Seven-seaters are great for those who own/need one, but Jeep has proven that a five-seater might just be enough and be the smarter choice if its all about driveability.

Full disclosure, I personally own a seven-seat vehicle and will likely do so again, but my seven-seater is not the size of a Jeep seven-seater, mine is more a stretched hatchback with additional seating and not something you would remotely call a seven-seat SUV.

In the last two years, my seven-seater has been called upon to do what it was designed to. The rest of the time, it’s me and the significant other, which seems wasteful, but there was a time when seating for seven was required, and I’ve gotten used to the space and flexibility.

So, surely given the choice of a seven seat Grand Cherokee Jeep and the five-seater, I’d go for the seven, wouldn’t I? I thought so… but it turned out I may have been mistaken.

The five-seat Jeep Cherokee Overland has shifted my allegiance, not only in terms of seats, but in terms of favorite Jeeps and to be fair, there has been an extensive list of those last.

You see, Jeeps have this indefinable quality about them which allows people to overlook certain aspects of the vehicle which would be considered dealbreakers in any other vehicle. But because the Jeep (insert your preferred model here) is the Jeep which you, for lack of a better word, like, any little shortcoming sort of gets forgotten about.

And then there are the exceptions to the rule. Way back in the mists of time, I was temporarily gifted a Grand Cherokee Laredo and it was the business.

It did everything Jeep promised and more and delivered me everywhere in style and luxury as befitted my expectations. It was my first “Jeep for me” where I could ask for nothing more, but on a motoring writer’s salary it was more realistically the “fantasy Jeep for me.”    

Today, my salary limitation still applies, but the Laredo has gone from Jeep’s catalogue and therefore my dreams, but the Grand Cherokee Overland is here in both.

What’s so great about the Grand Cherokee Overland? It feels regal – sorry – presidential. And that’s in every respect: drive experience, comfort level, physical size, and the fact that it has everything except possibly a presidential intern, too soon for that? Sorry, Bill Clinton!

But seriously, everything I expected the Jeep to have, remembering that I drive vehicles with features some people have never heard of, was there and if not right where I wanted it to be, was close enough that I could reflect on how clever Jeep’s designers must be to put this widget there.

The list of features onboard the Grand Cherokee is so extensive, I could fill a page with them, so I’m just going to point out the level of excellence found in the switchgear, the leather appointment, and in cabin ergonomics are on par with any of the great marques out of Europe, before I redirect you to Jeep’s website for specifics like Quadra lift air suspension, ventilated rear seats, wireless phone charging LED lights, 21-inch wheels, surround view camera, and the awesomely capable Quadra Trac II 4x4 system with Selec-Terrain.  

What I can tell you is just how well the Grand Cherokee behaves on our third world country roads and our paradisical lifestyles.

If you tow a boat, frequent the rugby with your mates, hit the alpine ski resorts, visit the Coromandel beach spots, fly gliders or aeroplanes, visit the theatre, or entertainment venues with low ceilinged parking structures, go camping, glamping or scampering, the Grand Cherokee Overland is the only vehicle you really need.

Oh, and for those times when you need to get to work, do the shopping, take the kids to school and all those mundane things we all have to do, the Grand Cherokee delivers here too, but gives a significant point of difference from the other SUVs by virtue of two things: one, it’s a Jeep and two: although it is Grand by title and in specification, it doesn’t make you feel like a Grand… stander.

There is – and this sounds a bit weird – an unusual sense of unpretentiousness which comes with the 2023 Grand Cherokee. It’s a damn nice truck, but not one to antagonise others less fortunate.

Now Boss, about that pay rise. I’ve got a very good business case for you…