2022 Nissan Patrol v Jeep Grand Cherokee L comparability

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series was some of the hotly anticipated automobile launches in latest reminiscence.

It’s nonetheless hotly anticipated by many shoppers, as Toyota struggles to get provide of its massive SUV. Perhaps as a consequence, the Nissan Patrol – itself no stranger to produce points – has been steadily ticking upwards in gross sales.

Entering this enviornment is a brand new flagship Jeep: the Grand Cherokee L. It’s not fairly conceptually the identical sort of SUV as these stalwarts, nevertheless.

A stretched, three-row model of the upcoming WL Grand Cherokee, it occupies an area within the Jeep lineup that’s been vacant for the reason that Commander was axed in 2010.

It’s petrol-only just like the Patrol, however with a V6 as a substitute of a V8. A plug-in hybrid is coming – one thing neither the Patrol nor LandCruiser can supply – however solely within the shorter two-row mannequin.

But whereas the massive Nissan and Toyota are conventional, body-on-frame SUVs, the Grand Cherokee L options unibody structure. Jeep has a extra direct rival within the likes of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, however it’s not accessible in right-hand drive.

The grass is at all times greener on the opposite aspect, isn’t it?

In the USA, the land of enormous SUVs, the flagship Jeep Grand Cherokee L could be had with a petroleum V8 engine. It’s priced proper up in opposition to a top-spec Nissan Armada Platinum, the US-market model of the Patrol full with a very overhauled inside.

In Australia, now we have no such luck. The Grand Cherokee L is a petroleum V6-only affair, and the Patrol sticks with a 2010-vintage inside. The pricing is skewed too, with a whopping $20,000 hole between flagship Grand Cherokee L and Patrol choices.

How a lot?

We’ve pitted these flagship variants in opposition to one another: the Patrol Ti-L, at $95,115 earlier than on-road prices, and the Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve at an eye-watering $115,450 earlier than on-roads.

Drive-away pricing, primarily based on a Sydney put up code, is $103,202 for the Patrol and $126,525 for the Grand Cherokee L – plus an additional $5500 for the latter’s Advanced Technology Group.

All bar Gun Metallic prices an additional $650 on the Patrol, whereas all bar Bright White prices a big $1750 on the Grand Cherokee L.

You can get extra inexpensive variations of each SUVs. The Patrol Ti prices $82,160 earlier than on-roads, whereas the Grand Cherokee L could be had in Night Eagle and Limited trims at $82,250 and $87,950 earlier than on-roads, respectively.

What do you get?

Standard tools frequent to each vehicles contains:

• Seven seats
• Leather upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Keyless entry and begin
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• Driver’s seat reminiscence
• Power tilt-and-telescoping steering column
• Satellite navigation
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Automatic headlights and wipers
• LED headlights and entrance fog lights
• Power tailgate
• Hill descent management
• Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors

Standard tools distinctive to the Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve contains:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• LED cornering lights
• Quad-zone local weather management
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Heated steering wheel
• Rear digicam washer
• Colour-adjustable ambient lighting
• 12-way energy entrance seats
• Heated and ventilated second-row seats
• Massaging entrance seats
• Panoramic sunroof
• McIntosh 19-speaker sound system with 760W amplifier
• Passenger seat reminiscence
• Air suspension and semi-active damping
• Semi-automatic parking help
• Hands-free performance for energy tailgate
• Steering column reminiscence
• Interior rear-facing digicam
• Illuminated sill plates
• Automatic high-beam

Standard tools distinctive to the Patrol Ti-L contains:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Tri-zone local weather management
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Second-row leisure system with twin 8.0-inch screens, headphones and distant management
• Single-pane sunroof
• Rear differential lock
• Bose 13-speaker sound system
• Eight-way energy driver and six-way energy passenger seat
• Centre console cooler

Our Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve didn’t embody all the Advanced Technology Group package deal’s options, with the entrance passenger touchscreen not current on the primary Summit Reserves in Australia. All three different options had been fitted, nevertheless: a head-up show, evening imaginative and prescient, and a wi-fi charging pad.

Unusually, nevertheless, distant begin isn’t provided regardless of this function being accessible within the US.

While the Grand Cherokee L is a steep $20,000 or so greater than the Patrol, there’s a stack of additional tools that goes some strategy to justifying this.

Are they protected?

