Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011) Review
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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.
Reviews for Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals
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Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011) handling and engines
- Engines range from 3.0 CRD to 6.1 SRT
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 12–30 mpg
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.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 CRD | 28 mpg | 9.0 s | 270 g/km |
| 6.1 SRT | 18 mpg | 5.0 s | 380 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
88%
Real MPG
12–30 mpg
MPGs submitted
116
Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011) interior
- Boot space is 978–1909 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4750–4785 mm |
| Width | 1870 mm |
| Height | 1710–1785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2780 mm |
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.
Jeep Grand Cherokee (2005 – 2011) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4750–4785 mm |
| Width | 1870 mm |
| Height | 1710–1785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2780 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 2210–2345 kg |
| Boot Space | 978–1909 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 7500–12500 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £27,100–£43,495 |
| Insurance Groups | - |
| Road Tax Bands | M |
| Official MPG | 17.5–27.7 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | 3 |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until November 2010
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.0 CRD Limited 5dr Auto | £31,995 | 27.7 mpg | 9.0 s |
| 3.0 CRD Overland 5dr Auto | £36,995 | 27.7 mpg | 9.0 s |
| 6.1 SRT 5dr Auto | £43,495 | 17.5 mpg | 5.0 s |
On sale until May 2009
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.0 CRD Auto | £27,100 | - | - |
| 3.0 CRD S-Limited Auto | £32,400 | - | - |
On sale until May 2006
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 5.7 Hemi Overland Auto | £37,035 | - | - |
Model History
June 2005
New Grand Cherokee was launched in the UK
4,750mm (15' 7") long x 1,870mm (6' 2") wide it's very capable off road helped by a 4WD system and low range that's simple to use.
The 3.0 CRD (Mercedes) diesel offfers 218bhp and 376 lb ft torque at 1,600rpm. Top speed 124, 0-60 8.7. 4.7 SOHC V8 puts out 231bhp and 302 lb ft torque at 3,600rpm. Top speed 124mph, 0-60 8.5 seconds. 5.7 Hemi V8 has 326bhp and 369 lb ft torque at 4,000rpm. All have 5-speed sequential automatics and Quadra Drive II four wheel drive systems.
Limited numbers of monster 6.1 litre 420bhp SRT-8 models arrived in 2006. 0-60 in 5 seconds and top speed limited to 152mph.
New top of the standard range Overland model was introduced in 2006. It has leather and wood steering wheel, wood centre stack, leather-wrapped instrument cluster, unique gear shift, leather handbrake and centre armrest, leather-wrapped upper and lower door panels. Available colours include: Medium Slate Grey and Dark Khaki with contrasting Light Greystone. 18-inch, seven-spoke alloy standard wheels. 3.0-litre V-6 diesel and 5.7-litre HEMI engines.
What to watch out for
Mysterious case of 56k mile 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0V6 diesel suddenly stopping without warning and the oil light coming on, seeming to suggest an engine oil pressure problem, but nothing found by dealer diagnostics.
26-02-2014:Tyre Pressure Monitoring Valves very prone to corrosion. Best to replace the entire system with Tyresafe.
07-11-2014:Reader received UK VOSA recall N46 concering his 2005/55 Jeep Cherokee Sport: Fuel tank at risk of rupture if rear ended. Told to go to dealer and have inspected to see if cross-car beam can be fitted. However, if a tow bar has been fitted this will have to be removed and cannot be reattached. In the USA they recalled 1.7 million Jeeps and fitted MOPAR hitches free of charge. Not in the UK. Reader has a Witter towbar with removable towball. Vehicle useless to him if he cannot tow with it.
