Having long outgrown the need for one, dear old Mom never the less refused to give up her beloved minivan. We finally convinced her to trade it in, provided we got her something that was still nice and high. Enter the Grand Cherokee. We purchased a 2004 Limited model which had everything except the V8. After a year and about 16,000 miles, our thoughts.
Engine/Transmission:
Our model has the long-serving 4.0 liter straight-six engine mated to a four-speed automatic and full-time 4wd. We were more concerned with fuel economy than power since this would primarily be a grocery hauler, so the V8 was never seriously considered. That said, we have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of Jeep's old workhorse. The big six moves the big Grand Cherokee around with little trouble, providing good acceleration both around town and on the highway. Even when fully loaded (5 adults plus a trunk full of luggage) it never feels like a struggle to get to or maintain highway speeds, although upwards of 80 mph passes may require a bit of room to execute. The four-speed automatic goes about its job doing little to make you notice it. It can be a bit reluctant to downshift when passing at higher speeds, but thanks to the six cylinder's ample grunt this is forgivable. Gas mileage has averaged 15-16 mpg under mostly city driving conditions. Nothing to write home about, but considering the vehicle's heft, the full-time 4wd, and driving conditions, it could be worse. Now, although the 4.0 liter six has proven a capable powerplant over its many, many years in service it is definitely showing its age. I tremendously enjoyed this engine in the old Cherokee (a classic, RIP) and Wrangler for which it was well-suited, but in the upmarket Grand Cherokee it feels a bit rough around the edges. Granted this is a Jeep, not a Lexus, but even compared to the 4.2 liter straight-six found in comparable Chevy's, it is outdated, unrefined, and underpowered. Overall, if best-in-class power and performance are essential, opt for the V8 or look elsewhere. If not, keep reading.
Interior/Comfort:
Our model came loaded, leather, sunroof, 6-disc changer, heated seats, power everything. The front seats offer plenty of room and comfort, battle tested on a six-hour trip. The back seat can be a bit cramped for taller adults, especially if they're three across. Easy to get into and out of, but leg room becomes a coveted commodity on trips of more than an hour or so. All controls are easily located and operated, with the exception of the sunroof, which I will cover later. Cargo space is a little disappointing with the rear seat up. Folding the seat provides a nice flat space, which served well during a kitchen remodeling project. Interior materials are satisfactory. You will never confuse the leather seats with those of a Jaguar, but they are passable. It would be nice to see fewer plastics this side of $30,000, but at least they are of decent quality. Unless you're sitting between your two brothers in the back seat on a 6 hour trip, you will enjoy a pleasant, comfortable, but unspectacular interior. If you plan on chauffeuring around the peewee football team, or are looking for a plush leather and wood-grained cockpit, look elsewhere.
Ride/Handling:
This is, in my mind at least, the Jeep's trump card. The Grand Cherokee has a surprisingly smooth and well-composed ride over even the worst, and I do mean worst, road surfaces. Based on Jeep's legendary off-road capabilities, I fully expected a harsh, uncomfortable ride, similar to what I experienced in the old Cherokee. Yet the ride was surprisingly car-like, neither floaty nor overly firm. As for the handling, I was again surprised by the Grand Cherokees's performance. It will never be compared to that of a Porsche, but the Jeep's handling was again surprisingly car-like. The steering was a bit numb, but closer to a sedan than a pick-up. As far as off-road ability, there is no mistaking this is a Jeep. Coming from a family of Eagle Scouts, I assure you, we got out of places most SUVs couldn't even get into, and without breaking a sweat. The Grand Cherokee is as comfortable on the pavement as it is capable off of it.
Problem Areas:
Recently, there have been some reliability issues with this model, a sad fact considering some of my past experiences with Jeeps. We have had no issues to date, but we shall see. The biggest complaint about the Grand Cherokee is the refinement of some of its components. The 4.0 liter six cylinder, capable as it may be, has been replaced in order to compete with the competition in both power and refinement. On our own vehicle, we have noticed an occasional rattle and vibration from the area of the front right wheel well, the dealer can't seem to find the cause. Other than that, the only major issue is with the switch for the sunroof. Press it back to fully open, forward to close. When the sunroof is closed, pushing the switch forward opens it slightly to a vent position. The problem is that when closing from the fully open position, it will not stop in the closed position, but immediately proceed from open to closed to vent, so it takes a few tries to get it to stop in the closed position before it opens to vent. A simple ergonomic pain in the neck, but something that shouldn't be in this price range.
Overall:
If you are looking for an alternative to a minivan, you are barking up the wrong tree. The interior is not as big and can't swallow as much cargo as some of the competition, and there is no third row. It is not the biggest, or the most powerful, or the most luxurious, but it may very well be the best of all worlds. It has adequate power, a comfortable interior, and a superb ride both on-road and off.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 33,000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 6cyl
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