KEY POINTS:
It looks like an old one, but this is indeed the brand new Jeep Cherokee. The latest version, which starts at $46,990, maintains the brand's reputation for traditional styling and off-road ability.
But it also introduces some "surprise and delight" features for those more used to city driving, with options such as the MyGIG hard drive-based entertainment system and Sky Slider full-open roof.
MyGIG allows customers to use touch-screen or voice commands to control features, and includes a 20-gigabyte hard drive to store music and photos.
Space is reserved on the hard drive for about 1600 songs - more than 100 hours of music. The system is optional on the Limited model and also includes a voice-memo recorder feature and audio input jack for connection to an MP3 player.
The Sky Slider roof aims to give some of the open-air feeling that you get from the convertible Wrangler.
The roof can be moved to several positions, including full forward, full rear or partially open to any position in-between.
It's made of a reinforced acrylic cloth, similar to a convertible top, which is weather-resistant and leak-proof. The top panel nests into a weather strip seal to minimise wind noise. Again, Sky Slider is optional on the Limited model.
A new Selec-Trac II full-time four-wheel-drive system is standard on both Jeep Cherokee Sport and Limited models. It's a full-time, active on-demand system that anticipates and prevents wheel slip before it occurs.
Hill Descent Control allows for six speeds of controlled descent and provides downhill assistance at an automatically controlled rate of speed with more precision and smoother operation than simply using the brakes.
Two engines are available: a 3.7-litre petrol V6 with 151kW/314Nm and a 2.8-litre turbo diesel 130kW and an impressive 460Nm.
The V6 petrol is available in Sport or Limited versions, while the turbo diesel CRD comes only as a luxury Limited, at a $5000 premium over the petrol equivalent.
