The Jeep Grand Commander family in China has become
bigger with the introduction of a new plug-in hybrid variant at the 2019
Shanghai Auto Show. The Chinese-market PHEV uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine
and an electric motor, the output of which remains unknown at this point. Jeep
did say, however, that with the batteries fully charged, it can travel on
electricity alone for roughly 70 km, which should be more than
enough for the daily commute.
The Grand Commander PHEV doesn’t seem to
be any different than the regular version, which is powered by a 2.0-liter
engine, coupled to a 9-speed automatic transmission. On the outside, except for the
charging port on the left-rear fender, different wheels and special paintwork,
everything else remains identical. Cargo space might be slightly affected by
the positioning of the batteries beneath the boot floor, but we cannot say for
sure until FCA releases more details about it.
Beyond a few details such as the infotainment system
that has a bigger display, and a knob with four distinct driving modes called
Hybrid, Electric, E-Save and Sport, the interior is also identical. Production of the new Grand
Commander PHEV will take place at the GAC FCA plant in Changsha, China, and the
vehicle will be offered exclusively in the local market.
