Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011) At A Glance
Bold and chunky styling, excellent 3.0 CRD diesel engine, superbly capable off-road, well equipped as standard, good-sized boot, great for towing.
Overly light steering and bouncy ride, interior let down by some cheap-feeling plastics, not available with seven seats like many other 4x4s.
Jeep has a rich heritage in 4x4s and the Grand Cherokee is its most well known model. Unlike many other modern four-wheel drive cars, it's actually designed to go off-road and is more than capable of tackling very tricky terrain, helped by some advanced 4x4 systems.
It's also powered by some impressive engines, the most popular being the excellent 3.0 CRD that's also used by Mercedes-Benz. This smooth yet strong V6 was made the only engine choice in 2010, when the thirsty V8 petrols were dropped from the line-up.
On road the Grand Cherokee is less impressive however. It doesn't feel very agile, especially when compared with more road-focussed 4x4s such as the Volkswagen Touareg and can seem bulky in town or when trying to park. The steering is very light and lacks feel too, so twisting roads aren't much fun.
It's a good long distance car though, thanks to a comfortable interior and a soft (although often bouncy) ride. There's also plenty of space for four adults and a huge boot, making it a great family car. Interior quality could be better, but add in generous levels of standard equipment and the Grand Cherokee looks a decent buy - although it's a much better option used rather than new.
But perhaps the big fly in the ointment is the Land Rover Discovery. True, it's more expensive and you don't get as much 4x4 for your money, but it feels more upmarket and is far better on the road, as well as being equally immense in the rough stuff.
What do owners think of the Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)? Check out our
Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.
Real MPG average for a Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)
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Reviews for Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals
Ask Honest John
Which economical SUV do you recommend to replace my Jeep Grand Cherokee?
"I drive a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I would like something more economical but with a driving seat as high as possible. I can spend about £25,000 plus whatever the Jeep is worth."
I recommend an F25 BMW X3 2.0 diesel, or alternatively the new F34 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo that has an elevated driving position. The best engine is probably the 184PS 2.0d, rather than the 1.8d: www.honestjohn.co.ukads.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/bmw/bmw-318d-gran-turismo-road-test/
Honda CR-V 2.2iDTEC manuals do about 46mpg and the same goes for Mazda CX-5 2.2d Skyactiv models. The 2WD CX-5 handles much better than the 2WD CR-V or RAV4. The Ford Kuga 4WD is good too, but the ride is quite hard. The Volkswagen Tiguan is slightly softer than the Kuga.
Buying a Grand Cherokee diesel - can you help?
"I am considering purchasing a 2006 / 06 Plate Grand Cherokee diesel auto with 66 thousand miles through a dealer asking £7995. This appears to be a good price .
I am aware that the V6 is a Mercedes engine. Is there any known problems with this model and anything particular to look out for."
Most commonly fitted to the W211 E Class and here is the dirt on that:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mercedes-benz/e-class-w211-2002/?section=bad
Freelander or Discovery - towing ability.
"We need to replace our old Discovery (terminal MOT failure). Looking at Land Rover's spec's, both diesels are capable of pulling 2000Kg, however my wife feels that even occasionally pulling such a load would be likely to damage the Freelander, but not a Discovery. The higher capital cost of the Discovery over the Freelander is a great incentive to buy the smaller vehicle, and the lower per mile costs equally so, unless it is going to prematurely age the Freelander.
Alternatively I could buy an oldish 100k Grand Cherokee and just keep it for towing and the cross country work associated with our country pursuits. "
That final option makes sense. A Disco 3 won't better 30mpg, while a Freelander II will better 40 and an Outlander will do 45. So get something old for the hard work. Have something economical for the distances.
Why can't I get a replacement wing mirror for my Chrysler Grand Cherokee?
"I have a Grand Cherokee jeep in grey, which I bought new last September. Unfortunately, a man in a white van has hit my vehicle and it now needs a new wing mirror on the driver's side. I took it to my local garage who contacted the local Chrysler dealer, who said that they do not have any wing mirrors and are unable to obtain one. I contacted the dealer directly, who said that the supplier has gone bust and they do not know when they will have a new supplier. I have contacted customer services who say that there are none in the UK, USA or Germany, and that I could have a temporary wing mirror fitted.
