Jeep Grand Cherokee LimitedYup, this thing's got a Hemi in it. And we were all junkies for the extra dose of power Jeep gave us in the new Grand Cherokee. We couldn't help it. Around town, on the highway, and in the sand the 5.7L 330hp V-8 outmotored the competition with every punch of the throttle. And even though not a single one of our judges ever claimed to have felt it, the multiple-displacement system (MDS) delivered impressive fuel economy numbers (14 mpg) by running the Hemi as a four-cylinder engine whenever it could.
But the Hemi engine is only half the story. To put that much power to the ground and still get somewhere, the Quadra Drive II all-wheel-drive system seamlessly blends three fast-acting electronic locking differentials (front, center, and rear) with one of the best ABS brake-based traction control systems we've ever tested. It made hillclimbs a breeze and overcame the Grand Cherokee's mild-mannered street tires.
Too bad this world-class drivetrain had to come wrapped in a new sheetmetal structure that is lower and wider than we'd want for a Jeep. The front end styling is great but the rear end looks too minivan (almost Chrysler Pacifica) for our tastes. One judge even noted it looked like a "giant picnic basket."
Inside, the new Grand felt as upscale as the Land Rover but was much quieter. Though none of us appreciated the puny transfer-case "switch" to engage low-range. Very un-Jeep! A new rear-seat DVD player and electronic stability system tell us that Jeep is going after a more mainstream customer with its newest SUV.
Off-Road we expected better performance from the Grand Cherokee on the sand and high-speed gravel road portions of the test. This Grand is not the high-speed dirt-road dragon that it used to be. Our test vehicle smoked the rear shocks and had major suspension bottoming after two passes. In the rocks the Grand Cherokee was also sort of a letdown. Not because it ever got stuck, but because it lacks ground clearance and drags the undercarriage over obstacles to the point it sounds like a steel-drum band has set up a trail-side concert.
After a hard day of trail work we discovered we had dented the rear driveshaft to the point it needed to be replaced, and we started to hear what sounded like a front wheel bearing going out in the front axle.
Specifications
| GENERAL |
| Manufacturer | Jeep |
| Model | Grand Cherokee Limited |
| Base Price | $34,045 |
| Price as Tested | $42,160 |
| Options as Tested | Customer Preferred |
| Package 25R (electronic stability program, heated front seats, Smartbeam headlamps, P235/65R17 tires, power sunroof), Electronic Infotainment System Group (overhead rear console, rear seat video system), 4x4 Popular Equipment Group (P245/65R17 tires, skidplate group, tow hooks), 5.7 Hemi multi-displacement engine, electronic limited slip front and rear axle, “5.7L” badge, Quadra-Drive II 4WD system, engine block heater, navigation system w/6-disc CD/MP3 player, Sirius satellite radio, 17x7.5 aluminum wheels, ParkSense rear backup system |
| ENGINE |
| Type | OHV Hemi V-8 |
| Displacement (liters/cubic inches) | 5.7/345 |
| Bore & Stroke (inches) | 3.92x3.58 |
| Compression Ratio | 9.6:1 |
| Induction Type | Sequential, multiport |
| | fuel injection |
| Fuel Req. (octane)/Cap. (gal.) | 89 or 87/20.5 |
| SAE Peak Horsepower | 330 @ 5,000 rpm |
| SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft) | 375 @ 4,000 rpm |
| TRANSMISSION |
| Type | Five-speed automatic overdrive |
| Model | 545RFE |
| Ratios | First: 3.00:1; Second: 1.67:1 (upshift), 1.50:1 (kickdown); Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.75:1; Fifth: 0.67:1 Reverse: 3.00:1 |
| Transfer Case |
| Type | Two-speed full time |
| Model | NVG 245 |
| Low-range Ratio | 2.72:1 |
| Axles |
| Front Type | IFS AAM 790 w/electronic limited slip/locker |
| Rear Type | AAM 830 w/electronic limited slip/locker |
| Hubs | N/A |
| Ratio | 3.73:1 |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | Short/long arm w/coil springs |
| Rear | Live axle, four-link w/track bar and coil springs |
| Steering |
| Type | Power rack-and-pinion |
| Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio | 2.75/variable 15.81 to 13.91 (at full lock) |
| Turning Radius (feet) | 37.1 |
| Wheels |
| Size (inches) | 17x7.5 |
| Material | Cast-aluminum |
| Tires |
| Size | P245/65R17 |
| Brand | Goodyear Wrangler SR-A |
| Brakes |
| Front | 12.9-inch discs with ABS |
| Rear | 12.6-inch discs with ABS |
| 60-0 (feet) | 143.88 |
| ACCELERATION |
| Standing 11/44-mile | |
| (seconds @ mph) | 16.82 @ 82.28 |
| Weight (pounds) |
| Curb Weight | 4,735 |
| Advertised GVWR | 6,150 |
| Mileage |
| EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg) | 14/19 |
| As Tested (mpg) | 14.95 |
| Dimensions (inches) |
| Wheelbase | 109.5 |
| Overall Length | 186.75 |
| Overall Width | 86.25 |
| Overall Height | 69.5 |
| Front/Rear Track | 62.25/62.25 |
| Front/Rear Overhang | 34/44 |
| Min. Front Ground Clearance | 8.25 |
LikesSmall and nimble urban commuterTraditional transfer-case shift leverGreat fuel economy
DislikesToo dorky-looking to fill up at a truck stopNeeds "VM" or "Detroit Diesel" badgingNo manual option
VerdictThe little tractor that could -if only it looked a little manlier.