The new Jeep Grand Commander has been launched on
the Chinese car market. Price starts at 279.800 yuan and ends at 409.800 yuan
(US$ 44.600 – 65,000). The Grand Commander is a seven-seat SUV that will only be
marketed in China, where there is a lot of demand for seven seat cars.
The Grand Commander is the production version of the
Jeep Yuntu Concept. It is manufactured by the Guangzhou-Fiat joint venture. It
is positioned above the locally made Jeep Cherokee. Chinese name of the Grand Commander
is Da Zhihuigan, literally ‘Big Commander’.
In China, the Grand Commander will compete with cars
like the Volkswagen Teramont, the Ford Edge, and the Toyota Highlander. The
problem is that the Grand Commander will not be available with a V6, unlike its
competitors. A V6 still has loads of snob-value in China; every other Teramont
I see is the 6-cylinder variant.
The Jeep’s only engine is a turbocharged 2.0 four:
one with 234 hp and one with 265 hp, both mated to a nine-speed automatic.
There are two base versions with front-wheel drive, the rest of the range
is four-wheel drive.
But there is hope because Jeep also announced a
plug-in hybrid version, scheduled to launch in 2019. the petrol engine will be
the 265 hp 2.0 turbo, mated to an electric motor of a yet unknown output. Still
a four-cylinder, but it will have lots of power.
The interior is a bit of a disappointment. There are
simple analog dials and 8 inch touch screen. Nice at the time for sure, but hopelessly outdated today.
It is a good looking car and it has the popular Jeep
badge, but the low tech interior and the lack of a big engine will let the
Grand Commander down in the marketplace. This new Jeep is going to be a hard
sell, at least until the PHEV arrives.
