The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is no longer available in the US with air suspension, another victim of semi-conductor chip shortages.
Mopar Insiders reports the Quadra-Lift air suspension option has been removed.
“Chip constraints have necessitated some changes to available equipment on the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. If a vehicle was built without the equipment, the U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) was adjusted accordingly to reflect a reduction in overall cost”, a Jeep spokesperson told the outlet.
The company hasn’t advised when the option will be available to order again.
We’ve contacted Jeep Australia to confirm if local models will also be affected.
Buyers who purchased one of these Grand Cherokee L models in the US will now get a US$750 credit.
The feature was standard on the Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve models.
All three trim levels will be available in Australia along with an entry-level Limited when the Grand Cherokee L launches here in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Jeep has yet to reveal pricing and specifications for the new range, though an entry in the Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS) database revealed the model range.
The Grand Cherokee L will be the first in this series to offer seven seats, though six seats will be available in the Summit and Summit Reserve.
The RVCS entry included no mention of the naturally-aspirated 5.7-litre petrol V8 engine available in the US, listing only the naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6.
Jeep Australia has confirmed a 4xe plug-in hybrid model is coming in the first quarter of 2022, effectively replacing the current V6 diesel option.
The company has long offered air suspension in the Grand Cherokee, a relative rarity at this end of the market. The outgoing WK2 Grand Cherokee offers Quadra-Lift in Trailhawk and S-Overland guises.
Quadra-Lift features electronic adaptive damping and four-corner air springs.
In the new Grand Cherokee L, you can choose between multiple ride heights and there’s an additional 106mm of lift compared to the WK2.
In the default mode, it offers 212mm of ground clearance. Off-Road 1 mode lifts the vehicle by 40mm, while Off-Road 2 mode raises it an additional 60mm for a total of 609mm of wading depth.
There’s also a Park mode that lowers it by 46mm compared to the default to help you unload passengers and cargo, while Aero mode lowers the car by 21mm from the default mode and is automatically selected when you put the car in the Sport drive mode.
The Grand Cherokee L is considerably larger than the current Grand Cherokee, measuring 5202mm long, 1979mm wide, 1813mm tall and riding a 3092mm wheelbase.
The current Grand Cherokee is 4828mm long, 1943mm wide and 1802mm tall in mainstream variants.
Pictured: ‘regular-length’ Grand Cherokee 4xe
There’ll be a ‘regular-length’ version of the new Grand Cherokee, however. It’s set to arrive in the first quarter of 2022 in both petrol and 4xe plug-in hybrid guises.
All Grand Cherokee models have shifted to a new platform, which has been designed to be stiffer, lighter, and subsequently more efficient and safer than before.
The new Grand Cherokee L has also been tested locally, with Jeep engineers developing a bespoke suspension tune.
