distance you would be hard-pressed to tell if this is a Grand Cherokee or Wagoneer. But it’s definitely a step up from the outgoing model, which was looking pretty dated, given that it was released way back in 2011.
The interior of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a different story. When I first stepped into the car, I remember going “Whoa!”, and for good reason. As you can see in the photos below, the interior is very sleek and modern, with a mix of high-quality materials like aluminum, wood and leather, along with a center console that’s nicely integrated, anchored by a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The configurable 10.25-inch frameless digital gauge cluster with numerous menus to choose from is also great. As for the 950-watt, 19-speaker McIntosh audio system – AMAZING!
Click here to read the rest of my review of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L.
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