New Jeep Grand Cherokee five-seater delayed to 2023

The next-generation, five-seat 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee is not due in Australian showrooms until early next year – and the plug-in hybrid not until late next year – up to 18 months later than planned.

Information from Jeep Australia is slated to see the first five-seat Grand Cherokee examples arrive in early 2023 – expected to feature petrol V6 power – ahead of the '4xe' plug-in hybrid arriving in the second half of next year.

The five-seat Grand Cherokee was previously earmarked to arrive in petrol and plug-in hybrid forms within 2022 – before these dates slipped to late 2022 and early 2023 a few months ago.

Few details of the five-seat Grand Cherokee range have been confirmed for Australia so far – including pricing, and how much cheaper it will be than the seven-seat L model.

However, in the US the five-seater is priced about $US2000 lower than its larger sibling – corresponding in Australia to a saving of about $3300, compared to the L range that's priced from $82,250 to $115,450 plus on-road costs.

Government approval documents indicate regular petrol five-seaters will use the same 3.6-litre petrol V6 as seven-seat grades, sending 210kW and 344Nm through an eight-speed automatic transmission to one of a selection of all-wheel-drive systems.

The 266kW/529Nm 5.7-litre 'Hemi' petrol V8 available in the US isn't expected to be offered in Australia, while a diesel version – such as the previous Grand Cherokee's 3.0-litre turbo V6 – isn't available globally.

Instead, buyers looking for fuel efficiency will be directed to the '4xe' plug-in hybrid, combining a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder with two electric motors, a 17kWh battery pack and an eight-speed automatic transmission, developing 280kW and 637Nm combined.

Jeep claims the Grand Cherokee 4xe is capable of up to 40km of driving on electric power alone, with a combined fuel economy rating of 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres in US testing.

Towing capacity in the US is rated at 2720kg braked for the plug-in hybrid and 2812kg for the petrol V6. The V8 not sold in Australia can haul up to 3265kg.

For more details on the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee five-seater – ahead of its local launch due next year – click the links below.

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