NEVER since square headlamps got fitted to the Wrangler (long gone back to round ones) has a new Jeep’s face caused so much grumbling from the brand’s faithful as the 2014 Grand Cherokee. But love or loathe the model’s new look, what the premium SUV promises, according to Jeep, is an “unprecedented combination of best-in-class fuel economy and driving range, available clean-diesel technology, a choice of leading powertrain options, legendary benchmark capability, world-class craftsmanship, posh on-road driving dynamics, and a host of advanced user-friendly technology and safety features.”
The brand’s distributor in the Philippines, CATS Motors Inc., at the recent Manila International Auto Show took the covers off the newest Grand Cherokee, which arrives powered by Jeep’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 and 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engines. A new eight-speed automatic transmission that has paddle shifters can bolt to either of the two.