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I wanted to give a quick review of my top optioned Summit and my take on it.
Finding a true Luxury SUV in a world of crossovers is hard these days and the choices are diminishing with each evolution. I dont want a behemoth 3 row SUV nor do I want a compact SUV that the crossovers have invaded like the Q5, etc...
I have owned so many Jeep GC over the years but always had a German luxury car to accompany it with. A luxury German car is not necessary now that Jeep has gone full in at the high end luxury SUV market yet still keeping the GC available at different price points. My latest Summit edition has replaced my Audi A8 as our family car.
Grand Cherokees were always a very luxurious Jeep but the new Summit with the optional Signature Laguna leather raises the luxury level by a factor of 10, way surpassing anything in the Chrysler fleet. Easily bettering the optional leather I have had in German vehicles costing $140k+ (no joking) the leather is that good.
After owning many Audi's, RR, and MB, I can't believe how serious Jeep is at targeting the ultra luxury SUV demographic.
The Q7 was very ordinary in comparison and even loaded out lacked some amenities the Summit offered. The Q7 power was also uninspiring compared to the grunt of the Hemi with the ZF 8 speed. I want muscle in my luxo SUV and the shifts are seamless going up our mountain roads. When all the other luxury SUV's are going with a v6 turbo, I am sooo glad the Summit has a genuine V8 Hemi with low end torque.
My particular Summit is loaded out with every option available. This includes the California Platinum package, Signature leather, rear Blu-Ray, Hemi,Skids plates,hitch, etc..
The interior of the Summit is not just covered everywhere in leather but with the finest quality of leather. Even the air bags, lower dash, door panels,etc are covered in fine napa leather. The Seats are butter soft in the signature Laguna leather with the diamond contrasting stitching that is seen in other high end european luxury models. The coach work and stitching are perfection. (Kudos Jeep)
Pics dont do the Signature leather justice.
The ride is quiet with noise canceling speakers and firm/tight feeling very similar to our Audi A8. The upgraded HK audio system is outstanding and delivers excellent 7.1 surround in many types of media including movies, jazz, pop, etc.. The audio system is warm and not lacking bass. As a audio engineer that can be a bit critical with my sound systems, I find the eq set at (bass-0 mids +2, highs +4 surround on) to be idea for about any media.
One special note is that the Blu ray option can play movies in the rear and front while moving.
You can also have the kids play their movies in the rear while using the included head phones while you listen to a separate media in the cabin. A rear remote control also comes standard that works each hi-def rear screen and blu ray player only. That means they can adjust and control their media independent of what I have going on up front. I sat back their and found it very limo like with the screens and rear reclining seats. Factor in the heated seats, laminated privacy glass, full sky light and the rear seats are a very nice place to spend time at for either kids or adults.
You can also watch a small reduced screen of what is playing in the rear while listening to a separate media.
I find the Uconnect design leaps more intuitive than the Audi MMI system. Ugh. The Germans always seem to be behind in technology. The MB system still has a delay and is frustratingly designed.
Uconnect with redundant hard buttons are faster and just more intuitive.
The Summit exterior lighting is a masterpiece. Exterior lighting has become a hallmark of many high end autos and Jeep doesn't take a back seat to Audi in this design. The signature Summit LED fog lights with led spots are brilliant at lighting up the sides and front of the road. So good that they could work as headlights. Factor in the signature Jeep led halo lights surrounding the adjustable bi-xenon headlights and you have enough light to catch the bumper on fire of the car in front of you.
The face of the GC is aggressive and unique to Jeep and I just love it. Go USA.
Another factor that is a requirement for a high end luxo SUV is the techno gadgets and they are all there on the Summit. I have not tried the self park feature yet but the lane assist works great. Rear back-up camera on demand is also a great feature. Front and rear seats heat up hot and fast as well as the steering wheel. Certainly more safety gadgets than I will ever use. The auto lowering of the air suspension when exiting is a sweet feature.
My particular Summit has the optional Ivory Tri-coat pearl. It has great depth without looking too dirty/beige like many white pearl can. It pops in the sun. I did a full multi step detail/wax job to inspect it and it seems about perfect. I am also a concourse judge with my local Porsche Club of America so I am very ocd with condition and a proper detail has to be done on a new vehicle. The 20" optional platinum wheels are a very nice design without any plastic covers and the lugs are polished SS.
Over all I think Jeep hit its mark with this Summit and will be well received in the upper luxo SUV market. There isnt any true luxo SUV's in this perfect upper mid size. It certainly has a higher build quality feel in and out than the Escalade yet it still has its DNA of Jeep and off road prowess. Word is the Grand Wagoneer will be the 3 row luxo SUV and with this high end of materials and build quality will do well in that market size.
