Cherokee has flash and dash

There certainly is no doubt about its imposing macho presence.

Where the previous model might have lacked a little in off-road abilities and muscle, the new jazzed up 2.8-litre turbo-charged CRD now thunders out big numbers and it has also acquired a new transmission and other high-tech fancies to give it more agility.

Gone also are the soft rounded edges of the previous models which Chrysler thought (wrongly!) might appeal to urban warriors. A short-back-and-sides makeover later and back are the brash bumpers, the square headlights, the imposing seven-slat grille and brazenly flared wheel-arches.

Huge side mirrors, straight-down windows and big alloys wrapped in 18-inch rubber complete its bad-guy-strides-into-town look.

Because it stands so big and tall, saddling up the Cherokee is not easy and it takes quite a haul to get up and into the cabin.

There are no step-ups on the sides and the grab handles are awkwardly positioned (the front passenger handle is horizontally placed in a perfect position to bang your knee-caps against), the back handles are high up on the roof and the driver has no choice but to use the steering wheel.

This, and other silly things such as a flip-up glass window on the tail gate which nearly slammed into my wife's face, make you think that this Jeep was designed by a slap-stick comedy writer who had run out of ideas.

The same warp-minded person probably also designed the smooth and silly back seat which had my passengers sliding about on tar road corners....

The seats are well-padded and reasonably comfortable, but they need a lot more side support, both those in the front and at the back. To make matters worse, the back seat is a bench without dividing arm rests.

We know times are tough at Chrysler, chaps, but at a spluttering R370,000 surely the budget could have stretched to a few more user-friendly creature comforts?

The seats are also strangely positioned and because the steering wheel is only rake adjustable, finding a comfortable driving position is not easy.

Leg room front and back is OK, but the interior is not exactly cavernous and the boot is much too small for the suitcases and other kit that four or five people would schlep with them on a long trip.

OK, so the seats split 60:40 and the sections can drop down to a flat bed to boost loading space, but then where will mother-in-law, Rover The Labrador and the two teenagers sit?

Even the 2.7-litre Ssang Yong Kyron has more boot space (it's also faster and less thirsty than the Jeep).

And then there is the R13,000 optional extra sliding roof fitted to our test vehicle which seals so badly that the wind noise is louder than the diesel engine.

It's huge and can open so far back that even the rear passengers have clear skies above them. Very convenient for taking photographs on a game drive for sure, but a very unsociable conversation-drowner when you are cruising back from Franschhoek after lunch.

Out on the road, once you are past lumbering up speeds, the big Jeep cruises quite quietly and smoothly. It feels a tad heavy and this becomes particularly noticeable in the corners and when you hit the brakes.

On our test vehicle the brakes were not overly impressive. They had a dull, woody feel which might just require a little technical TLC to sharpen it up.

Little niggles aside, where the Cherokee scores well is on the hoof. It packs a powerful punch and is quick off the mark on tar and surprisingly capable in the rough stuff.

Our automatic five-speeder powered out 130kW and 460Nm of torque which comes into play from as low down as 2,000rpm; enough fire power for the 0-100km/h dash in less than 12 seconds and a top speed of about 180km/h

At the heart of the Cherokee is a new Select-Trac 11 drive train with the choice of rear-wheel, four-wheel automatic and four-wheel drive at the flick of a simple switch.

In full off-road mode with the assistance of hill descent control, hill start assist and the backing of a powerful diesel it will go up and down ugly terrain with the confidence of a rock rabbit.

But although the diesel Cherokee has lots of show and go it does play in the company of serious contenders like Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V, the 3.0-litre diesel Toyota Fortuner (R20,000 cheaper than the Jeep) and the 3.2-litre diesel Mitsubishi Pajero (R20,000 more than the Jeep) and to be honest, the Jeep won't be my first choice in this company.

Detractors will probably snidely refer to the Cherokee CRD as a Dodge Nitro on steroids, but Jeep traditionalists will no doubt love it, warts and all.

It certainly fully deserves its brand flagship status. It has always been Jeep's best seller and now it is also, by far, the most effective road-and-rough member of the Jeep family.

Its tough guy looks give it a stand-out presence in the company of most other SUV's on the boulevard which is probably the main reason why wanna-look-like-bush-whackers will buy it.

A three-year/100,000km warranty and a three-year/100,000km service plan are included in the purchase price, but just remember, if grandpa's gouty knee thumps against that front grab-handle you are on your own....