2022 Nissan Patrol v Jeep Grand Cherokee L comparability

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sequence was one of the hotly anticipated car launches in current reminiscence.

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

Coming into this area is a brand new flagship Jeep: the Grand Cherokee L. It’s not fairly conceptually the identical kind of SUV as these stalwarts, nonetheless.

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.

However whereas the large 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, nevertheless it’s not out there in right-hand drive.

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

Within the USA, the land of enormous SUVs, the flagship Jeep Grand Cherokee L might 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 totally overhauled inside.

In Australia, we have now 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 submit code, is $103,202 for the Patrol and $126,525 for the Grand Cherokee L – plus an additional $5500 for the latter’s Superior Expertise Group.

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

You may get extra reasonably priced variations of each SUVs. The Patrol Ti prices $82,160 earlier than on-roads, whereas the Grand Cherokee L might be had in Night time Eagle and Restricted trims at $82,250 and $87,950 earlier than on-roads, respectively.

What do you get?

Commonplace gear widespread to each vehicles consists of:

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

Commonplace gear distinctive to the Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve consists of:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• LED cornering lights
• Quad-zone local weather management
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Heated steering wheel
• Rear digicam washer
• Color-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
• Arms-free performance for energy tailgate
• Steering column reminiscence
• Inside rear-facing digicam
• Illuminated sill plates
• Computerized high-beam

Commonplace gear distinctive to the Patrol Ti-L consists of:

• 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 the entire Superior Expertise Group package deal’s options, with the entrance passenger touchscreen not current on the primary Summit Reserves in Australia. All three different options have been fitted, nonetheless: a head-up show, night time imaginative and prescient, and a wi-fi charging pad.

Unusually, nonetheless, distant begin isn’t provided regardless of this characteristic being out there within the US.

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

Are they secure?

Neither car has a security score from ANCAP. Whereas that’s not significantly shocking for the Grand Cherokee L, which was solely launched right here this 12 months, it’s disappointing for the Patrol because it’s been on sale since 2013 in Australia.

Security gear widespread to each autos consists of:

• Entrance and front-side airbags
• Curtain airbags for all three rows
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Encompass-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
• Visitors signal recognition
• Lively Driving Help (lane centring plus adaptive cruise management)

What are they like inside?

Grand Cherokee L

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

It doesn’t bodily really feel fairly as convincing, a minimum of not for a car at this lofty worth level. The edges of the centre console have stitching, however they really feel like exhausting plastic. The quilted leather-look door inserts additionally really feel skinny and agency. A minimum of the sprint high has good, soft-touch trim, nevertheless it seems like Jeep has minimize some corners within the cabin.

The switchgear, luckily, is sweet 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 could look good at first, nevertheless 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 characteristic thigh extenders for higher help. There’s additionally a massaging operate for the seatback.

The Jeep runs on the most recent UConnect 5 infotainment system, and has a bigger 10.1-inch display screen than the bottom Night time 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 totally trendy interface, and there’s usually a couple of approach to entry the varied shows and apps. However as a couple of particular person advised me, the interface can look moderately difficult, significantly the apps menu.

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

The digicam views are additionally significantly larger in decision than these within the Patrol, although they’ll get a bit washed out by lights at night time.

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

There’s loads of adjustability, however you may merely specify a traditional 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 Digital Cockpit set-up.

The Grand Cherokee L does have a characteristic most rivals can’t supply: Night time Imaginative and prescient, which takes over nearly all the cluster. It’s useful, too – it activated routinely one night time 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 worth level. However 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 will probably be resolved in over-the-air updates.

The instrument cluster’s map show, for instance, froze in a single location at some point 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 problem fastened itself in a single day.

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

On one other event, I had Android Auto related wirelessly, however whereas driving a passenger with a Samsung Galaxy I repeatedly acquired a immediate on the display screen asking if I wished to finish my Android Auto session and join their cellphone. No matter whether or not I pressed ‘No’ or the X button, this immediate stored intermittently showing.

It’s nearly amusing – the Jeep is so looking forward to 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. Nicely, our Brisbane tester had some problems with its personal past the aforementioned software program bugs.

The air-conditioning was noisy below even its lowest fan setting, and the air gave the impression to be flowing out of 1 vent greater than the others. The driving force’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 shops and two USB-C shops, plus local weather controls and a 230V outlet.

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

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

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

Regardless of these comfy third-row lodging, there’s truly a shocking quantity of boot area for a three-row SUV. Cargo area 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 total struck a superb stability between cargo and passenger area, and made good use of the Grand Cherokee L’s size.

We admire a number of the considerate particulars on the Grand Cherokee, like LED lights on the outside door handles and back-lit switches contained in the cabin.

Patrol

Discuss a throwback.

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

The centre stack is a sea of buttons, in mid-2000s Nissan and Infiniti style. 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 bear in mind your setting if you flip the automobile off, and there are bodily local weather controls – a reduction, as a result of the much less we have now to make use of that touchscreen, the higher.

Digital camera high quality is completely disappointing for a car at this worth level, although it’s not absolutely the worst I’ve seen. There’s a surround-view digicam, which implies there are 4 separate cameras – useful if you’re off-roading. These particular person cameras do require a few button presses to activate, nonetheless.

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

There’s no dwelling display screen, per se, however you may press the unusually named Standing button to view a abstract of audio and local weather info.

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

Stated apps embody a compass, clock, one thing known as an App Storage, and a driving efficiency display screen that reveals you your gasoline stream and the way in which your steering is centred. All have extraordinarily dated graphics.