This seems unacceptable to me as they are unable to give any indication of how long I will have to wait for a new mirror. The other driver has offered to pay for the damage he caused but doesn't want to go through his insurance company. Where else could I get a new wing mirror?"
Chrysler parts are currently in a mess, and I don't think that correcting this situation is first priority since the FI takeover. Making the company profitable is. If there are none in the UK, USA or Europe, even secondhand used, then I don't see an answer. But try the used parts finding services in Useful Websites.
More Questions
Inside of the Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)
Dimensions
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Length
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4750–4785 mm
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Width
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1870 mm
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Height
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1710–1785 mm
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Wheelbase
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2780 mm
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Full specifications |
There's a distinctly American feel to the interior of the Grand Cherokee as you'd expect, with lots of wood and leather on display. It feels well built and hard-wearing but there are question marks over the quality of some of the materials used. The plastics on the dash are distinctly hard and scratchy, and although top models have leather trim on the door tops, it still lacks the upmarket feel you'd expect given the considerable price tag.
Elements such as the old-fashioned manual hand brake (when many other 4x4s have electric parking brakes) and fiddly stereo aren't great either. However, some models come with an excellent Boston Acoustics touchscreen sat nav stereo system which includes an auxiliary-input and a USB port for memory stick with music on, or MP3 players. There's also Bluetooth and a 30GB music hard drive.
The leather seats are cosseting but still offer surprisingly good support and there's certainly plenty of room. One criticism from the driver's point of view is that there's nowhere to rest your left foot, and so long journeys aren't as comfortable as they should be. Forward visibility is also an issue due to the thick windscreen pillars, which is especially noticeable at junctions. However, there's surprisingly little wind noise, considering the sheer size of the Grand Cherokee, so motorway cruising is quiet and relaxed.
The boot is usefully large and features a clever reversible boot floor which is carpeted on one side and plastic on the other - ideal if you have a dog or muddy boots to transport. The plastic side includes a large shallow tray which is useful in stopping loose items sliding about the boot.
The rear seats split in the conventional 60/40 way and fold almost completely flat to create a huge load space which will cope with most things from furniture to bikes.
Car seat chooser
Child seats that fit a Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)
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Driving Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)
This is where the Cherokee's shortcomings are highlighted. It feels quite cumbersome on the road, particularly on twisting roads or city streets, not helped by the overly light steering which isn't very responsive. As a result, tight corners often require more turns of the steering wheel than you'd expect
The bouncy ride doesn't help either, nor do the brakes which could do with more bite. There's a fair amount of body roll in bends along with noticeable pitching and diving under hard acceleration or braking. It means that the Grand Cherokee is rarely easy to drive smoothly, particularly in traffic.
On the plus side it's a good motorway cruiser, thanks to low noise levels and powerful engines that rarely have to be worked hard. The most popular is the 3.0 CRD diesel - an engine that's also used by Mercedes-Benz. It delivers 215bhp along with an impressive 510Nm of torque - making it ideal for towing. It's fitted with a smooth shifting five-speed automatic gearbox which, although not the most modern transmission around, still makes the most of the engine's effortless nature.
The V6 diesel unit is quiet and smooth, with vibration only noticeable if you really rev it, which is rarely necessary. Economy isn't too bad at 27.7mpg and if you spend plenty of time in the motorway this is realistically achievable. It's quick enough too and will accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.0 seconds.
This CRD is now the only engine available aside from the performance SRT-8 version which uses a monster 6.1-litre V8. Until 2006 there were two V8s available - a 4.7-litre with 228bhp and a 5.7-litre HEMI which boasted 322bhp and could go from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds. However, their thirst and high running costs meant they weren't popular.
Where the Grand Cherokee excels is off-road. It's amazingly capable and will tackle seemingly impassable terrain with ease. This is down to a clever system called Quadra-Trac II which sends power to the axle with the most traction. It also features a low range ratio.
Top models come with an even more advanced set-up called Quadra-Drive II which includes an electronic limited slip differential. If it detects tyre slip it can instantly send up to 100% of the engine's power to the individual wheel with the most traction.