Is Jeep a premium brand now? 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L pricing and features revealed as seven-seat SUV heads into Volvo XC90, Lexus RX and Genesis GV80 territory

Jeep has officially transitioned from a mainstream to a premium brand following the release of pricing for its highly anticipated new-generation Grand Cherokee large SUV.

Initially available in seven-seat L guise from the middle of this year, the Grand Cherokee will be offered in three V6-petrol-powered model grades.

Pricing kicks off at $82,250 before on-road costs for the range-starting Night Eagle and tops out at $115,450 for the flagship Summit Reserve.

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The outgoing Grand Cherokee Night Eagle is currently priced at $60,450, meaning the new version represents a more than $20,000 premium. However, the current model is only available with five seats and it has been around since 2011 and lacks the tech and safety features of the new-gen car.

This elevates Jeep out of the mainstream market where it previously competed with a diverse range of models like the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-9 as well as large 4x4 SUVs like the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.

With this new price point, it rubs shoulders with the Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90, Lexus RX and the Genesis GV80, while the top-spec version nudges the Audi Q7 and BMW X5.

The new Grand Cherokee L gains a significant amount of standard equipment over and above its predecessor as part of its repositioning.

Starting with the Night Eagle, it features 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, black leather-trimmed seats, eight-way power seats, heated front seats, auto headlights, height-adjustable power liftgate, wireless phone charging, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, six-speaker audio system, 8.4-inch Uconnect multimedia screen with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Safety wise if comes with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keep assist, auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, driver attention alert and traffic sign recognition.

For those that want to take their Jeep off road, the Grand Cherokee comes with a Quadra-Trac 4x4 system, single-speed transfer case, and 2813kg towing capacity.

Stepping up to the $87,950 Limited adds 20-inch polished alloys, more premium leather-trimmed seats, driver’s seat memory, second-row heated seats and window shades, larger 10.1-inch Uconnect system, nine-speaker audio, ambient lighting, auto LED headlights and a more advanced off-road setup with Selec-Terrain traction management system.

The top-spec Summit Reserve gains 21-inch polished alloy wheels, quilted Palermo leather-trimmed seats, 12-way power adjustable front seats, ventilated front seats, four-zone climate control, McIntosh 19-speaker audio system, painted black roof, hands-free power tailgate, 360-degree camera and enhanced ambient lighting.

It also comes with air suspension and a two-speed active transfer case with low range gear.

Depending on the grade, options range from premium paint ($1750) to a sunroof ($2450), a Vision pack ($4250) and an Advanced Technology pack ($5500).

A new platform underpins the Grand Cherokee and all L variants are powered by the same 3.6-litre Pentastar petrol engine, delivering 210kW and 344Nm. They all use an eight-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.

Jeep will add to the line-up later in 2022 with the five-seat Grand Cherokee that will be available in 4xe plug-in hybrid guise.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L pricing before on-road costs