Neither automobile has a security ranking from ANCAP. While that’s not significantly shocking for the Grand Cherokee L, which was solely launched right here this yr, it’s disappointing for the Patrol because it’s been on sale since 2013 in Australia.

Safety tools frequent to each automobiles contains:

• Front and front-side airbags
• Curtain airbags for all three rows
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Surround-view digicam

The Patrol alone options:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise management
• Blind-spot help
• Lane-keep help (brake-based)

The Grand Cherokee L alone options:

• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and bike owner detection
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep help (steering-based)
• Driver fatigue detection
• Traffic signal recognition
• Active Driving Assist (lane centring plus adaptive cruise management)

What are they like inside?

Grand Cherokee L

The Grand Cherokee L’s cabin seems to be beautiful in Summit Reserve stitching, with its real open-pore wooden trim and distinction stitching. The accessible Tupelo inside swaps the black leather-based upholstery out for a heat tan/brown if you happen to’d like some extra color, whereas colour-adjustable ambient lighting provides to the ambiance.

It doesn’t bodily really feel fairly as convincing, not less than not for a automobile at this lofty value level. The sides of the centre console have stitching, however they really feel like laborious plastic. The quilted leather-look door inserts additionally really feel skinny and agency. At least the sprint high has good, soft-touch trim, however it seems like Jeep has lower some corners within the cabin.

The switchgear, thankfully, is good and tactile. The stalks really feel well-damped, the shifter dial feels stable, and the rocker switches for the local weather management and air suspension are well-weighted.

A pity, although, that a lot of the dashboard and centre console is swathed in gloss black trim. It might look good at first, however it’s a magnet for smudges and scratches.

The steering wheel is sort of chunky and the entrance seats are firmer than the Patrol’s, although they function thigh extenders for larger assist. There’s additionally a massaging perform for the seatback.

The Jeep runs on the newest UConnect 5 infotainment system, and has a bigger 10.1-inch display than the bottom Night Eagle’s 8.4-inch unit. There’s embedded satellite tv for pc navigation, in addition to wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It’s a completely fashionable interface, and there’s usually multiple strategy to entry the assorted shows and apps. But as multiple individual advised me, the interface can look reasonably difficult, significantly the apps menu.

There are loads of neat options, just like the FamCam which reveals a digicam view of the second and third rows, and a button on the touchscreen that permits you to drop the third-row headrests.

The digicam views are additionally significantly increased in decision than these within the Patrol, although they will get a bit washed out by lights at evening.

The instrument cluster is much less intuitive, and requires a little bit of scrolling up, down and throughout to entry the totally different capabilities.

There’s loads of adjustability, however you possibly can merely specify a basic analogue-style gauge view. There’s additionally a map view, although it’s not fairly as detailed because the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7’s Virtual Cockpit set-up.

The Grand Cherokee L does have a function most rivals can’t supply: Night Vision, which takes over nearly the complete cluster. It’s useful, too – it activated routinely one evening when a pedestrian nearly stepped in entrance of my automobile.

The expertise is miles forward of the Nissan’s, and the quantity of devices and options is spectacular even at this value level. But we will’t give the Jeep an ideal 10 on this class, as its software program had quite a lot of annoying bugs we hope might be resolved in over-the-air updates.

The instrument cluster’s map show, for instance, froze in a single location sooner or later and didn’t repair itself upon start-up. This meant I successfully couldn’t use navigation, because it thought I used to be nonetheless miles away from my precise location. This subject fastened itself in a single day.

On the touchscreen, Android Auto additionally refused to activate evening mode. This additionally fastened itself in a single day, and this wasn’t due to any software program replace because the automobile wasn’t linked to wi-fi.

On one other event, I had Android Auto linked wirelessly, however whereas driving a passenger with a Samsung Galaxy I repeatedly obtained a immediate on the display asking if I needed to finish my Android Auto session and join their cellphone. Regardless of whether or not I pressed ‘No’ or the X button, this immediate saved intermittently showing.

It’s nearly amusing – the Jeep is so anticipating its occupants to make use of Android Auto, whereas the Nissan doesn’t supply it in any respect.

We’ve spoken earlier than about our Melbourne tester and a few its construct high quality points, together with loose-feeling steering wheel controls. Well, our Brisbane tester had some problems with its personal past the aforementioned software program bugs.

The air-conditioning was noisy beneath even its lowest fan setting, and the air appeared to be flowing out of 1 vent greater than the others. The driver’s door additionally had a faint creak coming from it.

