 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
VS |  Toyota Kluger |
Here is a comparison between the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Kluger. Although an all new 2014 Kluger is on the way we thought it would be nice to compare the runout model with the current Grand Cherokee which is just hitting its stride in the market and now one of the best packages on sale in 2013.
As we’ve said before we like the current Kluger it is a great package it’s only flaw apart from age is that the current model is that it has too much shiney stuff which causes it to age even more. It is one of the few V6 medium sized SUVs still available and regardless of engine type is one of the best including in fuel efficiency. We’ve driven a few over the years too! The Grand Cherokee has been around for a few years not and when we finally drove came away impressed.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Vs Toyota Kluger exterior: Easy win to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it looks solid and upmarket compared to the Toyota. Quality control can be seen and we couldn’t fault it as in Jeeps of the past. The Kluger is a typical Toyota, nothing out of place and again we couldn’t fault the build quality only its design was no longer to our taste.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Vs Toyota Kluger interior: The interior design of the Grand Cherokee is an amazing step up for Jeep. The design and choice of materials is clearly up market! The only problem with the Jeeps’s interior is the way some parts fit together. Basically some parts where peeling off and some trim did not line up very well. Build quality needs to improve since everything else is more than acceptable. The Kluger looks old and thin compared to the Grand Cherokee. The Kluger’s quality of materials is not as good but it is so well put together nothing was out of place! So the Cherokee wins for design and materials but not for build quality. The key selling points on the Grand Cherokee is the impressive LCD analogue instrument panel which simply way more upmarket than the Kluger.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Vs Toyota Kluger engine and technology: The Grand Cherokee comes with a decent V6 or V8 petrol or high powered diesel. We’d pick the diesel for the fuel saving despite higher purchase price since its quite a powerhouse – however for a diesel it is relatively uneconomical! The Kluger’s petrol is very good too which is why it only sells the V6 petrol, which is surpisingly economical for a 6 cylinder engine! The Kluger’s engine is a reliable unit and will go for years whereas the latest diesel engines regardless of make are yet to be proven to last over time – we simply know of too many problems. That said we are not fussed with either…
Jeep Grand Cherokee Vs Toyota Kluger road test: Driving the Kluger or Grand Cherokee is best described as reassuringly boring. The Kluger feels like atypical Toyota while the Jeep was something different. The Grand Cherokee feels suitably powered in diesel form and I would suspect only adequate in the smaller V6 petrol. The diesel is relatively quiet and less so than the Prado as an example. Regardless it is quiet and rides really well. Maybe it was the up spec steering wheel softer seats but overall the Jeep is the better car to drive and to sit in. It was only a short test drive…
The conclusion to this comparison is clear – it an easy win to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep is priced very well for an American car here. There is tons of equipment and it looks and feels more expensive than it should. The only thing that prevented us from buying one was the history of any Jeep’s reliability and also seeing the neighbor down the road with their prior Cherokee being ‘fixed’ more often than it should – which they finally off loaded doesn’t help. That said this may be the model that banishes those issues. So in the end, for known reliability go for the Kluger but for the better package choose the Grand Cherokee – can’t believe we wrote that!
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| Jeep Grand Cherokee | Toyota Kluger |
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| Engines | |
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G series Pentastar Hemi series CRD RA Series |
2GR-FE 2TR-FE |
| Weight | |
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From 2191Kg |
Kerb weight 1840-2030Kg |
| Fuel capacity & consumption | |
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94 litres (95 octane PULP only) |
72 litres |
| Other specifications | |
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5 speed Auto |
5 speed Auto |
| Capability | |
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Angle of: (degrees) |
Angle of: (degrees) |
| Performance | |
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| Pricing | |
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2012 $45,000 – 69,900 AUD |
2012 $39,990 – 65,900 AUD |
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