Jeep CJ5 Reviews

Jeep now holds the title of Australia's cheapest new electric SUV after announcing discounts of up to $20,000 in some states on its Avenger, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee ranges as part of its end-of-financial-year offers.Despite offering the lowest comparative savings of the three models, the European-built Avenger Longitude is now just $40,000 drive-away, meaning it undercuts budget Chinese rivals such as the new MG S5 ($40,490 drive-away) and the BYD Atto 3 ($39,990 before on-road costs). The previous-generation MG ZS EV (the S5's predecessor) is still technically the cheapest electric SUV in the country outright at $36,888 drive-away, as MG tries to offload remaining MY23 stock. For comparison, the Jeep Avenger only launched in Australia in December of last year. Typically, the Avenger Longitude was priced at $49,990 before on-roads, or approximately $55,344 drive-away in NSW – Australia's most populous state. With the inclusion of premium paint, which is valued at $990, savings now top $16,239 in NSW.The Jeep Avenger is powered by a single electric motor mounted to the front axle that outputs 115kW/260Nm. A 54kWh battery provides 396km of driving range under the WLTP cycle.As standard, the Avenger has a 10.25-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED lighting, 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, a six-speaker audio system and Jeep’s advanced driver assist safety systems.The biggest savings are examples of the Gladiator Rubicon ute, the top-spec variant, which typically starts at $87,250 before on-road costs or $95,388 drive-away in NSW.Interested buyers can now snag one for $76,000 drive-away across the country, which includes a steel bar and premium paint, the latter of which is valued at $895. That takes total savings to $20,238.The Gladiator Rubicon is powered by a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine that sends 209kW/347Nm to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.It carries a full-time Rock-Trac 4x4 system with a 4:1 transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, sway-bar disconnect and heavy-duty shock absorbers.Additionally, it carries an 8.4-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, LED lighting and advanced safety features.Five-seat examples of the Grand Cherokee Limited, which will soon be discontinued for Australia, are being offered at $62,000 drive-away, down from its previous asking price of $72,950 before on-road costs, or $79,454 drive-away in NSW.Once again, premium paint (valued at $1490) is included, taking total savings up to $18,944 once it’s factored in.The Grand Cherokee Limited carries the same 3.6-litre V6 engine as the Gladiator Rubicon, which delivers 210kW/344Nm to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.It carries a 10.1-inch multimedia display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, LED lighting, a power tailgate and a comprehensive list of advanced safety features.The significant discounts across the Jeep line-up come as the brand struggles on the sales charts.Jeep has offloaded just 711 cars to date this April, a decline of 24.4 per cent on this time last year’s figures.

Jeep has confirmed the next-generation Compass will arrive in Australia in the second half of 2026 after launching overseas in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric guises.The European-designed and built Compass will ride on Stellantis’ modular STLA Medium platform, which currently underpins Stellantis stablemates such as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, and will join the smaller Avenger in its electric line-up.It will shape up considerably longer than its predecessor at 4550mm long, up from 4404mm. It subsequently benefits from a new 34-litre frunk, an additional 45-litres of boot capacity (550-litres in total) and 55mm of additional legroom.The Compass’ exterior design has also been refreshed to reflect its larger stature, with boxier, retro-styling, a new front grille and headlight clusters, black plastic wheel arches and a rear LED light-bar.Inside, a new 10-inch digital driver’s display and 16-inch multimedia display will come standard, as well as connected services with over-the-air updates and Level 2 autonomous driving.Customers will have the choice of a 106kW 48V eHybrid powertrain and a 145kW plug-in hybrid powertrain, both are likely to use the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine carried over from the current-generation. Power on both variants will be sent exclusively to the front wheels.Three additional electric variants will provide optional front-wheel and all-wheel-drive, with power peaking at 279kW on the latter thanks to a new rear electric motor that delivers 49kW/232Nm.All electric variants will carry a 74kWh battery, with driving range peaking at 650km on 158kW front-wheel-drive variants. 160kW DC fast charging will see the battery replenished from 20 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, with a 22kW on-board charger becoming standard.Despite standard front-wheel drive on the Compass, Jeep claims it will be “100% capable”, offering 200mm of ground clearance, 20°/26° approach/departure angles and a 470mm water wading depth.All-wheel-drive variants will see improved ground clearance and water-wading depths, although Jeep hasn’t confirmed by exactly how much. Approach and departure angles will also increase to 27°/31°, while hill-descent control will come standard.A suspension tune with updated springs, dampers and an antiroll bar across the board will offer what the brand says is “a good compromise between handling and comfort”.Jeep will launch the new Compass in Europe in the second half of 2025 in special electric and eHybrid First Editions. Both variants will carry 20-inch alloy wheels, LED matrix lights, a surround-view camera and a hands-free power tailgate.Six colours will be made available, including a new Hawaii green colour at launch.Jeep Australia will be looking to the new Compass to reinvigorate the brand, which has been in a sales freefall over the last decade after peaking in 2014 with a tally of 30,408 sales.Last year the brand sold just 2377 cars, which preceded an announcement in March that it would axe the Grand Cherokee from the brand’s line-up this year – Australia’s best-selling large SUV in 2014.

