The newest brand selling armoured cars with factory warranties in South Africa

Jeep has become the latest brand to offer bullet-resistant cars in South Africa with factory-backed warranty and service plans.

Jeep parent Stellantis South Africa partnered with Gauteng-based SVI Engineering to develop the B4 Grand Cherokee which can withstand firearms up to and including an AK47 assault rifle.

In doing so, Stellantis joins the likes of BMW and Ford which have also merged forces with SVI to offer manufacturer-backed armoured cars in the country.

Customers can now specify a bullet-resistant Grand Cherokee from the dealer, and still enjoy Jeep’s full 5-year/100,000km warranty and service plan.

Pricing starts at R833,684 for the standard B4 package and R1,236,814 for the B4+ option, excluding VAT and the price of the vehicle itself, and build time is set at approximately three months.

The Grand Cherokee currently retails from a starting price of R1,426,989, which would equate to a minimum spend of R2,385,726 (incl. VAT) if you were to purchase an armoured version.

It’s also worth noting that the B4 package is available on both the five- and seven-seater Cherokee, whereas the hardier B4+ is only offered with the five-seater.

An AK47 is no match for this Jeep

In building the bullet-resistant Jeep, SVI installed custom-fabricated armoured steel plates and lightweight composite materials in key areas around the body such as the doors and pillars.

The standard windows were replaced with specially developed 32mm ballistic glass curved to manufacturer specification.

Additionally, the conversion incorporates partial firewall protection and an armoured rear bulkhead – the latter complete with a neatly integrated escape hatch – behind the second row of seats.

The various armouring materials together add roughly 400kg to the SUV’s total mass, bringing it up to a hefty 2.5 tonnes without any passengers or cargo.

However, SVI has assured that the extra weight does little to impede the performance of the 3.6-litre, V6 engine under the hood.

It also highlighted that the American SUV’s various driver-assistance systems remain fully operational despite the aftermarket glass.

The driver’s window, meanwhile, can only be lowered one third of the way down, allowing access to parking-ticket machines and biometric readers.

Options available to buyers include roof armour, floor armour, a PA system, and heavy-duty runflat rings for the tyres.

SVI Jeep Grand Cherokee B4+