Jeep India is finally is official in business after making us wait for nearly three years with numerous indications of launching their iconic SUVs in the country. The Italian-owned American automaker has entered the Indian car market with the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited priced at ₹ 71.59 lakh, the Grand Cherokee that starts at ₹ 93.64 lakh for the Limited variant, and ₹ 1.03 crore for the more premium Grand Cherokee Summit. To keep the enthusiasts happy, Jeep has also launched the range-topping Grand Cherokee SRT that comes with a massive V8 engine and a massive price tag of ₹ 1.12 crore (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi). Clearly, the American automaker planned to shock us with its prices.

Now, we would have expected Jeep India to launch their cars in a typically muddy or off-road setting, which is synonymous to Jeep as a brand but instead, the American SUV manufacturer has chosen the luxurious setting of the city of Jodhpur for its launch. This signifies that the Jeep brand wants to appeal to not only the enthusiast and the average joe who wants a buff and aggressive looking SUV but also to the discerning luxury car customer that yearns for something different yet value based.

Jeep India SUV Range

Coming back to the cars, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited gets 4-cylinder, 2.8-litre engine that makes 200bhp of peak power and 460Nm of torque. It also gets a mechanical four-wheel-dive setup with diff-locks and off-road spec tyres that add to its capability. We even drove the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited recently and were left impressed by the off-roader's capabilities.

The more versatile diesel-powered Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, gets a 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine that makes 240bhp and returns 12.8km/l. The range-topping Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT gets a 6.4-litre HEMI V8 that pumps out 470bhp. Although the Wrangler is a more iconic car, the modern Jeep buyer in India will prefer the likes of the Grand Cherokee because of its more modern and yet very SUV-esque design and styling. The interior of the Grand Cherokee too is much better and so are the features the car offers.

Jeep India's s first dealership is already operational and has been setup in Ahmedabad followed by more standalone dealerships in Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi among others. Jeep's next phase of expansion in the coming months will be to open a total of 10 dealerships in order to get in the numbers required. Fiat India CEO, Kevin Flynn also said that Jeep wants to focus on after sales and service for the SUVs. The company also been homologating petrol engines in the country and India will get the gasoline powered Jeeps starting November 2017.

In the future, Jeep India will start CKD or assembly operations in India for its C-SUV, which will debut globally soon, and the Renegade. The company has invested $280 million in the Ranjangaon plant near Pune and has confirmed that the first India-made Jeep will come in 2017. All in all, Jeep's entry into India is much welcome but they should ensure a robust dealership and after-sales network if they intend to make a mark in the luxury SUV segment in the country.



Jeep India Prices:

Model Amount (Ex-showroom, Delhi) Jeep Wrangler Unlimited ₹ 71,59,104 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited ₹ 93,64,527 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ₹ 1,03,39,919 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT ₹ 1,12,07,825

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