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Big screens and displays in cars can make interiors look modern and minimalist but what happens if they fail?

At the start of this month Jeep’s parent company Stellantis announced the iconic Grand Cherokee large SUV would be discontinued in Australia.While axing the second best-selling model of a brand that was already struggling might seem like a good way to accelerate the demise of Jeep in Australia, it won’t. That’s because Jeep has something left that many brands have never had. Stellantis's Grand Cherokee announcement was both a shock and unsurprising at the same time. It was like hearing that your professional stunt actor friend had broken every bone in their body again, but they would probably be alright. It was coming and so was the Grand Cherokee’s axing.The surprising part of the Grand Cherokee's demise was that the new-generation version had only just arrived in Australia - well it was less than two years ago in 2023 with the 4xe plug-in hybrid variant following later in the year.What’s thrown most people is that the Grand Cherokee had a hugely successful past in Australia. In 2014 it was the best-selling large SUV under $70K, beating even Toyota’s Prado for the year with 16,582 sold.A big part of the previous-gen Grand Cherokee's allure was the price which, thanks to the strong Australian dollar, meant you could get into an entry grade Laredo for $47,000. Compared to the Japanese models which dominated the market at the time the Grand Cherokee felt like a lot of car for the money.Big, luxurious, comfortable and with a range of engines that stepped all the way up to a high-performance Hemi V8 in the SRT, many buyers found the Grand Cherokee more desirable than a Mazda CX-9 or Toyota Kluger and more affordable than SUVs with Mercedes-AMG, BMW M or Audi RS badges.That was it in a nut shell. Grand Cherokee was a flash in the pan for Australia that led to a surge in growth for Jeep, but there wasn't much to follow it up. Apart from a disastrous reliability record for the Grand Cherokee which saw recall after recall. Even after this new fifth-generation Grand Cherokee launched the 4xe was recalled in the United States due to 13 separate fires.If you’re superstitious then you’d believe the Grand Cherokee was cursed.Parent company Stellantis would not go into why the Grand Cherokee was pulled from sale in Australia other than to say it was looking for a more relevant model for the market.“As we look to right-size the Jeep product portfolio to match local market dynamics and customer preferences, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause availability of the current model Jeep Grand Cherokee  in Australia,” a Stellantis spokesperson said."While the Jeep Grand Cherokee will continue to be sold in many countries around the world, this decision allows us to focus our efforts on placing the right products in the right segments that can have the greatest relevance for our customers."Of course as any PR person would say Jeep remains committed to Australia, the spokesperson told us."The Jeep brand remains fully committed to the Australian market and Stellantis continues to invest heavily in its global product portfolio,” the brand’s spokesperson said.'Committed' as long as there’s a business case for staying is what this really means and there’s nothing wrong with that logic.Why Jeep will likely stay in Australia isn’t because a new model like the new electric Wagoneer S is just around the corner. It's because Jeep offers something many brands don't have - a lifestyle identity. Jeep’s Wrangler off-roader is central to this ethos and the connection the SUV has with cultural identity is important in its lineage back to the World War II Willys Jeep and forward to 21st century adventurers and the perceived freedom that goes with the lifestyle. The appeal is almost a rebellious one against the wrapped-in-cotton-wool safety standards of less adventurous SUVs that are seemingly secure so as to cut off all contact with the outside world. The Wrangler on the other hand has doors and a windscreen that can literally be removed. That emotional ingredient is a quality only some car brands have. Ford has its Mustang,  Toyota has the LandCruiser, Nissan the Patrol and even Subaru has the WRX . All offer more than just transport but membership to a club.Of course there needs to be regular buyers who give the brand huge spikes in sales, as was experienced by the Grand Cherokee.And while sales of Jeep's other models aren't outstanding among rival brands, they don't appear to be dangerously low either. Last year's total sales amounted to 2377 and that was 492 for Compass, 151 for the Gladiator, 646 for Grand Cherokee and 724 for the Wrangler.Citroen, which is also owned by Stellantis but imported through a different operator - Inchcape - was pulled out of Australia last year after selling just 147 vehicles.So we know where the line is and currently Jeep is not in danger of crossing it. Still, the brand needs another model to boost sales again and it's unlikely to be the just-arrived Avenger EV which will be up against more affordable small electric Chinese SUVs.So while Stellantis searches for another hit model, Jeep will be supported by the emotional engagement and identity it brings to those drawn to a life of adventure, even if their real life is mainly spent in an office or in traffic. 