The second row of seating isn’t fairly as palatial as within the Patrol, however the outboard seats are each heated and ventilated like these up entrance. The panoramic sunroof additionally reaches again fairly far, and does so with out consuming into headroom an excessive amount of.

There are two USB-A retailers and two USB-C retailers, plus local weather controls and a 230V outlet.

Access to the third row is straightforward, as with a single pull of one of many second-row seats, it lifts off its base and tilts ahead.

It’s genuinely snug again there for many adults. At 180cm tall, I had enough headroom and loads of knee room.

There are extra facilities again right here than the Patrol, too, with USB-A and USB-C retailers on all sides, plus air vents within the pillars and a cupholder on all sides.

Despite these snug third-row lodging, there’s really a shocking quantity of boot house for a three-row SUV. Cargo house measures 487L, increasing to 1328L with the third row dropped and 2395L with the second row folded as nicely.

There are power-folding second and third rows, although solely the third row will return to its upright place with the press of a button.

Jeep has general struck a superb stability between cargo and passenger house, and made good use of the Grand Cherokee L’s size.

We respect among the considerate particulars on the Grand Cherokee, like LED lights on the outside door handles and back-lit switches contained in the cabin.

Patrol

Talk a couple of throwback.

The Patrol’s cabin is swathed in unconvincing woodgrain trim, with door trims completed in gathered leather-based. Both trim decisions make the inside look even older than 2011.

The centre stack is a sea of buttons, in mid-2000s Nissan and Infiniti trend. There’s nonetheless a CD participant, however its satisfaction of place on the dashboard harkens again to the times when a 6-CD stacker was the peak of luxurious.

The old-school Nissan design has its benefits. The parts-bin heated and ventilated seat controls are tactile and keep in mind your setting whenever you flip the automobile off, and there are bodily local weather controls – a reduction, as a result of the much less now we have to make use of that touchscreen, the higher.

Camera high quality is completely disappointing for a automobile at this value level, although it’s not absolutely the worst I’ve seen. There’s a surround-view digicam, which suggests there are 4 separate cameras – useful whenever you’re off-roading. These particular person cameras do require a few button presses to activate, nevertheless.

There’s no smartphone mirroring, forcing you to make use of the dated manufacturing unit navigation system. I’ve seen Refidexes that look higher. You need to sort in addresses too, because the voice prompts don’t work for navigation, just for cellphone, audio or automobile data.

There’s no house display, per se, however you possibly can press the unusually named Status button to view a abstract of audio and local weather info.

There’s additionally a menu referred to as Apps, which options an array of screens that may simply be the slowest I’ve ever skilled in a late-model automobile.

Said apps embody a compass, clock, one thing referred to as an App Garage, and a driving efficiency display that reveals you your gasoline move and the way in which your steering is centred. All have extraordinarily dated graphics.

There’s additionally an Info display that shows your gasoline economic system, tyre pressures, and upkeep info.

All of this info must be accessed by way of the touchscreen as a result of the instrument cluster display is a dated little dot-matrix show.

There’s no digital speedometer, its most egregious failing, whereas the pictogram of the automobile doesn’t even appear to be a automobile. It seems to be like a Tamagotchi display, however not less than it’s flanked by a pair of stylish analogue dials.

The entrance seats are plush, however the seat base is simply too brief and there’s little or no bolstering. The Grand Cherokee’s seats could also be firmer however they’re extra supportive.

The outsized dimensions of the Patrol and the low centre console means you by no means really feel hemmed in when sitting up entrance. Your knees might by no means contact the aspect of the centre console however, ought to they accomplish that, they’ll relaxation in opposition to soft-touch trim.

Storage is subpar. I appear to recall we did in truth have cell phones in 2011, however Nissan didn’t design an honest place to place one if you happen to’re charging it – there’s no shelf on the base of the centre stack, leaving you to place it in a cupholder or secrete it away within the centre console bin.

Where the Patrol edges forward of the newer Jeep is in construct and materials high quality.

We skilled no construct high quality points, whereas seemingly each floor is completed in both soft-touch plastic, leather-based or leatherette trim. That gathered leather-based on the doorways would possibly look extra Nineteen Nineties Maxima than the Grand Cherokee’s diamond-quilted stuff, however the Patrol’s trim is much more convincing to the contact.

Only absolutely the backside of the doorways and sprint, plus the glove compartment lid, are completed in laborious plastic.

