Los Angeles A Tesla on every other block in Beverly Hills or Malibu and so many autonomous cars on the streets between San Francisco and Mountain View that hardly anyone turns to look: the times when Detroit set the tone in the US market, may be over. But the Big Three from Michigan shouldn’t be written off for that reason.
Even though more and more drivers are crossing over to Generation E and asking for high-tech features, most Americans still buy fairly conventionally and, if not for a pickup truck, then at least for an SUV. And nobody can fool Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.
The three big ones from the north-east have proven this again in recent months with a series of new models. As different as the Ford Bronco, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cadillac Escalade may be, they all have one thing in common: they are extremely successful.
The is particularly popular these days Ford Bronco, for which new customers have to wait longer than for any Tesla. But the Bronco fans are used to waiting, after all they have taken a good 25 years in Detroit since the end of production in 1996 before they again send a character head into the race against cars like the Jeep Wrangler or the Land Rover Defender.
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And the wait was worth it. In the basic version not even 30,000 dollars expensive, the Bronco is the Mustang for the rough and not only looks like the mother of all muscle cars, but is also at least as much fun. Only not on a pass road, but in the pampa.
In the basic version not even 30,000 dollars expensive, the Bronco is the Mustang for the rough.
At the latest with the activated all-wheel drive, the off-road driving programs and the manually activated locks, the Bronco knows no stopping in the desert, in the snow or mud and scrambles over steep slopes as nimbly as a mountain goat. The driving force is either the 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder, which we know from the Mustang, or a V6 with 2.7 liters, which also makes a turbo pressure.
But regardless of whether it has 270 or 310 hp: the Bronco is not a racing car. Even the V6, in combination with the 10-speed automatic, prefers a leisurely trot and can only be driven with difficulty over 160 things on asphalt. But if you want to mill through the curves, you should drive a Mustang.
The fact that the car looks like Playmobil and is also largely made of plastic on the inside fits perfectly. After all, you can easily clean the Bronco with the Kärcher and convert it yourself like a toy car: a few simple steps are all it takes for the roof and side panels to fall down like a beach beauty in her bathrobe, and a few minutes later the doors are even removed. Leisure time and adventure cannot be enjoyed much more freely.
If all this goes too far, Ford also has an alternative in its range. In addition to the classic Bronco with three and five doors, there is also a Bronco Sport. But it not only uses a different platform, it is also quite soft in other respects – and therefore only one SUV among many.
Jeep Grand Cherokee – the chief among the Indians
One among many – that also applied to the recently Jeep Grand Cherokee, which in the field of luxury SUVs could hardly assert itself against cars like the Mercedes GLE or the BMW X5. But as of last fall, the chief of the Indians is back – and is proving greater than ever. You can take that literally, because the flagship of the most successful Stellantis subsidiary is now also available in an XL version with a third row of seats, which successfully defends itself against the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7.
And that applies in a figurative sense, because the Jeep has gained a lot of finesse in terms of ambience and tuning: the digital cockpit and the huge tablet next to it are embedded in a luxury landscape that finally looks more like premium than plastic. The seats offer more comfort than any recliner chair, which is really saying something for American TV furniture.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee is bigger than ever.
The digital cockpit and the huge tablet next to it are embedded in a luxury landscape that finally looks more premium than plastic
The equipment is state-of-the-art with video mirrors, camera surveillance for the offspring or a fairly autonomous motorway pilot. The optional air-sprung chassis irons out even the worst negligence of the road builders generously and without complaint. In any case, there is not much missing here for the “Magic Carpet Ride” that the luxurious English people otherwise promise us.
Only in one discipline does the new Grand Cherokee continue to bake small rolls: With a starting price of less than 40,000 dollars, it remains far below most of its competitors, especially those from Europe. Design, platform, equipment is all new – only with the engines do the Americans rely on engines that are as old as they are tried and tested, at least for the start.
You can take that literally, because the flagship of the most successful Stellantis daughter is now also available in an XL version with a third row of seats.
It starts with a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 with 290 hp and the wonderfully old-fashioned 5.7-liter V8, which also produces a solid 357 hp without the Hemi tuning. In addition, Jeep promises an electrified plug-in version, which should also account for the lion’s share of sales in Europe.
How proud Jeep is of the Grand Cherokee and how important the Americans are to their top model is shown not only by the great effort involved in the generational change, but also by the chief’s new home. Because it is being built in the first new car factory to open in Motorcity Detroit in the last 30 years.
Chevrolet Escalade – the baddest thing from GM
Third in the group is the Cadillac Escalade, which for the Americans is something like an S-Class for us. Not only rich self-drivers appreciate the huge space and the big impression that this Big Mac in a tuxedo makes at the right of way. Many company bosses prefer to be chauffeured to the office in the individual armchairs in the back of this giant than in a limousine, not to mention hotel guests and other VIPs in the shuttle service.
The fact that you have to dig deep into your pocket and invest at least 77,000 dollars does not detract from the success. In the struggle with the other luxury SUVs, GM’s biggest thing got an even swankier design with an even bigger grille and even more flashy headlights – and a bigger size.
In a struggle with the other luxury SUVs, GM’s biggest thing has an even swankier design with an even larger grille.
(Photo: press photo)
While the technology is rather conventional, the Americans are going on the offensive when it comes to equipment: They claim the first digital cockpit with curved OLED displays.
(Photo: press photo)
Although the standard version has already been stretched to 5.38 meters and is still available with an extended wheelbase, thanks to a new platform the car is almost three hundredweight lighter and correspondingly more economical.
A new engine variant also fits in with this, which is not without a certain irony: because while the Americans basically got rid of diesel at German manufacturers when they uncovered the VW scandal, they are now developing a taste for diesel engines in their own cars and above all enjoy the huge range: In addition to the traditional V8 petrol engine with 6.2 liters displacement and 420 hp and of course a performance variant, there is now for the first time a V6 diesel with 277 hp, which is perfect for leisurely cruising the endlessly wide highways.
Coupled as standard with a ten-speed automatic transmission, the rear axle is driven first. For a surcharge, the Escalade is also available as an all-wheel drive vehicle. While the technology is rather conventional, the Americans are going on the offensive when it comes to equipment: They claim the first digital cockpit with curved OLED displays, mount up to 36 loudspeakers around the six individual seats, expand the navigation with augmented reality solutions and are incorporating their Super Cruise highway pilot, which allows minutes of hands-free driving on specially mapped roads.
The Escalade is available with up to six seats.
(Photo: press photo)
Here the shirt-sleeved Bronco, there the posh Grand Cherokee and there the feudal Escalade – of course there are more modern cars than these SUV innovations, even if Ford is already talking about an electric version and the other two off-road vehicles are at least getting a plug.
But that doesn’t detract from sales. Because each of the three sells better in the USA than all Tesla, Lucid & Co together and it is not without reason that fans of the American Way of Drive on this side of the Atlantic are longing for the imminent export release. They don’t have to wait much longer for that: Jeep and Cadillac are promised the road to the old world for this year and Ford’s decision is only a matter of time.
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