More than 60 years after the birth of the Jeep as a workhorse for the American military the 4x4 has moved on and today most are likely to face their biggest challenge on a ploughed field rather than a battlefield.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee epitomises how far they have come. Weighing in at more than two tons, it still manages to cruise down an autobahn at 100mph while keeping its occupants comfortable in its leather-trimmed, air-conditioned cabin.

Introduced to Britain in early 1999, the latest generation of Grand Cherokee followed on from the original model launched three years earlier. With more powerful engines and even beefier bodywork, Jeep hoped it would go head to head with the Range Rover. But the public never really took the bait, many seeing it as an alternative to the less prestigious Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol.

Despite a list price nudging £30,000 when new, today you can pick up a very tidy 4 litre petrol model for less than £8,000. But shelling out for one is only half the story; running a Grand Cherokee can be a more expensive experience.

Unless you cover only a handful of miles the fuel consumption on petrol models can be crippling. The official government combined figure of around 17mpg is not a promising start, but talk to owners who have seen that figure dip as low as 10mpg and fuel prices close to £1 a litre become ominous. Of course you will get some pretty vivid performance for such a large vehicle and if you go for the 4.7 litre V8 an impressive exhaust note to match. More practical is the 2.7 litre diesel. It manages to eke out around 29mpg, a big difference if you do about 12,000 miles a year — the annual average — or more.

On the road the Grand Cherokee is an imposing beast, not quite as tall as a Range Rover but wide and bluff, filling the rear-view mirror of other motorists. But this does not translate into acres of interior space. Headroom for taller drivers can be tight and rear legroom is barely on a par with a Ford Mondeo’s. However, equipment levels are generous and all models come with automatic transmission, leather upholstery and one of the most powerful air-conditioning systems on the market.

True off-roading ability in such a large and luxurious vehicle is always a moot point. Few owners explore the vehicle’s genuine potential, but if the going gets tough the Grand Cherokee will mix it with the best of them. Most second-hand examples will have seen little or no off-road action but it’s still worth checking the sills and underbody for signs of grounding or damage to the catalytic converters, and make sure the automatic gearbox changes are smooth.

Jeep build quality is by no means shoddy and on nearly new vehicles you will be impressed by the fit and finish. Only when the car starts to age does the slightly throwaway culture of the US start to show. The leather upholstery creases easily, some switchgear can show signs of wear and bits of trim feel brittle. But take your time, find a clean example, check it carefully and you’ll have no major concerns.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7 CRD
Engine 2685cc, five-cylinder turbodiesel
Power 161bhp
Transmission 5-speed auto four-wheel drive
Fuel 29.1mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-62mph: 10.7sec
Top speed 111mph

THE ONE TO BUY

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7 CRD auto 2002 52-registration with 30,000 miles on the clock. Pay £17,450 from a Jeep dealer or £16,000 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY

2000 W Toyota Land Cruiser 4.2 TD GX auto

2000 X Mercedes ML 270 CDI auto

2000 X Range Rover 2.5d HSE auto

2003 52 Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-D auto

2003 53 Nissan Patrol 3.0Di SVE auto

VALUES