Watch a Jeep Grand Cherokee fail Sweden's Moose Test
Posted Jul 9th 2012 1:15PM
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The Jeep Grand Cherokee has proven to be a rock-solid off-road-capable SUV with a dose of civility on public roads. But while the top Jeep has a terrific reputation and a long list of accolades, at least one model apparently didn't have the chops for the Teknikens Moose (or Elk) test over in Sweden.
The moose test is a lighting-fast emergency lane change maneuver that takes place at a relatively staid 40 mph (64 km/h). While most vehicles clear the obstacle with little fuss, the below video shows that a Grand Cherokee Overland got up on two wheels and very nearly rolled. Teknikens Värld tester Linus Pröjtz points out in the Overland model comes standard in Sweden with 20-inch wheels, rollover protection and electronic stability control.
The Swedish car magazine (translation: "World of Technology") goes on to call on Chrysler to put a stop sale on the Grand Cherokee in Sweden until this issue is addressed, and they claim Chrysler has yet to provide an explanation as to why the vehicle performed so poorly.
Here in the States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Grand Cherokee four stars, including a five-star score for side impacts. However, in rating the SUV's rollover resistance, the GC only managed three stars in rear-wheel drive configuration, while four-wheel drive models netted four stars.
Scroll down to take in the press release from Teknikens, followed by the one-minute video that shows the GC Overland going all Dukes of Hazzard.
*UPDATE: Chrysler brand fan site Allpar has published an article that alleges that the rollover test was rigged, arguing the test was conducted in an intentionally overloaded vehicle. Further, it reports that the magazine conducted the test again – with Chrysler engineers standing by – in three different Grand Cherokees correctly loaded vehicles over eleven separate runs, but they were "unable to reproduce" the wheel lift condition.
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Swedish car magazine Teknikens Värld reveals serious deficiencies in one of the best selling SUVs in the world. In the moose test the Jeep Grand Cherokee is about to roll over.
– Despite the anti-rollover system the Jeep Grand Cherokee shows potentially fatal rollover tendencies at low speed in our avoidance maneuver test, also called moose test or elk test. Such behavior is totally unacceptable in 2012, says Teknikens Värld's Linus Pröjtz.
Teknikens Värld tests hundreds of new car models every year. In our car testing the moose test is included which is our proprietary evasive maneuver test where we in a set track simulate a moose, a child or other danger suddenly running out in front of the car. The test clearly shows how well or badly the car performs in a panic situation in traffic. The moose test reveals how well the car's active safety systems – such as traction control and anti-rollover system – work.
Even at 39.5 mph (63.5 km/h) in the moose test the Jeep Grand Cherokee goes up on two wheels, in the middle of the maneuver, and surprises us greatly by being about to roll over. Exactly how high up on two wheels before our test driver has time to prevent a roll over is clearly visible in the attached image and in the movie.
– If it wasn't for our professional test driver's quick reaction the Jeep Grand Cherokee would have rolled over. The handling of the car is lethal for the average motorist, says Daniel Frodin, Editor in Chief at Teknikens Värld.
Despite nearly two weeks of communication Jeep has not provided any information or explanation for the lethal behavior of the Grand Cherokee.
– Despite the anti-rollover system the Jeep Grand Cherokee shows potentially fatal rollover tendencies at low speed in our avoidance maneuver test, also called moose test or elk test. Such behavior is totally unacceptable in 2012, says Teknikens Värld's Linus Pröjtz.
Teknikens Värld tests hundreds of new car models every year. In our car testing the moose test is included which is our proprietary evasive maneuver test where we in a set track simulate a moose, a child or other danger suddenly running out in front of the car. The test clearly shows how well or badly the car performs in a panic situation in traffic. The moose test reveals how well the car's active safety systems – such as traction control and anti-rollover system – work.
Even at 39.5 mph (63.5 km/h) in the moose test the Jeep Grand Cherokee goes up on two wheels, in the middle of the maneuver, and surprises us greatly by being about to roll over. Exactly how high up on two wheels before our test driver has time to prevent a roll over is clearly visible in the attached image and in the movie.
– If it wasn't for our professional test driver's quick reaction the Jeep Grand Cherokee would have rolled over. The handling of the car is lethal for the average motorist, says Daniel Frodin, Editor in Chief at Teknikens Värld.
Despite nearly two weeks of communication Jeep has not provided any information or explanation for the lethal behavior of the Grand Cherokee.
