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There are plus points. I like the way the new Grand Cherokee looks, having felt that its predecessors were becoming too bulky (and don't get me started on what I think about the smaller, non-Grand Cherokee's appearance). This one manages to look almost sleek in a way you might not believe possible of a car with such chunky lines and sharp angles.

Equipment levels are high, and if you want them higher on the CRD you should go for the Limited specification which is standard on the V8s but an option here that takes the price beyond £30,000. The extra equipment includes a tyre pressure monitor, higher-spec alloy wheels (still 7.5x17" though), multi-function door mirrors, rear park assist, dual zone air-conditioning, an auto-dimming interior mirror and leather trim.

The Grand is practical, too, with 978 litres of luggage volume when the rear seat is up, 1909 litres when it's down and a towing capacity of over three tonnes. Jeeps have always been pretty good off-road, too, though you wouldn't want to take the Grand over tracks which would give a Discovery pause for thought.

But who would do that anyway? The vast majority of Grand Cherokee owners surely want a car that works well on the road, and the CRD - despite that superb engine - simply doesn't.

Price: £32,895
Capacity: 2987cc
Power: 215bhp
0-62mph: 9.0 seconds
Maximum speed: 124mph
Economy: 32.8mpg extra urban, 27.7mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 270g/km
Towing capacity: 3360kg braked
Jeep figures.

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