JEEP has a long-established history of producing rugged off-roading vehicles capable of tackling any terrain, but these days they have become extremely refined.

Offering the very best of both worlds, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can take on anything Mother Nature throws in its path, but it also has all the creature comforts and classy features we have come to expect in modern day motoring.

With a muscular stance, the Grand Cherokee 4x4 looks amazing from any angle with its traditional seven-slot grille, flared wheel arches, steeply raked windscreen, privacy glass, 18-inch alloys, bright exhaust pipes, chrome trim and much more.

And the quality is just as apparent once you take your seat behind the multi-function steering wheel.

There is an array of technical treats at your disposal and comfort levels are exceptionally high with heated seats for all occupants.

The cabin has a premium feel with the finest leathers, real wood and chrome trim and the large windows help to create a bright and spacious atmosphere.

On board features include a media centre with 30GB hard drive, a 6.5-inch touch screen, sat nav, rain sensitive wipers, a heated steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, parking sensors with rear parking camera and plenty more besides.

Occupants are treated to plenty of space and the generously-sized boot can hold numerous family-sized suitcases.

The rear seats can be folded forward to increase storage capacity if required. It was also nice to see a full-sized spare wheel stored under the boot floor.

So, the Grand Cherokee certainly looks the business and is brimming over with gadgets, but how about its performance?

Once again, it doesn't disappoint.

Despite its larger-than-life size, the Jeep handled exceptionally well and proved fairly easy to manoeuvre in busy city centre traffic. Parking was made all the easier thanks to the excellent all-round visibility and those parking sensors.

But it was out on the open road that the Grand Cherokee really burst into life. The new vehicle is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine and it delivered excellent acceleration and torque.

The five-speed automatic transmission was smooth and responsive and another impressive factor was how quiet the vehicle was with virtually no engine or road surface noise.

Jeep has packed plenty of top notch safety specifications into the Grand Cherokee, including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, numerous airbags, traction control and a very sensitive security alarm - a tad too sensitive to be honest as it went off a couple of times in the early hours due to a gentle breeze.

All in all, the Grand Cherokee is quite a vehicle and never forget there are several different driving modes to help combat more difficult terrains and driving conditions should the need arise.