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SUV를 타면 신경 쓰이는 게 한 두 가지가 아니다.
일단, 치마라도 입은 날에는 올라탈 때 신경 쓰이고 내려올 때는 민망한 상황이 늘 연출된다. 또, 대부분이 디젤이라 엔진소리는 시끄럽고, 지하주차장에 입차 할 때마다 혹시나 차 후드 다 긁어놓는 게 아닐까 하는 걱정에 나도 모르게 고개를 한껏 숙인 채 운전하게 된다. 이런 나를 보면서 그 마음 다 안다는 듯이 씩 웃고 지나가는 상대 SUV 운전자도 있었다.
이번에 시승한 지프의 그랜드 체로키 오버랜드 써밋은 이런 SUV에 대한 나의 생각을 바꿔놨다.
일단 엔진이 믿을 수 없을 만큼 조용했다. 그 비결은 가변식 터보 차저와 디젤미립자 필터에 있다고 한다. 사실 엔진이 V6 3.0 리터 터보라는 점을 감안하면, 복합 연료가 9-10 키로 정도 나오기 어렵지만 가능한 이유도 여기에 있었다.
또 하나, 내게는 정말 편리했던 기능이 콰드라 리프트 (Quadra Lift) 였다. 지하주차장이 유난히 낮은 집 주차장에 입차하기 직전에 파킹모드로 전환하면 서스펜션이 유연하게 하강한다. 오프로드에서는 최대 30센티미터까지 다시 차체를 올릴 수도 있다.
고백하건대, 이 차를 몰고 멀리 가볼 기회는 없었다. 요즘 누가 SUV를 오프로드 때문에 구입하느냐고 속으로는 생각하지만, 그래도 한번 제대로 밟아보지 못한 점이 못내 아쉬웠다. 눈길도 밟아볼 기회가 없었으니, 사륜 구동의 참 맛을 알기는 어려웠지만, 사륜구동의 강점이야 모두들 알고 있을 테니.
내가 느꼈던 그랜드 체로키의 가장 큰 강점은, 가장 오래된 SUV브랜드로서의 중후함을 잃지 않으면서도 도시 드라이빙에 맞는 모던함을 더했다는 점이다. 즉, 오프로드이든 도시든 모든 도로사정을 만족시키는 세련된 SUV로 재탄생 한 것이다.
이런 절묘한 결합이야말로 지프가 전세계적으로 꾸준히 팔려나가는 까닭이다. 작년에 그랜드 체로키는 22만대가 조금 넘게 판매됐다.
외모 역시 그 어떤 SUV—레인지 로버는 예외로 하자—보다 멋지다. 거대한 타이어와 크롬 트림, 그리고 특유의 메쉬 그릴이 어우러져 남성미를 한껏 뿜어내는가 하면 내부 가죽은 스티칭이 무척 매력적이다. 결정적으로 넓은 뒷좌석은 “SUV는 (의외로) 혼자 타는 차다”라는 인식도 확 바꿔주었다. (코리아 헤럴드 김지현 기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
Grand Cherokee gives new class to SUVs
By Kim Ji-hyun
I dislike SUVs. That’s something I’ve realized test-driving a string of cars these past few months.
First of all, they are physically challenging. I have to literally clamber up behind the wheel. Another reason I don’t like them is because I feel I’m about to scrape off the hood whenever I drive into an underground car park. Third and not least, because they are usually diesels, the loud purr of their engines really gets to me.
But I must say, the Grand Cherokee from Jeep was a game changer.
They are, I am told, one of the first SUVs in the world, with the modern versions tweaked and upgraded to now handle both off and on-road conditions.
As always, it all started in the looks department, as the Overland Summit model I drove scored deliciously high. All black and chrome, it stood majestically, even in the most pathetic excuse for a parking lot.
The interior was equally cool, with the stitched leather oozing class, while the rear leg space was extended and now easily fitted three in the back.
I also felt empowered by the testosterone-boosting appearance, which gave me confidence that I can navigate through the crazy Seoul traffic without being bullied by men who still tend to look down on us females, despite that we may actually be better drivers.
The engine, co-developed with Fiat, is a V6 3.0liter turbo built to be environmentally friendly, but with 241 horsepower, is uncompromising in speed and power. Fuel efficiency was also commendable, at around 9 to 10 kilometers in the city area, which is fair enough and at the top in its size segment.
For me, the Quadra-Lift was one of the best added features. It basically lets you control the suspension to lift the car higher by hitting a button, then sinking it back in parking mode.
Because my garage ceiling is lower than others, I loved it, not to mention that it was huge fun to feel the car bouncing up over 10 inches to “rock-climbing height” in under a minute.
I confess, I didn’t have a chance to put my Jeep off-road so I couldn’t try the excellence of the four-wheel Quadra Drive II system, but let’s be honest, who really drives an SUV for that anymore?
It’s all about being smooth enough to ride on-road, while knowing that it can also handle the tougher conditions. Besides, I have faith in the Selec-Terrain system to pick and choose from five different driving modes.
I give the Grand Cherokee Overland Summit a 4.5 out of 5 for being an SUV that’s both functional and sexy. Prices are not too bad either, at 76 million won, which is significantly cheaper than a Range Rover. jemmie@heraldcorp.com">(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)
Grand Cherokee gives new class to SUVs
By Kim Ji-hyun
I dislike SUVs. That’s something I’ve realized test-driving a string of cars these past few months.
First of all, they are physically challenging. I have to literally clamber up behind the wheel. Another reason I don’t like them is because I feel I’m about to scrape off the hood whenever I drive into an underground car park. Third and not least, because they are usually diesels, the loud purr of their engines really gets to me.
But I must say, the Grand Cherokee from Jeep was a game changer.
They are, I am told, one of the first SUVs in the world, with the modern versions tweaked and upgraded to now handle both off and on-road conditions.
As always, it all started in the looks department, as the Overland Summit model I drove scored deliciously high. All black and chrome, it stood majestically, even in the most pathetic excuse for a parking lot.
The interior was equally cool, with the stitched leather oozing class, while the rear leg space was extended and now easily fitted three in the back.
I also felt empowered by the testosterone-boosting appearance, which gave me confidence that I can navigate through the crazy Seoul traffic without being bullied by men who still tend to look down on us females, despite that we may actually be better drivers.
The engine, co-developed with Fiat, is a V6 3.0liter turbo built to be environmentally friendly, but with 241 horsepower, is uncompromising in speed and power. Fuel efficiency was also commendable, at around 9 to 10 kilometers in the city area, which is fair enough and at the top in its size segment.
For me, the Quadra-Lift was one of the best added features. It basically lets you control the suspension to lift the car higher by hitting a button, then sinking it back in parking mode.
Because my garage ceiling is lower than others, I loved it, not to mention that it was huge fun to feel the car bouncing up over 10 inches to “rock-climbing height” in under a minute.
I confess, I didn’t have a chance to put my Jeep off-road so I couldn’t try the excellence of the four-wheel Quadra Drive II system, but let’s be honest, who really drives an SUV for that anymore?
It’s all about being smooth enough to ride on-road, while knowing that it can also handle the tougher conditions. Besides, I have faith in the Selec-Terrain system to pick and choose from five different driving modes.
I give the Grand Cherokee Overland Summit a 4.5 out of 5 for being an SUV that’s both functional and sexy. Prices are not too bad either, at 76 million won, which is significantly cheaper than a Range Rover. jemmie@heraldcorp.com">(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)