I wanted to give a quick review of my top optioned Summit and my take on it.
Finding a true Luxury SUV in a world of crossovers is hard these days and the choices are diminishing with each evolution. I dont want a behemoth 3 row SUV nor do I want a compact SUV that the crossovers have invaded like the Q5, etc...
I have owned so many Jeep GC over the years but always had a German luxury car to accompany it with. A luxury German car is not necessary now that Jeep has gone full in at the high end luxury SUV market yet still keeping the GC available at different price points. My latest Summit edition has replaced my Audi A8 as our family car.
Grand Cherokees were always a very luxurious Jeep but the new Summit with the optional Signature Laguna leather raises the luxury level by a factor of 10, way surpassing anything in the Chrysler fleet. Easily bettering the optional leather I have had in German vehicles costing $140k+ (no joking) the leather is that good.
After owning many Audi's, RR, and MB, I can't believe how serious Jeep is at targeting the ultra luxury SUV demographic.
The Q7 was very ordinary in comparison and even loaded out lacked some amenities the Summit offered. The Q7 power was also uninspiring compared to the grunt of the Hemi with the ZF 8 speed. I want muscle in my luxo SUV and the shifts are seamless going up our mountain roads. When all the other luxury SUV's are going with a v6 turbo, I am sooo glad the Summit has a genuine V8 Hemi with low end torque.
My particular Summit is loaded out with every option available. This includes the California Platinum package, Signature leather, rear Blu-Ray, Hemi,Skids plates,hitch, etc..
The interior of the Summit is not just covered everywhere in leather but with the finest quality of leather. Even the air bags, lower dash, door panels,etc are covered in fine napa leather. The Seats are butter soft in the signature Laguna leather with the diamond contrasting stitching that is seen in other high end european luxury models. The coach work and stitching are perfection. (Kudos Jeep)
Pics dont do the Signature leather justice.
The ride is quiet with noise canceling speakers and firm/tight feeling very similar to our Audi A8. The upgraded HK audio system is outstanding and delivers excellent 7.1 surround in many types of media including movies, jazz, pop, etc.. The audio system is warm and not lacking bass. As a audio engineer that can be a bit critical with my sound systems, I find the eq set at (bass-0 mids +2, highs +4 surround on) to be idea for about any media.
One special note is that the Blu ray option can play movies in the rear and front while moving.
You can also have the kids play their movies in the rear while using the included head phones while you listen to a separate media in the cabin. A rear remote control also comes standard that works each hi-def rear screen and blu ray player only. That means they can adjust and control their media independent of what I have going on up front. I sat back their and found it very limo like with the screens and rear reclining seats. Factor in the heated seats, laminated privacy glass, full sky light and the rear seats are a very nice place to spend time at for either kids or adults.
You can also watch a small reduced screen of what is playing in the rear while listening to a separate media.
I find the Uconnect design leaps more intuitive than the Audi MMI system. Ugh. The Germans always seem to be behind in technology. The MB system still has a delay and is frustratingly designed.
Uconnect with redundant hard buttons are faster and just more intuitive.
The Summit exterior lighting is a masterpiece. Exterior lighting has become a hallmark of many high end autos and Jeep doesn't take a back seat to Audi in this design. The signature Summit LED fog lights with led spots are brilliant at lighting up the sides and front of the road. So good that they could work as headlights. Factor in the signature Jeep led halo lights surrounding the adjustable bi-xenon headlights and you have enough light to catch the bumper on fire of the car in front of you.
The face of the GC is aggressive and unique to Jeep and I just love it. Go USA.
Another factor that is a requirement for a high end luxo SUV is the techno gadgets and they are all there on the Summit. I have not tried the self park feature yet but the lane assist works great. Rear back-up camera on demand is also a great feature. Front and rear seats heat up hot and fast as well as the steering wheel. Certainly more safety gadgets than I will ever use. The auto lowering of the air suspension when exiting is a sweet feature.
My particular Summit has the optional Ivory Tri-coat pearl. It has great depth without looking too dirty/beige like many white pearl can. It pops in the sun. I did a full multi step detail/wax job to inspect it and it seems about perfect. I am also a concourse judge with my local Porsche Club of America so I am very ocd with condition and a proper detail has to be done on a new vehicle. The 20" optional platinum wheels are a very nice design without any plastic covers and the lugs are polished SS.
Over all I think Jeep hit its mark with this Summit and will be well received in the upper luxo SUV market. There isnt any true luxo SUV's in this perfect upper mid size. It certainly has a higher build quality feel in and out than the Escalade yet it still has its DNA of Jeep and off road prowess. Word is the Grand Wagoneer will be the 3 row luxo SUV and with this high end of materials and build quality will do well in that market size.