Step into the second row and there’s loads of house in each course and a comfortable, snug bench seat. The driveline hump can be fairly low, making for a comparatively flat ground.

There are loads of facilities, too. Each front-row headrest has an 8.0-inch display within the again for watching films, whereas there’s a pair of USB-A retailers, headphone jacks, a 12V outlet, and local weather controls.

The entrance centre console bin may also be opened from the second row.

Access to the third row is a cinch – pull one lever and the seat flips ahead nearly instantaneously. The opening additionally seems bigger than the Jeep’s, making it simpler to entry the rearmost seats.

It’s not as snug because the Grand Cherokee L again right here. I measure 180cm tall, and my head was touching the roof whereas my knees had been up in opposition to the second-row seatbacks. But toe room is first rate, whereas shoulder room is superb – in any case, it is a three-seat bench within the Ti.

Adults my top or shorter will discover it snug sufficient for shorter journeys, however it’s greatest fitted to youngsters.

There are 4 cupholders again right here, plus a 12V outlet and air vents on the roof.

The Patrol has a slight edge over the Grand Cherokee L when it comes to cargo capability. There’s 467L of boot house with the third row up, increasing to 1413L with it folded. With each the second and third rows folded, there’s 2623L.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Grand Cherokee L

The solely engine accessible within the Australian-market Grand Cherokee L is a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre petrol V6 producing 210kW of energy at 6400rpm and 344Nm of torque at 4000rpm. It’s mated with an eight-speed computerized transmission.

While it has roughly 500kg much less to haul round than the Patrol, it’s down significantly in each energy and torque. Sadly, the 266kW/530Nm 5.7-litre Hemi petrol V8 provided in North America isn’t provided right here, whereas the outdated turbo-diesel V6 is lifeless globally.

The Summit Reserve options Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II 4×4 system, which encompasses a two-speed energetic switch case with low-range gearing as a substitute of the single-speed case of lesser Grand Cherokee Ls. It additionally options Quadra-Lift air suspension.

The Grand Cherokee L has a meagre 2268kg braked towing capability in Summit Reserve guise, much less even than the 2813kg of lower-spec fashions.

The Jeep bests the Patrol in floor clearance, however provided that you set it in Off-Road 2 mode. Adjusted accordingly, it has 276mm of clearance in opposition to 273mm within the Patrol.

Likewise, in mentioned mode the Grand Cherokee L has an method angle of 28.2 levels, a departure angle of 23.6 levels, a breakover angle of twenty-two.6 levels, and wading depth of 610mm.

Over a mixture of inner-city, suburban and freeway driving, we averaged 12L/100km. This elevated to 14.5L/100km throughout the working week, and dropped again right down to 13.1L/100km after a weekend within the nation. The official mixed cycle ranking is 10.6L/100km.

Patrol

The solely engine accessible within the Patrol is a naturally-aspirated 5.6-litre petrol V8 producing 298kW of energy at 5800rpm and 560Nm of torque at 4000rpm. It’s mated with a seven-speed computerized transmission.

If you’re planning on towing something heavy, the Patrol is the apparent selection with its braked towing capability of 3500kg.

The Patrol has 273mm of floor clearance, an method angle of 28 levels and a departure angle of 26.3 levels. Nissan doesn’t specify the breakover angle or wading depth.

Over the identical gasoline economic system route because the Grand Cherokee L, we averaged 14.2L/100km although over the course of every week, the Patrol appeared to hover round 16.6L/100km. The official mixed cycle declare is 14.4L/100km.

How do they drive?

Grand Cherokee L

At this value level, there are some SUVs available with some genuinely good engines: not solely the Patrol’s V8, but additionally the torquey turbo-diesel sixes present in the whole lot from the LandCruiser 300 Series to the Land Rover Discovery, Genesis GV80 and Volkswagen Touareg.

That makes it all of the extra disappointing the Jeep makes use of the venerable Pentastar V6, the identical engine that’s seen obligation in automobiles just like the Dodge Journey and Jeep Wrangler since its launch simply over a decade in the past.

It doesn’t have the pull of the defunct turbo-diesel V6 or the aural allure of the Hemi V8.

There’s this seemingly amplified, raspy engine word which appears intentional on Jeep’s half – American automakers have been identified to magnify the sound of an engine or exhaust to make a automobile sound sportier. It has the alternative impact right here, because it makes it sound just like the Jeep is working more durable.

