Jeep® Recently Expands Its Japanese Portfolio With Two New Vehicles!

Recently, the Jeep® brand held a special unveiling for the Japanese market at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo, Japan. The unveiling presented two key products in the American adventure brand’s global portfolio: the two-row Grand Cherokee E-segment SUV and the three-row Commander D-segment SUV.

Outside the event, Jeep had four vehicles on display, a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve 4×4, a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4×4, a 2022 Jeep Commander Limited 4×4, and a 2022 Jeep Compass Limited 4×4. The official unveiling was held inside the 2nd-floor basement of the Earth Gallery. 

Unveiled under a skeletal specimen of a giant creature that once inhabited this planet hanging from the ceiling, the Commander and Grand Cherokee were presented by a number of important figures from within Stellantis. 

“We chose this place to show the similarities between the creatures that have evolved over a long period of time and the Jeep, whose lineage has evolved over time,” stated Pontus Hegström, CEO and CEO of Stellantis Japan.

Jeep has been eagerly expanding in the Japanese market over the past year. The 2022 model year, started with the introduction of the three-row Grand Cherokee L and was followed up with the launch of the Jeep Gladiator in the second quarter. Those launches were still held virtually as pandemic restrictions were still in place at the time. The unveiling of the Commander and Grand Cherokee was the first in-person introduction for the brand in the market in a long time.

Hegström concluded his remarks by stating, “The dinosaurs are extinct, but the Jeep continues to evolve.”

Commander – 

Based on the same architecture as the current Renegade and Compass, the Japanese market Commander is produced at the Ranjangaon Assembly Plant just outside of Pune, India.

While much of the interior design is carried over from the popular Compass, the Commander features its own unique exterior bodywork to allow a third row and the capability to carry up to 7-passengers. Aimed at being more of a premium offering in the portfolio, the Commander is only available in Limited trim for the Japanese market.

When it comes to power, the Japanese-spec Commander is only available in one configuration. A FIAT-produced 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder turbodiesel engine produces 168 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. (350 N⋅m) of torque. It’s mated to a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering smooth shifting and maximum efficiency thanks to Engine Stop/Start capability. 

Commander is equipped with Jeep Active Drive four-wheel drive (4×4) and Jeep’s signature Selec-Terrain™ system. An electronically controlled power transfer unit (PTU) switches between front-wheel drive (4×2) and 4×4 at any speed. Yaw correction controls the tilt of the vehicle, automatically, ensuring constant stability. In addition, Commander is equipped with brake traction control that distributes torque in a well-balanced manner according to the situation. 

Selec-Terrain achieves driving stability in all conditions by linking 12 types of vehicle management systems, including throttle control, transmission shifting, transfer case, and traction control. The driver can use a center console-mounted toggle switch to engage between three modes: “SAND/MUD”, “SNOW” and “AUTO”.

The Commander has a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of ¥5,970,000 (or about $43,541.90 USD).

Grand Cherokee – 

The most-awarded SUV ever now has a full lineup in the Japanese market thanks to the addition of the two-row Grand Cherokee. Following in the footsteps of the third-row Grand Cherokee L, the 5-passenger model will offer three different configurations for customers to choose from.

The first model is the Pentastar V6-powered Limited model. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is rated at 293 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. (354 N⋅m) of torque. The Pentastar has a towing rating of up to 6,200 lbs. (2,812 kg) and an estimated class-leading driving range of more than 500 miles (805 km). An 8-speed automatic makes sure that power from the V6 is distributed to the wheels smoothly.

The second and third choices are made up of the Grand Cherokee 4xe lineup. The Grand Cherokee 4xe The 4xe propulsion system combines two electric motors, a 400-volt battery pack, a 2.0-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, and TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission for maximum efficiency and capability. Overall, the 4xe system delivers 375 horsepower (280 kW) and 470 lb.-ft. (637 N⋅m) of torque.

The Limited 4xe model features standard Capri leather seats and several premium convenience features, including a 10.25-inch front passenger interactive display, Uconnect 5 Navigation with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a power 8-way driver seat with memory, a power 4-way driver/front-passenger lumbar adjuster with memory, heated steering wheel, heated seats in the first and second rows with three-level configurable controls for personalized passenger comfort, 506-watt nine-speaker Alpine audio system and single-color ambient interior lighting for the instrument panel and front and rear doors. 

Limited 4xe also comes equipped with ample standard safety and security features, including Full-speed Collision Warning with active brake and pedestrian/cyclist detection, Rear Cross Path detection, adaptive cruise control, active lane management, lane departure warning, advanced brake assist, Blind-spot Monitoring, rear park assist sensors, passive entry, automatic headlamps, daytime running LED reflector headlamps and LED taillamps.

Those looking for more luxury can opt for the Summit Reserve 4xe. The Summit Reserve sets the benchmark for luxury, with premium quilted Palermo leather, ventilated front and second-row seats, and memory and massage front seats. Also unique to the Summit Reserve Package are genuine open-pore Waxed Walnut wood and premium, wrapped, suede-like fabric on the A-pillars and headliner. Standard on Grand Cherokee 4xe with the Summit Reserve Package are 21-inch wheels.

Pricing for the Japanese-spec Grand Cherokee two-row models goes as follows:

• Grand Cherokee Limited – starting MSRP of ¥8,920,000 (or about $65,066.94 USD)
• Grand Cherokee Limited 4xe – starting MSRP of ¥10,370,000 (or about $75,643.97 USD)
• Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe – starting MSRP of ¥12,270,000 (or $89,503.52 USD)

Both the Grand Cherokee and Commander are now available in Japanese showrooms. They join the Renegade, Renegade 4xe, Compass, Gladiator, Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe, and Grand Cherokee L.