Jeeps: taming the flood

31 January 2012 - 22:49 By BRUCE FRASER
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When Cyclone Dando cut its path of destruction through the northern reaches of South Africa last week, it was nature at its angriest.

For four consecutive days the heavens opened and rivers that had been barely a trickle were turned into raging torrents intent on destroying everything in their path.

Bridges simply collapsed, roads were swept away and areas made inaccessible as the water searched for an escape route.

An elderly ranger at the Kruger National Park told me it was the worst he could remember.

"2000 was bad," he said. "But these conditions are worse."

Conditions, though, that were tailor-made for the launch of the new Jeep range.

What is it?

What we have is a new - and for the first time - diesel engine for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

It was previously only available as a petrol derivative, but the top brass at Chrysler believed they had been missing out on a bigger slice of the SUV cake by not having a diesel engine in their Grand Cherokee range - hence this new entry.

The new 3.0-litre turbo direct-injection V6 engine not only looks good on paper - 177kW and 550Nm - but on the road these figures translate into an impressive drive.

There is also a new heart for the Jeep Wrangler - in the form of a 3.6-litre V6 power-train.

A criticism of the Wrangler in the past was that it lacked the guts to go with its macho image. That's been sorted out and power is up 43% and, thankfully, fuel consumption has been reduced.

How does it look?

The Grand Cherokee has never been a shrinking violet, and this new edition pushes the boundaries, having grown in just about every direction.

But big doesn't necessarily have to equate to clumsy and this particular vehicle has the looks and curves that are as sleek as a ramp model.

Our launch vehicle came with whopping 20-inch rims and an extensive list of interior and safety features. Surprisingly though, when you get behind the wheel of the Grand Cherokee, you quickly forget you are driving a vehicle that weighs just shy of two ton and is the length of a football field.

The Wrangler on the other hand is more in your face. It is designed as an off-road warrior and makes no excuse for that.

What you see is what you get and although conditions didn't permit it, the idea of being able to remove the roof for a bit of open-air driving is mighty appealing.

What's it like to drive?

The conditions we encountered in the Kruger National Park and surrounding area were nothing short of extreme.

At the lodge we were due to overnight in more than 300mm of rain fell in just a couple of hours on Wednesday, making access to it too dangerous.

We did give it a try though and at one stage had to attempt a river crossing where the gushing waters were making a growling noise that sounded like as if it was coming from the bowels of the earth.

I must confess, I was as nervous about doing the crossing as a white rhino would be on hearing the first sounds of an approaching helicopter. With our safety belts released and our windows down - just in case we had to make a quick exit - we ploughed through the waters which suddenly were washing over the bonnet.

But, credit where it's due; there aren't many off-road vehicles in which I would attempt such a crossing. The Cherokee is now part of that select group that gives as good as it gets.

On the open road it's an absolute pleasure. The ride height is nice and high and that five-speed automatic gearbox is as slick as they come.

I must admit I only drove the Wrangler on the relative safety of tar, which I guess is a pity, as it is at home in the dirt as a warthog in a mud bath.

The ride comfort is admittedly a lot better than the generation it replaces, but it is still a far cry from the Grand Cherokee.

But then again comparing the two is like comparing apples with oranges so lets leave it at that.

Any special features?

What a question; it's like asking a hyena if he enjoys a rack of ribs.

I never thought I'd appreciate seat warmers in the Kruger National Park in mid-January. I did and, by the way, the second row of seats also come with this cosy feature.

The windscreen wipers are able to move as quick as a startled cheetah, which definitely came in handy for the conditions we encountered.

The bi-xenon headlights have an automatic dim function which is also extremely handy for night-time driving.

Five terrain settings are available at the flick of a switch - auto, sand/mud, sport, snow and rock.

Mention must also be made of the enormous rear hold space which is measured at 994 litres - easily enough to swallow the luggage of five passengers. It hasn't exactly gone soft, but the Wrangler now has features that might have hardened 4x4 nuts crying into their jerry cans.

Steering wheel mounted controls, automatic temperature controls, power mirrors and upgraded materials for the seats means the Wrangler has stepped up a notch or two in class.

And hey, with that removable roof it still remains the only 4x4 convertible on the road today.

Should you buy one?

The Grand Cherokee has it all - looks, excellent off-road abilities, space and of course 70 years of Jeep heritage.

It would be a nice feeling to have one of these parked in your garage, knowing that if you do decide to do a bit of bundu-bashing, your vehicle will not be found wanting.

With the Wrangler, well this is an enthusiasts vehicle. It will take you virtually anywhere ... but at a price.

Our launch vehicle returned thirsty figures of just over 13 l/100km on the open road. Even with all its new comfort features and extra power, I doubt it's a vehicle I would want to use on a daily basis.

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