Lay off the throttle a bit and the cabin is pretty quiet, together with at freeway speeds. The transmission can be a smooth-shifting unit, whereas the automated cease/begin system engages unintrusively.

The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t really feel dramatically underpowered, thoughts you, and it will get up to the mark comparatively authoritatively. The 0-100km/h time Paul Maric recorded of 8.2 seconds is suitable, however this 2270kg SUV deserves higher.

That’s particularly unlucky because the Jeep is a surprisingly good steer for one thing so massive. The steering is extra closely weighted and car-like than the Patrol’s, and the underpinnings – reportedly sharing a factor or two with Alfa Romeo’s Giorgio platform – make this a automobile you possibly can push to larger limits than the Patrol.

Indeed, the Grand Cherokee has typically fairly poised dynamics, and I shortly turned very snug driving it round city. It additionally avoids feeling too remoted from the street.

The Jeep has a typically snug trip and wafts alongside the street, although its damping is a contact agency and there’s a bit of additional rebound – even with the air suspension on its default setting – that sees it take a second or two to settle after a street imperfection. This offers the Jeep barely extra of a rugged off-roader really feel on the street than your typical unibody SUV.

The Active Driving Assist system, which mixes adaptive cruise management with a lane centring perform, works fairly nicely at preserving you in the midst of your lane and may creep by means of site visitors.

It does, nevertheless, flash up warnings about lane detection ending each time there’s a break in lane markings, regardless of its inexperienced lights staying on.

The lane assist techniques have varied ranges of adjustability. Only turning it fully off will silence the shrill beeps that often sound whenever you depart your lane, although you possibly can go away it turned on and toggle on and off the vibration and steering help.

The shrill beeping must go, because the vibration is greater than enough and likewise doesn’t alarm your passengers.

The LED lighting, which incorporates useful LED cornering lights, present loads of illumination.

Less endearing was the rotary dial gear selector which, although pleasantly tactile, can’t be pushed into Park – you twist it as a substitute, such as you would to get into Drive or Reverse. This makes all of it too simple to by accident knock it into Park, which routinely deploys the parking brake.

With no rear differential lock and 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tyres, it’s maybe no shock the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t really feel as assured off-road because the Patrol.

The air suspension provides an additional 60mm of floor clearance in its highest setting, nevertheless, which actually helps the Jeep, as does the presence of low-range gearing – neither function could be discovered on the extra inexpensive Night Eagle and Limited variants.

There are selectable Rock, Sand/Mud and Snow modes along with the Auto and Sport modes.

The Grand Cherokee L went in every single place we took the Patrol, although the absence of a rear diff lock was felt on the couple of events we had two wheels within the air.

Compared to just about some other SUV bar the burly Patrol or a LandCruiser 300 Series, the Grand Cherokee L shines. In this match-up, although, it could actually solely be runner-up.

This will go a lot additional off-road than one thing like a CX-9, whereas feeling extra car-like to drive than the Patrol. Jeep has subsequently struck a superb stability when it comes to dynamics and functionality – it simply wants a greater engine.

Patrol

In energy and refinement, the Patrol shades the Grand Cherokee L.

The 5.6-litre V8 and seven-speed computerized make for a formidable pairing. Fun reality: they put this engine within the Infiniti Q70 sedan in markets like North America. It went just like the clappers.

In the burly Patrol, it nonetheless makes for fast progress. There’s a tasty growl if you happen to actually plant your proper foot, however what’s extra spectacular is simply how quiet and refined the mighty Nissan is.

The seven-speed computerized shifts easily, whereas the cabin is supremely hushed. It’s so quiet at idle, you’d be forgiven for pondering it’s not operating, whereas even at freeway speeds there’s just about no wind noise. This Nissan went to ending faculty.

Handling is one other matter. If the Grand Cherokee L is the athlete of this duo, the Patrol is the child that received his mum to write down him a word for PE.

That’s not precisely a shock, given its extra rugged, body-on-frame building. Nevertheless, the Patrol’s limits are rather a lot decrease than the Grand Cherokee L’s. Take a nook too shortly and also you’re preventing physics itself as you grapple with the plentiful physique roll.

It’s additionally surprisingly simple to chirp the tyres if you happen to apply an excessive amount of throttle from a standstill, particularly contemplating this has full-time four-wheel drive.

