Launched at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in January, the internally designated KL Cherokee does away with the highly criticised stacked headlight design for a new single-piece setup, and additionally gains a more upright take on the seven-slot grille, wider front air intakes, Compass-styled LED taillights, a new tailgate now housing the number plate and standard black side cladding.
Model-wise, the Aussie Cherokee range starts off with the entry-level Sport priced at $35 950 (R381 942), which gets a seven-inch UConnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 17-inch alloy wheels, Autonomous Emergency Braking, LED head and taillights, a 3.5-inch TFT instrument cluster display, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Collision Warning and keyless entry.
Power for Sport is kept unchanged with the 2.4-litre Tigershark petrol again producing 129kW/229Nm, mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox, which has been revised and helps bring the combined fuel consumption down from 9.2-litres/100km to 8.5-litres/100km with the added inclusion of start/stop.
Moving one up, the Longitude is priced at $41 950 (R445 687) and receives an electric tailgate, Jeep’s switchable Selec-Terrain all-wheel drive system with four modes (Auto, Snow, Sport and Sand/Mud), dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, push-button start, rain sense wipers, paddle shifters, auto on/off headlights and electrically adjustable front seats. Add in the optional $1 650 (R17 530) Technology Pack, and Jeep will add Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Side Distance Alert.
Priced at $46 950 (R498 809), the Limited swaps the 17-inch alloys for 18-inch rollers and further gets the larger 8.4-inch UConnect system with satellite navigation, leather seats with the fronts being heated and ventilated, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, seven-inch TFT instrument display, High Beam Assist and the aforementioned Technology Pack as standard.
Completing the range, the off-road focused Trailhawk is stickered at $48 450 (R514 745) and mainly receives the full go-anywhere hardware such as a low range gearbox, off-road specific 17-inch alloys, front, rear and side skidplates, matt black bonnet inserts, unique front and rear facias, a rock mode for the Selec-Terrain system, off-road suspension and front and rear recovery points.
Optional though are the Limited’s leather seats, automatic headlights and Adaptive Cruise Control, which forms part of the so-called Trailhawk Premium Package priced at $2 950 (R31 341). As with the Limited, an additional $2 200 (R23 373) nets a dual-pane sunroof.
On the power front, both the Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk retain the 3.2-litre petrol V6 that makes 200kW/315Nm, connected to the same nine-speed ‘box. Surprisingly, fuel consumption is rated at 9.8-litres/100km for the former pair and at 10.2-litres/100km for the Trailhawk, a 0.1-litre/100km gain versus the pre-facelift model.
Local pricing and spec will be announced closer to the Cherokee’s launch date.
