All-New 2021 Jeep® Grand Cherokee features 08.01.2021: Most advanced, high-tech safety and security features in its class The all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers more than 110 safety and security features, including innovative technologies that refine the connection between driver, vehicle and the

Most advanced, high-tech safety and security features in its class


The all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers more than 110 safety and security features, including innovative technologies that refine the connection between driver, vehicle and the road.






Segment-leading innovation



The Grand Cherokee L arrives with a class-leading suite of features that deliver on the promise of driving confidence, for which the Jeep brand is renowned. These features enhance a driver’s field of vision, help make instrumentation easier to see and enable driver-assist capabilities that accommodate collision avoidance.




Active Driving Assist is FCA’s name for Level 2 (L2) automated driving capability and the technology affirms the company’s march toward an autonomous future. The Grand Cherokee L is available with Active Driving Assist for hands-on-wheel and eyes-on-road automated driving, using lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. The system uses multiple sensors, including radars and cameras to dictate appropriate roads for the technology. Active Driving Assist is available on Overland and is standard on Summit models.



Hands-free Active Driving Assist is FCA’s name for hands-free L2 assisted driving and will be available in late 2021 for 2022 model-year Grand Cherokee L Overland and Summit models. It offers hands-free driving at all speeds and lane centering on approved roadways for even greater driving convenience. The system also will predictively slow the vehicle down in tight curves and automatically resume control after the driver overrides and verifies that he or she is paying attention to the road.



Night Vision Camera, available on Overland and Summit models, uses thermographic technology to augment the reach of the Grand Cherokee L’s headlights. Infrared sensors search for the heat signatures of pedestrians and animals in the road ahead, at distances up to 200m. When located, an alert with their positions relative to the vehicle are outlined in the instrument cluster directly in front of the driver.



Ergonomics are a key benefit of the available, full-colour Head-up Display (HUD). Available on Overland and Summit models, the system provides the driver with up to five different information elements, including Active Lane Management, adaptive cruise control, turn-by-turn navigation, current speed, current gear and speed limit.



Intersection Collision Assist helps detect vehicles approaching from the driver’s left and right when nearing a crossroad. Four radar sensors and one camera determine if a collision appears imminent, prompting the system to provide audible and visual alerts. If the driver does not respond, the system automatically activates the vehicle’s brakes. The feature is standard on Summit models.



Drowsy Driver Detection tracks vehicle movement, such as lane deviation, and interaction, such as steering-wheel input over time, for driving behaviour consistent with that of a drowsy driver. When certain thresholds are reached, the system responds with audio and/or visual cautions for the driver to pull over. The feature comes standard on Summit models.



The Digital Rear-view Camera system, optional on Limited models and above, replaces the conventional rear-view mirror with a 9.2-inch-wide Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that shows real-time video from a rear-facing camera. Unlike a conventional rear-view mirror, the new digital camera system offers a view that is unobstructed by the D-pillars or rear seats. When not in use as a display, the screen reverts back to a reflective mirror.



Traffic Sign Recognition, standard on Summit models, uses a forward-facing camera to identify speed limit and related traffic signs, such as those denoting school and construction zones.



An additional safety and security feature on Grand Cherokee L is Surround View Camera. Available on Limited and Overland, standard on Summit models, the system offers 360-degree, bird’s-eye views of the vehicle and its surroundings, enhanced by dynamic gridlines displayed on a 10.1-inch digital touchscreen. With front and rear lens washers, the system is enhanced by ParkSense front park assist, which helps the driver orient the vehicle.



Equipment levels on the Summit model are elevated even further with standard Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, which uses ultrasonic sensors to guide the driver into parking spaces. FCA is the first automaker to use this technology with a live, dedicated view on the infotainment screen for easy viewing.