The Patrol’s a lover not a fighter, although, and it’s been calibrated to encourage mild cruising.

The steering is loosey-goosey, being very gentle with numerous play. The gentle steering could be welcome, nevertheless, whenever you’re making an attempt to manoeuvre this beast round tight city confines like automobile parks.

The trip is plush, typically floating over bumps. Speed bumps? What velocity bumps?

Only whenever you attain sharper corrugations and extra pockmarked roads does the Patrol get disturbed. We skilled important rattling by means of the steering over some corrugated, unsealed surfaces, whereas the Patrol felt a bit fidgety over significantly pockmarked city pavement.

There’s additionally the occasional body shake you’ll encounter in a typical body-on-frame SUV. Overall, nevertheless, the Nissan is a snug cruiser, if floatier than the Jeep and taking a second or so longer to get better on undulating roads.

While there’s adaptive cruise management just like the Jeep, there aren’t any steering-based lane-support techniques. Nissan does, nevertheless, function one thing referred to as Intelligent Lane Prevention.

It defaults to off, solely works above 70km/h and depends on the brakes and never steering inputs. It’s refined, however it doesn’t always really feel prefer it’s making corrections – as a substitute, it offers you a delicate nudge must you cross a lane marking.

Off the crushed monitor, the Nissan feels extra comfy than the Jeep. The wheels are smaller and wrapped in tyres with thicker sidewalls, for one.

The Nissan additionally doesn’t want an air suspension set-up to jack it up, as its floor clearance is basically equal to the Jeep in its highest air suspension setting. There’s additionally a locking rear differential for stickier conditions, whereas just like the Jeep there’s selectable low-range gearing.

There aren’t any fancy off-road pages like within the Jeep, however there are nonetheless selectable modes for Sand, Snow and Rock.

Off pavement, the Patrol feels just like the purpose-built four-wheel drive that it’s.

Cost of possession

Grand Cherokee L

The Jeep is backed by a five-year, 100,000km guarantee.

Servicing is required each 12 months or 12,000km, whichever comes first, and the primary 5 providers are capped at $399 every. That’s a complete of $1995 over the course of 5 years.

Patrol

The Nissan is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

The firm properly adopted longer 12-month, 10,000km intervals for the Patrol earlier this yr, banishing the outdated six-month intervals that few manufacturers stick with outdoors of Toyota.

The first 5 providers are capped at $393, $502, $483, $791 and $425, respectively, for a complete of $2594 over 5 years.

CarExpert’s Pick

Looking at these two SUVs with the information of what’s accessible abroad, you possibly can’t assist however really feel annoyed.

Why, as an illustration, should the Nissan nonetheless be saddled with such outdated in-car tech in Australia? Why should the Jeep solely be accessible right here with essentially the most underwhelming of the Grand Cherokee’s engines?

The Jeep frustrates additional as, not solely has the model deserted its loyal turbo-diesel and petrol V8 patrons and by extension those that tow heavy masses, it has additionally alienated its off-roading fanatic viewers to a point.

To get a Grand Cherokee L that may measure up in opposition to the Patrol off-road, you need to step all the way in which as much as the dear Summit Reserve. There’s no strategy to get an L with low-range gearing or air suspension beneath $100,000. Let’s hope they don’t make the identical mistake twice with the upcoming two-row mannequin.

Its materials high quality may additionally use some finessing, whereas the petrol V6 is enough however no extra. Jeep mentioned you must rethink how a lot towing functionality you really want. We’d argue you must contemplate its wide selection of rivals.

There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the Jeep, thoughts you. Its cabin is extra snug, it boasts extra car-like dealing with, it’s cheaper to service, and its expertise is miles forward of the Nissan’s – even when we did encounter just a few bugs.

And but it should frustrate Jeep that the result is so shut, contemplating simply how outdated the Nissan is. Despite its senior citizen standing, the Patrol has higher materials high quality and a typically increased degree of refinement. Throw in its primary off-road goodness and its superior towing functionality, and that’s sufficient for a lot of patrons to stay with this outdated favorite.

The Jeep wants a value adjustment or a brand new engine or each, whereas the Patrol wants the brand new inside provided in left-hand drive markets. Both automobiles, subsequently, fall wanting their potential.

If you need an SUV that’ll go anyplace and haul something, inside motive, the Patrol is our choose. If you don’t require that degree of functionality, the Jeep nudges a win – if one with a giant asterisk subsequent to it.

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