IF you want a manual Cherokee you have to get the turbo-diesel, as the petrol-engined version mates only to the 45RFE multi-speed electronic auto first seen when the Grand Cherokee was introduced in 1999. This gearbox actually incorporates an extra gear between first and second that only comes in under hard acceleration and is designed to deliver smoother, more progressive power. In normal use, it operates as a four-speeder. The system also has three planetary gear sets to provide a wider range of ratios. Overdrive is activated by a button on the side of the golf club-shaped lever. The transmission is mated to the Selec-Trac transfer case, with two and four-wheel drive usable on bitumen, high range 4WD with a locked centre differential and low range, also with the diff locked. The operating lever for the 4WD system sits to the left of the transmission lever.