Four-wheel-drives have their detractors, but I reckon you would be hard put to find a motorist who wasn't seduced by the driving experience of this car. Sitting up high, behind that impressive bonnet, there's a "king of the road" feeling.
WHAT'S NEW? The seven-seat configuration. Jeep's excellent Grand Cherokee has but five. The design, too, seems to be a new look at an older style, for there are echoes of the more angular and much-loved GC of the early nineties. And there's maybe also a touch of Hummer influence in the chunky styling.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? The car as tested sported a three litre turbo-charged V6 Mercedes diesel engine, the same as in the S-Class, and it's tremendous. Hushed at tick-over and with bags of torque, it must be one of the most refined diesels on the market, with an automatic transmission that matches it perfectly for smoothness.
The car, in Limited spec, offers everying but the kitchen sink (as if you'd want one). We're talking optional entertainment system, including rear LCD screen for DVDs, games and video, plus sat nav, front and rear park assist, rain-sensitive wipers, tyre pressure monitor display, top-quality air con, electrically adjustable heated front seats, cruise control and much more. There's also a cheaper Predator model.
WHO IS IT FOR? Well, it's not for shrinking violets. This is a car with tons of presence, but it scores on practicality, too, with those seven seats.
For those of you who live on a mountainside, it also boasts Jeep's superlative off-road ability.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? Confidence inspiring, although I found parking a bit of a headache, something that would probably come good after a longer acquaintance with the car.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW? There are some advanced safety features. Along with an anti-lock brake system, there's an electronic stability programme and an electronic rollover mitigation system, which observes and monitors the driving state of the car and intervenes electronically if necessary. Clever stuff!
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU BUY ONE? The desire for a big motor with rugged looks, combined with practical considerations such as passenger-carrying. The price is £31,490.
MARKS OUT OF 10: Eight.
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