2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Summary
The latest rendition of Chrysler's legendary
Hemi-type engines is offered as the top upgrade for the redesigned Grand
Cherokee, which made its debut this past fall as a 2005 model.
Full review 2005
The newest Grand Cherokee, available with not only
the 5.7-liter Hemi but also a base V-6 or a midlevel 4.7-liter V-8, represents
the third generation of the modern, unibody SUV that Chrysler introduced in
1992.
(Even more power is coming this fall with the
introduction of the 2006 Grand Cherokee SRT-8 model -- with a 6.1-liter Hemi V-8
cranking out 415 horsepower.)
For 2005, the Grand Cherokee's styling has updated,
but the changes are subtle so the vehicle still looks like a Grand Cherokee.
Based on the current Grand Cherokee, but with boxier exterior styling, that
vehicle will be called the Commander.
The new Grand Cherokee's Hemi V-8 engine is similar
to the ones used in other DaimlerChrysler vehicles, rated at 330 horsepower and
375 foot-pounds of torque.
In our test vehicle, the 2005 Grand Cherokee
Limited model with four-wheel drive (base price $34,045 plus $645 freight), the
Hemi engine was a $1,245 upgrade, which also included electronic limited-slip
front and rear axles, and an upgrade to Jeep's Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive
system from the midlevel Quadra-Trac II system that is included in the base
Limited price.
The limited-slip differentials are part of a
package designed to help make this Grand Cherokee as off-road capable as it can
be -- the hallmark of a real Jeep.
For serious off-roading, the Quadra-Drive II system
is best. It includes a full-time transfer case with electronic limited-slip
differentials in the front, center and rear. The midlevel system, Quadra-Trac
II, has an electronic-locking center differential in the two-speed transfer case
(the same one used in the Quadra-Drive system), but no locks for the front and
rear axles.
Quadra Trac All Wheel Drive
For those who live in snow country and just need
basic four-wheel drive there is the Quadra-Trac I system, which is full-time
four-wheel drive but with no two-speed transfer case. Chrysler says the
Quadra-Drive II system on our Hemi test vehicle combines the NV245 full-time
transfer case from the Quadra-Trac II system with those electronic limited-slip
differentials "for best-in-class tractive performance."
The system is designed to detect when a drive wheel
begins slipping, and then to re-distribute engine torque to whichever wheels
still have traction. In some cases, Chrysler says, the system will even
anticipate low traction and adjust itself accordingly.
With the Quadra-Drive II system, there is a lever
on the shift console that puts the vehicle into low range. And here is a plus
for those with motor homes: The transfer case can be shifted into "neutral" so
the Grand Cherokee can be towed behind the motor home with all four wheels on
the ground.
Chrysler says the Quadra-Drive II system uses
electronically controlled clutch packs to lock each axle automatically, as
needed.
To address one of the biggest complaints with the
prior Grand Cherokee models -- that they were too cramped inside -- the new
generation is bigger and roomier, although not drastically so.
The new model is 3.3 inches longer than before, and
an inch wider. It has what Chrysler calls a "reduced glass-to-body" ratio, which
means there is less glass area. That comes primarily from lowering the roof.
Engine Styling
The new Grand Cherokee's base engine is the same
3.7-liter V-6 used in the compact Jeep Liberty SUV, which has 210 horsepower --
up 15 from the 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder that served as base engine in the
previous Grand Cherokee, including the one in my garage.
That inline six-cylinder had been a mainstay of the
Grand Cherokee from the beginning, carried over from the Cherokee. Carried over
from the previous model was the midlevel 4.7-liter V-8 engine, rated at 235
horsepower. Most Grand Cherokee owners probably will choose this engine, as it
will offer the best value for the money.
To help with fuel economy, the Hemi comes with a
system the Multi-Displacement System, which deactivates half of the cylinders
during cruising and light acceleration to increase fuel economy by up to 20
percent, depending on driving conditions, Chrysler says.
Fuel-economy ratings for our Hemi model were 14
miles per gallon in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, compared with 15 city/20
highway for the smaller 4.7-liter V-8. An all-new five-speed automatic
transmission comes with the 3.7-liter V-6, while the five-speed automatic from
the previous model carried over to the new models with V-8 engines. Although our
test model started at nearly $35,000 and, with options, carried a sticker price
of $41,385 (including freight), V-6 base Laredo models begin as low as $26,775
(including freight). The Laredo models come with the V-6 engine, while the
Limited models get the 4.7-liter V-8. The Hemi can be added only to the Limited
model, and only with four-wheel drive. The big engine isn't offered in
two-wheel-drive models.
Standard features on the Laredo include 17-inch
satin-silver wheels, power windows/mirrors/door locks with remote, cruise
control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, four-way power driver seat with driver
and passenger lumbar adjustment, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
With the Limited model, extras include power
adjustable pedals with memory; rain-sensing automatic windshield wipers;
leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel; electro chromatic rearview mirror; six-way
power driver and four-way power front passenger seat; dual-zone automatic
climate control; AM/FM/compact-disc audio system with six-disc in-dash changer
and MP3 playback, along with a Boston Acoustics premium six-speaker system and
276-watt digital amplifier; and leather interior.
Conclusions
Based on brief driving sessions,
we have to put the Grand Cherokee right in the thick of the battle for supremacy
in this class. It looks wonderful, exactly as it should, like a Jeep. It's
powerful and quiet at the same time. It has the best name in the business to
trade on, good space efficiency for what it is, plenty of power with a choice of
two big engines. It has more standard equipment and more kinds of optional
equipment than any previous Jeep, which should make it more attractive to more
people and hence, more competitive."You can't mistake it for anything but a
Jeep." says
automotive.com It looks new and traditional at the same
time. If the Jefferson North Plant can build these with the kind of quality
levels the market is demanding now, the Grand Cherokee should be a welcome
addition to Chrysler/Jeep showrooms and customer garages.