Cherokee comes with the Hemi

THE new Jeep Grand Cherokee, launched in Australia midway through 2005, looks even more ‘Jeep’ than before as the curves of the previous model have been replaced by a more traditional, squarer appearance.
Naturally, the traditional sevenslot Jeep radiator grille has been retained and given greater prominence.
However, the biggest news about Jeep’s flag bearer lies under the bonnet in the shape of a huge 5.7litre V8 Hemi engine.
The name is derived from the engine’s hemispherical combustion chambers which allow the use of larger intake and exhaust valves to bring about an improved flow of the fuelair mixture and exhaust gases.
It also enables the valves to be placed in better positions to facilitate the swirl of gases inside the combustion chambers.
This new Hemi is a big V8 with MDS (MultiDisplacement System).
MDS is an electronic system which deactivates four of the eight cylinders during cruising, light acceleration and even on slight gradients.
Jeep claims that the MDS can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent and that drivers can’t notice the switch from eight to four cylinders and back. Two other engines are offered, a 4.7litre V8 petrol and a 3.0litre commonrail direct (CRD) turbo diesel.
This, combined with a towing capacity of 3500kg, makes the Grand Cherokee an ideal recreational vehicle.
We tested the two petrolpowered Grand Cherokees in Western Australia between Broome and the Kimberleys where we covered close to 1000 kilometres, predominantly on bitumen but also on about 150 kilometres of dirt road.
Both vehicles handled some fairly rough dirt roads with ease and were superbly comfortable as longdistance cruisers. The extra size of the Hemi makes it noticeably better in hilly terrain than the previous models.
In the Hemi we averaged 17.7 litres per 100 kilometres on sealed roads with some fairly quick highway cruising.
Driven gently we were able to get it down to about 14 litres per 100 kilometres. Consumption from the smaller V8 was marginally lower.
The new Grand Cherokee has a much firmer ride than its predecessors and is more to the taste of Australian drivers.