A Lad’s Weekend Away in the Jeep Grand Cherokee

Friday nights in Sydney are a complete bust, let alone one that involves school holiday shenanigans. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland brings a spot of mid-range glamour to a little light off-roading. As so often happens, a gaggle of gays gathered, going gaga for the grand dame of off-roaders, the Grand Cherokee.

We turned onto freeway, where the air suspension made all 4 of us feel rather regal. A few hours in the saddle made for some fascinating observations. First of all, no one had a bitchy thing to say, not a one. That hasn’t happened since, well, ever.

Although mid-week temps had been as hot as hades, the weekend saw fires on at the Cottages. In between, 2 hours of driving one of the nicest off-roaders, on-road, was delicious. Normally you get one or t’other, but Grand Cherokee feels properly lush. Don’t hate on me, but the Grand Cherokee Overland feels much like a Range Rover Vogue, for half the price.

The new model release started with the slightly out-of-kilter 7-seater “L”. The 5-seater has more elegant proportions, yet has all the same stuff crammed into it.

The evening ended with mulled wine, and big German sausage, around the fire pit fit for kings, or in this case, queens. 5 cottages form a tiny village green with a fab fire pit made by a local blacksmith. And before you ask Smithy is HOT AF.

Ahead of the full review, the boys put in their ten cents worth:

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ABOVE: 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Ethan:

Max and I were already at the now-rechristened “Village Common”. The cottages are still named for famous beats AKA cruise spots, but now focus on the luscious grassy knoll. It sits in the middle of a circular drive, complete with well, fire pit, and seating hewn by fit flannelled fellas from local logs, sans splinters of course.

Max lives here full time now, but joins us in the compound, driving down from the big house in his series 1 Landy. The Ford Ranger bit the dust, and since his mum’s Pagoda hadn’t been out in a while, so we took that for a thrash, then drove her back to the compound.

But, I digress.

It is tradition that upon arrival, we decamp to the old tree on the hill about a kilometre away. We take champers a smelly cheese to toast the outgoing week. This time, all 6 of us crammed in to the (5-seat) Grand Cherokee Overland, and since it is all private property, those of us who hadn’t driven the jeep, rode in the back, with one in the boot. That’s always fun.

The road up the hill hasn’t been well kept, and is now little better than a goat track. It was nice not to do it a bush-basher that bottoms out, for a change. I don’t mind some bottom action, but on my terms, please! Even on that hideous rutted monstrosity, the Grand Cherokee Overland felt rather bougy, in a good way.

Max:

Eth and I hang out at the farm a lot. Eth loves to get his hands on rough stuff, and the farm has oodles of it. We don’t let him anywhere near the vines, but we’ve carved up tracks over the hills that would pass as a decent S.A.S. survival training facility. Eth fancies himself in camo, but I do not share his fancy, handsome as he is.

The Grand Cherokee Overland ate up the track “up the hill.” Parts of it a now eroded thanks to the rains last year, something I must get around to running the grader over.

We did in the a suitable off-road mode, taking it nice and slow. Whoever holds the champers has to keep if from getting all-shook-up. It becomes a thing. That person gets an extra glass, so, you know, gays love a drink, right?

Grand Cherokee Overland was gorgeous to drive, even a short bit.

Travis:

We did half hour’s swaps so we all got a go. Grand Cherokee Overland is right up my street. Its big, its butch, and that V6 sounds fab. A diesel would be better on the juice, but, economy-schmonomy.

You waft down the freeway in limo-like splendour, with all 4 of us having our own climate zones. Oh, that sound system is sensational. Driver gets dibs, so we re-paired the wireless CarPlay each driver swap, and I’ve just had a nasty bust-up, so its Olivia Newton John for me.

The steering feels a bit soulless, but you know the old girl is going where you point it. When you stop, she kneels down before you, making getting out of such a beast nothing more than a mere step.

Luke:

I just wanted to stomp on it to hear that beautiful engine. It does horrible things to your credit card at the pump, but you can be more frugal if that’s your thing.

We all leave clothes at the Common now, so the only stuff we take in the car with us, are goodies of the edible kind (one way or the other….. wink-wink). We packed the Grand Cherokee Overland with a ton of non-perishables, because we get out meat locally. I love local meat, especially if it has been well hung. A 6-week side of beef is best.

OH, GROW UP! Get your mind out of the gutter.

There is a man in the town that does a very nice German sausage. Max had a big batch delivered in time for a fire-pit sesh.

The picture could not have been more bucolic: 6 lads perched on log seating around the fire pit, each forking a sausage to perfection. Much mulled wine made its way into the night as we sat, plates on blankied knees, huddled together, smoke curling towards the stars. The Overland made it into all the pics. FYI, the pics are for our private socials only😉

Charlie:

Heading up the Common with mates is better than hitting up randos on Grindr, right? We all got to have a steer of the Grand Cherokee Overland, and man o man, what a fecken beast of a thing.

Max has a Range Rover that felt like crap by comparison. Besides, there was that time we got locked in and had to climb out the rear hatch. Oh how we laughed, NOT. 4 grand a corner to fix the Autobiography which was under warranty. Max rid himself of that boat anchor before the warranty ran out, never to darken his door again.

The Jeep ate up the K’s like my gran and a buffet. Thankfully the Grand Cherokee doesn’t elbow people out of the way like gran does. Don’t stand between a pensioner and food, ever.

I drove the last leg through town, and on out to the farm. The road is like a preppy hazing ritual. In most cars, you’re tossed like a salad at speeds much over walking pace. The ruts eat buses for breakfast, and there are potholes big enough for their own post codes.

The Grand Cherokee Overland cruised over the dips and bumps like one of those 60’s Citroën DS’s. The wheels are dancing disco down below, while the peeps inside sip their tepid tea.

Usually, 4 of us in one car is a bust. We are all tall, except short-arse Luke, so the car is all full of legs, which is not as fun as it sounds. The Jeep though, was fabulously generous, and I can see why Americans like them. Mind you, I’ve seen American meals, so I’m not surprised they like huge cars.

Alan:

The 5-seater Grand Cherokee has 4 trim levels, with Overland as second to top. Only the Hybrid Summit gets more gear.

The Grand Cherokee Overland is not cheap, so I expected a properly posh cabin to match the properly posh metalwork outside. Normally I’d say an American’s idea of luxury is not my style, but the Grand Cherokee feels tasteful, classic, classy, and above all, comfortable.

Nappa leather really gets my juices going, and there are acres of it. A hundred cows must have laid down their lives so our bums could be toasty warm in real style. The seats are cooled as well, but we haven’t had much call for it of late.

I like the 7-seat L, but the lines of the 5-seater look perfect. The front end is my idea of a decent look on a huge car, without the grille trying to eat the rest of the car. It somehow makes the huge SUV look quite svelte. I like svelte.

The V6 is thirsty, even with that sublime 8-speed automatic. It is one car where I’d leave the stop/start switched on, where every penny counts.

Country driving is utter bliss. She gets a bit of a roll-up in tight corners, so, take your time. Life is too short not to enjoy every single bend and the vistas beyond.

Our full review comes soon.

Other GayCarBoys SUV Stories:

 

Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.

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