Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD V6 Limited 5dr Pre-Model Car Review - May 2013

This 3.0 litre engine is the smallest in the range, but is still able to propel the large Grand Cherokee around at a fair pace, offering acceleration from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds. The top speed is also good at 126mph, but it is the handling and ride on the road which are disappointing, with the light steering offering little feedback when turning in to corners. The bumpy British roads aren't matched by the suspension on the car and pot holes are felt throughout the cabin when travelled over.

Getting comfortable in the front of the car is quite straightforward with the height and reach adjustment in the steering wheel and the driving seat, but the lack of space in the footwell is a concern. Refinement in the car isn't great either with plenty of noise coming from the large tyres and the noisy diesel enigne.

Jeep have been producing the vehicle for several years, and have opted for an evolutionary design with this model, with the large chrome grille with thick vertical bars being a distinctive feature of the design. The angular wheel arches help to ensure that there is plenty of clearance for the wheels, with chrome trim over the arches giving the car a nice touch, while the small spoiler over the large window seems largely redundant. The beefy alloy wheels do add to the overall look of the car, which is designed to appear strong and tough.

The level of equipment included with this entry level Limited trim is still very good, with features such as power heated seats making the car a comfortable place to be a passenger, while it is also nice to see cruise control, climate control and electric steering adjustment included. The stereo system with a hard drive is easy to operate, while leather trim is attractive, and the parking sensors with a rear camera makes it much easier to park this large car.

Considering the size of the Grand Cherokee, it is actually quite disappointing to see that space is more limited than some of its rivals that offer seven seats, while the spare wheel space in the boot means the floor in it is quite high. The rear seats do fold forward to offer a little more space when you need to carry a larger item however.

One major concern for buyers of the Grand Cherokee should be the safety features in the car, as it only achieved four stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests. It does however boast a decent range of airbags, and has several different driver assistance systems to help avoid any accidents. Driver reviews of the car when it comes to reliability are also fairly average, especially when rivals are some of the most reliable vehicles available.

Even though this is the entry level model and is significantly cheaper than the rest of the range, the list price of £38,615 still seems like an awful lot of money for the car. Running costs are also quite hefty, with the three litre diesel engine delivering an average 34.0mpg, while the insurance and emissions groups are also quite high, meaning higher tax and premiums too.

The outlook doesn't get any better when it comes to selling up, as the Grand Cherokee tends to suffer in terms of residual values, which is unusual in a 4x4. The car is delivered with an average on the road package consisting of a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty and roadside breakdown assistance for the first year.