Among the standard safety features across the Grand Cherokee L lineup are:



    Full-Speed Collision Warning with Active Braking and Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection
    Rear Cross Path detection
    Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
    Active Lane Management
    LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
    Advanced Brake Assist
    Blind-spot Monitoring
    ParkView rear back-up camera
    ParkSense rear park assist sensors with stop
    Switch-activated electric park brake
    Tyre-pressure monitoring



The Grand Cherokee L also offers a full suite of LED lighting. LED headlamps provide exceptional performance with a balanced beam of light that minimises glare for oncoming traffic, while doubling the light output directly in front of the vehicle for improved illumination of the road ahead. Side lighting improves visibility while cornering and is activated by either steering wheel angle input or turn signal activations when the headlights are on.



The Grand Cherokee L’s innovative engineering leverages the attributes of high-strength steel to help direct crash energy away from the cabin. It also features eight airbags, including full-length side-curtain airbags, which extend protection to front and rear outboard passengers, and seat-mounted side thorax airbags that enhance protection for the driver and front passenger.



Standard-equipment active head restraints help mitigate injury risks associated with rear collisions, while there are three LATCH positions for safety-seat placement when the vehicle is configured with a second-row bench.




Advanced technology: Segment-leading offerings


The most technologically equipped Jeep Grand Cherokee ever features significant next-generation innovations, including the advanced Uconnect 5 system, rear-seat monitoring camera, digital rear-view mirror, HUD, frameless digital cluster and a McIntosh 19-speaker premium audio system.






All-new Uconnect 5 system



The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L features the latest, most advanced Uconnect system ever, with a 10.1-inch display and intuitive user experience. The all-new Uconnect 5 delivers operating speeds that are five times faster when compared to the previous generation. By using an Android operating system and over-the-air (OTA) updates, Uconnect 5 brings flexibility that will allow the system to continuously evolve to offer new content, features and services.



The Uconnect 5 system offers more connected services and features for unmatched ease of use. The suite of system highlights includes:


    8.4-inch or 10.1-inch digital touchscreen

    Five user profiles plus a valet mode – customisable music preferences, apps, seat position, mirror angles and climate comfort levels

    Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

    Fully customisable home screen for quick access to frequently used features and one-touch operation

    Simultaneous connectivity for two Bluetooth-enabled phones

    Alexa “Home to Car” functionality to include in-vehicle Alexa virtual assistant with natural voice capability and “Car to Home” features

    All-new Uconnect mobile app

    SiriusXM 360L platform and new Personalised Stations Powered by Pandora

    TomTom navigation with predictive search, natural speak and live traffic updates

    Maps OTA updates at the push of a button for Uconnect NAV system

    4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot to connect up to eight wireless devices




The Grand Cherokee L is well-equipped to keep vehicle occupants connected while on the go. Functionality is enhanced for front-row passengers with an available wireless charging pad, plus standard dual USB Type C ports that allow devices to charge up to four times faster. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L delivers a class-leading total of 12 USB Type A and Type C ports for all three rows. Third-row single USB ports are optional in Laredo and standard from Limited up.




Rear-seat monitoring camera


The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L includes an optional rear-seat monitoring camera system, which projects a best-in-class, high-definition image and delivers several segment-exclusive features, including a clear view of second-row, rear-facing child seat occupants, a split-view display and a unique “zoom-to-seat” function.



Rear-seat camera views are accessible through the 10.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen and allow the driver to quickly view the entire cabin, as well as easily zoom in on each seat location. Memory setting functions keep the zoomed image focused on the most recent position viewed, aiding in ease of use and limiting driver distraction.



The camera is positioned on the headliner between the second and third-row seats. Three infrared lights surround the camera and illuminate the cabin in low-light conditions. The system automatically switches between day and night modes for added visibility and convenience. The rear-seat monitoring camera is available on Limited, Overland and Summit models.





Digital firsts



The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is the first production Jeep vehicle to offer a fully digital rear-view mirror. The digital rear-view mirror displays video in real time from a rear-facing camera, offering an image that is unobstructed by the D-pillars or rear seats. It also reverts back to a traditional reflective mirror. The digital rear-view mirror is available on Limited, Overland and Summit models and provides an unobstructed rear view that enhances safety.