Jeep to take another shot at mid-size SUV glory with incoming hybrid Cherokee.

Jeep has discontinued the Grand Cherokee for Australia, the brand’s parent company Stellantis has confirmed.“As we look to right-size the Jeep product portfolio to match local market dynamics and customer preferences, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause availability of the current model Jeep Grand Cherokee in Australia,” a Stellantis spokesperson said."While the Jeep Grand Cherokee will continue to be sold in many countries around the world, this decision allows us to focus our efforts on placing the right products in the right segments that can have the greatest relevance for our customers."For what was once Australia’s best-selling large SUV, even besting the Toyota Prado to the feat in 2014, the model’s popularity has nosedived in recent years.Just 645 examples were sold last year, a decrease of 48.3 per cent on the previous year’s 1247 sales. The new generation, launched in 2023, came with a massive circa-$20,000 price rise compared to the previous model.Despite the lacklustre results, it remained Jeep’s second best-selling-car in the country last year, behind the Jeep Wrangler (724) and ahead of the Jeep Gladiator (515), as the brand’s total sales fell by 48.7 per cent from 4643 in 2023 to 2377 in 2024.The Grand Cherokee was plagued by reliability issues in Australia, forcing the Australian Competitor and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to reprimand the brand over concerns about the way it handled customer complaints in Australia, including lengthy delays on providing remedies.But Jeep’s tarnished brand image and underwhelming sales will not see it leave Australia any time soon, Stellantis has confirmed, as it doubled down on its long-term commitment to the local market."The Jeep brand remains fully committed to the Australian market and Stellantis continues to invest heavily in its global product portfolio,” the brand’s spokesperson said.Customers can now get their hands on remaining stock of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited for $60,000, drive-away. Previously it cost $72,950, before on-road costs.Last November, Jeep launched its new small electric SUV in Australia, the European-built Avenger. It registered just six sales in January 2025.Jeep has previously confirmed that the Wagoneer S, a fully-electric version of the full-sized Wagoneer SUV sold in the US, will debut for Australia in 2026.

Claims of battery breakthroughs have lately been reserved for Chinese electric car brands, but this time the news has come from automotive mega-group Stellantis.

Australia’s new car market rose very slightly in volume in 2024 compared to 2023 - but it wasn’t good news across the board.

Many so-called “all-new” models aren’t all that new. In fact, a sizeable chunk are reskinned versions of what came before, with fresh sheetmetal over the same general hard points.