Photo: Jeep
Yesterday, Jeep unveiled the all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the fifth generation of the brand's most successful - albeit not most recognizable - model so far.
It hasn't been long since we got to see the fresh SUV, but so far, the reception has been a positive one. Everyone seems to agree Jeep nailed pretty much every aspect of the new vehicle, bringing enough modern features to make it competitive yet retaining plenty of the brand's core values to keep it relevant in a crowded market.
In case you're scratching your head thinking about how you could have bought a 2021 Jeep Cherokee the day before yesterday, too, you're forgetting about one thing: the L. This is the long, three-row version of the Grand Cherokee, which is why it can be sold as a 2021 model without overlapping with the old generation. It's a little weird, but technically, it makes sense. Later this year, when the all-new two-row non-L Grand Cherokee will launch, it'll be sold as a 2022 model alongside the 2021 Grand Cherokee L.
Anyway, that's not the problem we wanted to talk about; it's this: does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L look a little familiar? A little too familiar, if you will. It probably does, and that's because it is strikingly similar to the Grand Wagoneer concept shown last year.
So what? Brands having lookalike models is nothing new. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have been getting away with it for years, to give just two examples. You basically needed a size reference to tell a C-Class from an S-Class before the new version for the latter model was launched.
That may be so, but in Jeep's case, the problem extends beyond design. It looks like the Grand Cherokee L renders the Grand Wagoneer a bit redundant. Yes, it'll be both larger and more luxurious, but if we're being honest, the long version of the smaller SUV could fill every need of most potential Wagoneer clients. That's where the problem of the new Grand Cherokee L lies: it steps on its larger sibling's toes.
There's only one escape for Jeep's yet unreleased flagship, and it's probably what the company will eventually focus on: luxury and, above all, status. You get the Grand Cherokee L for practical reasons; you get the Grand Wagoneer because you've made it. And because you're a Jeep fan, of course, since there are plenty of other options out there.
In case you're scratching your head thinking about how you could have bought a 2021 Jeep Cherokee the day before yesterday, too, you're forgetting about one thing: the L. This is the long, three-row version of the Grand Cherokee, which is why it can be sold as a 2021 model without overlapping with the old generation. It's a little weird, but technically, it makes sense. Later this year, when the all-new two-row non-L Grand Cherokee will launch, it'll be sold as a 2022 model alongside the 2021 Grand Cherokee L.
Anyway, that's not the problem we wanted to talk about; it's this: does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L look a little familiar? A little too familiar, if you will. It probably does, and that's because it is strikingly similar to the Grand Wagoneer concept shown last year.
So what? Brands having lookalike models is nothing new. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have been getting away with it for years, to give just two examples. You basically needed a size reference to tell a C-Class from an S-Class before the new version for the latter model was launched.
That may be so, but in Jeep's case, the problem extends beyond design. It looks like the Grand Cherokee L renders the Grand Wagoneer a bit redundant. Yes, it'll be both larger and more luxurious, but if we're being honest, the long version of the smaller SUV could fill every need of most potential Wagoneer clients. That's where the problem of the new Grand Cherokee L lies: it steps on its larger sibling's toes.
There's only one escape for Jeep's yet unreleased flagship, and it's probably what the company will eventually focus on: luxury and, above all, status. You get the Grand Cherokee L for practical reasons; you get the Grand Wagoneer because you've made it. And because you're a Jeep fan, of course, since there are plenty of other options out there.
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