The American brand Jeep has finally made their debut on the Indian subcontinent with three new models, and you’ve probably got to be a Movie Star to buy one.
Jeep made an appearance at the Auto Expo this year promising a future launch of their brand and they’ve kept their promise. The American brand has arrived in style at the Jodhpur launch of their iconic vehicles. Their objective is not just to target off-roading enthusiasts but also to bite into the luxury SUV market.
Jeep expects to have nearly 10 dealerships across the country starting with Ahmedabad and New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in October and the remaining cities over the period of this year. Currently, all the offerings are CBU units although Jeep does plan on starting a CKD setup for a third model called the C-SUV at their Ranjangoan facility.
The Wrangler Unlimited is the cheapest offering by Jeep. It is a diesel powered 4-door off-roader that features the classic retro Jeep styling. The 2.8-litre diesel engine on the Wrangler produces a healthy 200 HP and 460 Nm of torque. The Wrangler also comes equipped with a mechanical 4-wheel drive setup, multiple differential locks and off-road spec tyres to make it a properly capable off-roader. Jeep is offering the Wrangler Unlimited at a price of Rs. 71 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
The more modern Grand Cherokee is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel motor that has 240 HP and 570 Nm of torque on tap. The motor would be paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The Grand Cherokee Limited and Summit are the most luxurious offerings by Jeep. They feature modern styling and a more aggressive stature. The Grand Cherokee also gets Jeeps signature Quadratrack-2 four-wheel drive system. Prices for the Grand Cherokee would be Rs. 93 lakh for the Limited and Rs. 1.03 crore for the Summit (ex-showroom Delhi).
Jeep’s flagship offering is the Grand Cherokee SRT. The SRT is powered by a monstrous 6.4-litre Hemi V8 that charges out 470 HP and 624 Nm of torque. This helps the SRT complete the sprint to a 100 kmph in 5 seconds thanks to its launch control and 8-speed auto box. The SRT also comes packed with high-performance Brembo brakes and Adaptive suspension. The flagship Grand Cherokee SRT is priced at Rs. 1.1 crore (ex-showroom Delhi).
The new Jeeps are truly exciting vehicles, but to be practical, their pricing is quite off the scale. Starting at Rs. 71 lakh for the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited and Rs. 1.1 crore for the Grand Cherokee SRT, the CBU American SUV’s are simply ridiculously priced. Do these prices really justify the traditional and much successful Jeep brand? And how would Indian customers react to the steep pricing? To get these answers, we’ll just have to wait and watch.
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