A month ago, Swedish car magazine Teknikens Värld tested the Jeep Grand Cherokee with its famous "moose test," an evasive maneuver simulation. The SUV failed miserably, standing up on two wheels as it negotiated a tight turn.
Chrysler said the test was flawed, so Teknikens Värld agreed to retest the Grand Cherokee. Using a different vehicle, they got the exact same results.
Teknikens Värld included the following disclaimer in the video:
- Loaded according to Swedish certificate of registration, handed by Jeep
- Tyre pressure according to Jeep's official specifications
- Quadra-lift air suspension in Auto mode
"It's not good. It's lousy and it's dangerous." said Teknikens Värld's Linus Pröjtz, adding, "Neither rollover mitigation or electronic stability control performs as it should."
They ran the Volkswagen Toureg and Volvo XC90 though the same 43.5mph test, and both vehicles' wheels stayed firmly planted on the ground through the S-turns.
Well, there you have it. We reached out to the Jeep folks for comment, and await their reply.
UPDATE: Eric Maynes, a spokesman for Chrysler, got back to us with their side of the story. Here is what he had to say:
The wheel-lift seen in the Swedish magazine's initial evaluation of an overloaded vehicle did not recur in the second round. Chrysler Group takes seriously any safety concerns and continues to analyze data from the second evaluation.
An evaluation of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee by Germany-based magazine Auto, Motor und Sport (AMS) found the vehicle –- including its advanced safety systems –- performed successfully and as designed. The Grand Cherokee completed multiple repetitions of an evasive maneuver sometimes known as the ‘moose test' or ‘elk test.'
The maneuver was performed by an AMS driver at an automotive test site in Germany that is sanctioned by the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC). Course dimensions and layout, checked and approved by AMS, were those set out by the International Standards Organization (ISO). The result reaffirms the Grand Cherokee's place among the safest vehicles on the road today, evidenced by its listing as a "Top Safety Pick" by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety –- one of the honors that made it the most awarded SUV ever.
Photo credit: Teknikens Värld