There’s additionally an Data display screen 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 screen 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 appears to be like like a Tamagotchi display screen, however a minimum of it’s flanked by a pair of stylish analogue dials.

The entrance seats are plush, however the seat base is just 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 the truth is have cellphones in 2011, however Nissan didn’t design a good place to place one for those who’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.

The place 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 may 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.

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

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

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

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

Entry 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 comfy because the Grand Cherokee L again right here. I measure 180cm tall, and my head was touching the roof whereas my knees have been up in opposition to the second-row seatbacks. However toe room is first rate, whereas shoulder room is superb – in spite of everything, it is a three-seat bench within the Ti.

Adults my top or shorter will discover it comfy sufficient for shorter journeys, nevertheless it’s greatest fitted to children.

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 area with the third row up, increasing to 1413L with it folded. With each the second and third rows folded, there’s 2623L.

What’s below the bonnet?

Grand Cherokee L

The one engine out there 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 automated transmission.

Whereas 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 contains a two-speed lively switch case with low-range gearing as a substitute of the single-speed case of lesser Grand Cherokee Ls. It additionally options Quadra-Carry 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-Highway 2 mode. Adjusted accordingly, it has 276mm of clearance in opposition to 273mm within the Patrol.

Likewise, in stated 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 in the course of the working week, and dropped again all the way down to 13.1L/100km after a weekend within the nation. The official mixed cycle score is 10.6L/100km.

Patrol

The one engine out there 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 automated transmission.

For those who’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 per 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 worth level, there are some SUVs available with some genuinely good engines: not solely the Patrol’s V8, but in addition the torquey turbo-diesel sixes present in all the things from the LandCruiser 300 Sequence 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 autos 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 attraction 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 car 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 on top of things 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 giant. 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 car you may push to higher limits than the Patrol.

Certainly, the Grand Cherokee has typically fairly poised dynamics, and I shortly grew to become very comfy driving it round city. It additionally avoids feeling too remoted from the highway.

The Jeep has a typically comfy experience and wafts alongside the highway, 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 highway imperfection. This offers the Jeep barely extra of a rugged off-roader really feel on the highway than your typical unibody SUV.

The Lively Driving Help system, which mixes adaptive cruise management with a lane centring operate, works fairly nicely at retaining you in the course of your lane and may creep by means of site visitors.

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

The lane help methods have numerous ranges of adjustability. Solely turning it fully off will silence the shrill beeps that often sound if you depart your lane, although you may 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 ample and likewise doesn’t alarm your passengers.

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

Much 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, nonetheless, which actually helps the Jeep, as does the presence of low-range gearing – neither characteristic might be discovered on the extra reasonably priced Night time Eagle and Restricted variants.

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

The Grand Cherokee L went all over the 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.

In comparison with nearly another SUV bar the burly Patrol or a LandCruiser 300 Sequence, the Grand Cherokee L shines. On this match-up, although, it will possibly solely be runner-up.

This can 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 automated make for a formidable pairing. Enjoyable truth: they put this engine within the Infiniti Q70 sedan in markets like North America. It went just like the clappers.

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

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

Dealing with is one other matter. If the Grand Cherokee L is the athlete of this duo, the Patrol is the child that obtained his mum to jot down him a word for PE.

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

It’s additionally surprisingly simple to chirp the tyres for those who 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 a lot of play. The sunshine steering might be welcome, nonetheless, if you’re attempting to manoeuvre this beast round tight city confines like automobile parks.

The experience is plush, typically floating over bumps. Velocity bumps? What pace bumps?

Solely if 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. General, nonetheless, the Nissan is a snug cruiser, if floatier than the Jeep and taking a second or so longer to get better on undulating roads.

Whereas there’s adaptive cruise management just like the Jeep, there are not any steering-based lane-support methods. Nissan does, nonetheless, characteristic one thing known as Clever Lane Prevention.

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

Off the overwhelmed 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 actually 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 are not 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.

Value 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 companies 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 corporate properly adopted longer 12-month, 10,000km intervals for the Patrol earlier this 12 months, banishing the outdated six-month intervals that few manufacturers stick with exterior of Toyota.

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

CarExpert’s Choose

Taking a look at these two SUVs with the data of what’s out there abroad, you may’t assist however really feel pissed off.

Why, as an example, should the Nissan nonetheless be saddled with such outdated in-car tech in Australia? Why should the Jeep solely be out there right here with probably 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 hundreds, it has additionally alienated its off-roading fanatic viewers to some extent.

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 approach to get an L with low-range gearing or air suspension under $100,000. Let’s hope they don’t make the identical mistake twice with the upcoming two-row mannequin.

Its materials high quality might additionally use some finessing, whereas the petrol V6 is enough however no extra. Jeep stated it’s worthwhile to rethink how a lot towing functionality you really need. We’d argue it’s worthwhile to contemplate its big selection of rivals.

There’s so much to love concerning the Jeep, thoughts you. Its cabin is extra comfy, 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 end result is so shut, contemplating simply how outdated the Nissan is. Regardless of its senior citizen standing, the Patrol has higher materials high quality and a typically larger degree of refinement. Throw in its fundamental 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 worth adjustment or a brand new engine or each, whereas the Patrol wants the brand new inside provided in left-hand drive markets. Each autos, subsequently, fall in need of their potential.

In order for you an SUV that’ll go anyplace and haul something, inside purpose, the Patrol is our decide. For those who don’t require that degree of functionality, the Jeep nudges a win – if one with an enormous asterisk subsequent to it.

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