Additionally, the Grand Cherokee L is the first production Jeep vehicle to offer a Head Up Display (HUD). Available on Overland and above, the full-colour display is configurable up to 10-inches and features three predefined configurations and a custom mode with a choice of four reconfigurable layouts. The HUD provides key vehicle information to the driver including, speed, speed limit, navigation and driver assist systems. All HUD settings can be personalised and saved within the driver profiles.



Also new for Grand Cherokee L is a standard 10.25-inch frameless digital gauge and cluster with nearly two dozen different menus from which the user can select, including driver-assist technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, Active Driving Assist, Night Vision, Drowsy Driver Detection and Traffic Sign Recognition (if equipped). Additional settings include media being played, caller identification, digital speed readout, drive modes or tyre pressure.



Also offered is a full-screen, turn-by-turn navigation map and off-road pitch-and-roll display. The full-colour cluster features five reconfigurable tiles for at-a-glance data or quick and easy access to the most used information. Drivers may choose between analogue or digital instrumentation. All cluster settings can be saved to a user profile as part of Grand Cherokee L’s full vehicle customisation and automatically recalled for each driver. On-screen graphics are delivered in real-time, animated 3D.





Design-focused audio, pinnacle of premium sound



For more than 70 years, McIntosh has provided handcrafted, made-in-America, high-end home audio products to music lovers around the globe. McIntosh has also powered presidential inauguration speeches and some of the most iconic moments in music history. Available first in the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, FCA is currently the only automotive manufacturer in the world to carry a McIntosh sound system.



Superior audio performance is delivered through 19 custom-designed speakers, including a 10-inch subwoofer, that are strategically placed throughout the cabin for a powerful, authentic and detailed surround-sound experience. A 17-channel, 950-watt amplifier was specifically designed to power the speakers to provide clean, crisp high notes and deep, low frequencies throughout the cabin.



The premium McIntosh audio system for the Grand Cherokee L has been professionally tested and tuned to compliment the vehicle’s unique interior volume and layout. To help prevent damage to the speakers, the audio system is equipped with McIntosh’s Power Guard® Technology. The position of the speakers within the vehicle cabin and other built-in technologies, including a Low Distortion/High Performance (LD/HP) design, helps lower distortion and provides an unparalleled listening experience.



In addition to an elegant sound quality, the McIntosh system for the Grand Cherokee L is designed to complement the vehicle’s high-end interior and incorporate notable McIntosh design cues. Special attention to detail was given to ensure that the audio system’s ornate controls replicated the look of McIntosh amplifier control knobs.



The McIntosh logos on the door speaker grilles are LED backlit in the brand’s signature blue color to complement the interior’s new custom ambient lighting. Similar to the look and feel of McIntosh home audio products, the Grand Cherokee L’s subwoofer grille is emblazoned with the McIntosh “Mc” logo as it appears in McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™.



The premium McIntosh audio system is available on Overland and Summit models and comes standard when equipped with the Summit Reserve Package.




Manufacturing: Proudly built in the Motor City


The all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is built at the new Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack Plant, the city’s first new manufacturing facility in nearly three decades.



FCA invested $1.6 billion to build a 790,000-square-foot paint shop and to convert the two original Mack Avenue engine plants into an entirely new assembly site. The investment also added 3,850 new jobs to support production of the first ever three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as the new two-row version and future electrified models. The plant is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2021.





Intricate route to superior quality


It’s one thing to reimagine the world’s most-awarded SUV on paper; it’s quite another to ensure it looks and performs the way it should on (and off) the road.



To launch the all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, FCA engineers leveraged decades of intellectual capital and allowed themselves to be guided by the adventurous spirit of Jeep customers.



