Jeep, the iconic Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) from USA, is all set to enter the Indian automotive market. The model has been a part of Fiat for quite some time, which is associated with the Chrysler Group. It is anticipated that the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler variants of the Jeep with arrive in India, even though the Italian manufacturer has many other versions of the car in the international market.
Jeep Grand Cherokee is the fourth iteration of the original model and has undergone many changes in 2012, especially in terms of exterior appearance. The aggressive looks of the car exhibit a mix of classic style elements and contemporary design, including features like trademark seven-slot grille, round headlamps and trapezoidal wheel arches. Its interiors are centred on an elegant cabin that consists of a neatly crafted dashboard, tight seams, quality materials and end to end uniform textures. The plush SUV will boast of wide seats that can easily accommodate a total of 5 passengers comfortably. This may be a drawback for the model in the market, since India mostly has 7 seater SUVs. However, it can be assumed that the overall quality of interiors will be at par with the cabins offered by the SUVs present in India. As a Daimler-Chrysler product, it shares many parts with the regal Mercedes Benz ML Class model.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee model comes with a host of features that make it a premium SUV. Some of the standard features of the car include automatic headlights, fog lamps, cruise control, dual zone air conditioning and tilt and telescoping leather wrapped steering wheel. The standard audio system is a six speaker sound system with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. Apart from these, buyers can even opt for optional features like keyless entry, USB and iPod interface, power driver seat that has lumbar adjustment.
In terms of convenience, the car has remote engine start, Bluetooth, cargo cover and auto dimming rearview mirror. Along with these, the car comes with a back up camera, a power passenger seat, heated front seats and premium leather upholstery as optional accessories. Customers can replace the standard audio system with a high end nine speaker premium sound system with digital music storage and touch screen interface. However, the modifications that the manufacturer will make before launching the iconic car in India remain to be seen. Nevertheless, the official roll out of the Jeep badge in the country will become a topic of heated discussion in the domestic automotive market.