“There’s a reason Jeep customers are so demanding,” says Mark Champine, head of quality, FCA - North America. “They’ve grown accustomed to going wherever they want, whenever they want, with a spirit that’s unique to Jeep. It’s our job to deliver on those expectations.”




Gap and flush


While the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee L leads its competitors by a wide gap, FCA is laser focused – literally – on minimising gaps. The newly constructed Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack, which is home to the Grand Cherokee L, features a measurement cell that combines laser light with radar to check body-panel geometry. Every vehicle built at the new site passes through this cell, which helps ensure fit and finish that is precise and uniform.




Previously employed by FCA in a body-shop application, the cell at Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack marks the first application of “gap and flush” technology at the end of a production line. The technology affords greater repeatability and accuracy than conventional camera-based measuring systems. As a result, the distinctive silhouette of each and every Grand Cherokee L mirrors the thoughtful vision of Jeep designers.







More Chalma


FCA’s new manufacturing site also boasts a track where specially trained workers conduct confirmatory testing for high-priority attributes, such as cabin-quiet. But the 2021 Grand Cherokee L’s road to superior quality actually started inside a microprocessor and wound its way to Detroit from central Mexico, via FCA’s proving grounds in nearby Chelsea, Michigan.



Usage data was collected from owners of previous-generation Grand Cherokee vehicles. Once analysed, the direction was clear: To further boost body/chassis durability, another key customer demand, FCA engineers called for “more Chalma.”



The name honours a route just south of Mexico City that was once so rugged as to be nearly impassable. Recreated in unforgiving concrete at FCA’s Chelsea Proving Grounds, “Chalma Road” is pocked with potholes, killer cobblestones and two kinds of treacherous trenches – diagonal and transverse.



The Grand Cherokee L’s design benefits from 1,000 hours of tortuous testing on this hostile highway. Which is only fitting, Champine says, because “the only things tougher than Jeep brand vehicles are their owners.”




Establishedlegacy of luxurious, capable Jeep SUVs


Built on 80 years of legendary heritage, every Jeep has a remarkable lineage and unique personality. Each is authentic with class-leading capability and versatility. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is no exception. The initial debut of the Grand Cherokee set a new industry benchmark for luxury and capability and ushered in four celebrated generations that would lead to it becoming the most awarded SUV in history.




First and second-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ/WJ): 1993-2004

The Jeep Grand Cherokee made its infamous debut by crashing through the convention centre glass at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on 7 January, 1992. The first SUV equipped with a driver-side air bag, it set new standards for on-road ride, handling and comfort in an SUV. The 2,690mm-wheelbase Grand Cherokee took refinement to a new level. A new Quadra-Coil suspension featured a coil/multilink configuration. A 5.2-litre V8 engine was offered as an option and a Dana 44 rear axle was available for some models.




Third-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK): 2005-2010

A complete redesign of the ZJ/WJ, the all-new Grand Cherokee combined power, luxury and a significantly quieter, more comfortable ride. Jeep engineers worked hard to improve on-road refinement by adding a short/long-arm independent front suspension. The ground-up transformation continued with a choice of three power plants, including the mighty 330hp 5.7-litre HEMI® V8 engine. The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 featured a 6.1-litre HEMI V8 with 420hp and 569Nm, 20-inch lightweight forged wheels and four-piston Brembo brakes. The available full-time Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system featured front and rear limited slip differentials and a centre differential-lock that operated in low-range.



Fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2): 2011-present

All-new for 2011 and more than 4 million sales after the introduction of the first Grand Cherokee, Jeep improved the formula to deliver the perfect blend of on-road refinement and off-road capability, with improved fuel economy, a world-class interior, a sleek new exterior design and a host of safety and technology features. A Trailhawk model was introduced in 2017 with standard Quadra-Lift air suspension, the Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system, all-terrain tyres and a Skid Plate Package. The new Trackhawk was released as the quickest and most powerful SUV ever. It boasted a supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V8 engine, modified engine cooling, high-performance Brembo brake system and Launch mode for an incredible track performance.





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