2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[IMPALAon20s]

from thecarconnection.com

by Paul A. Eisenstein (2004-09-01)

How do you prove you've really got a breakthrough product? That's the challenge Jeep faced back in 1992, when it launched the all-new Grand Cherokee. So, rather than simply lifting the covers at the annual North American International Auto Show, then-Chrysler President Bob Lutz drove a Jeep up the steep stone steps of Detroit 's Cobo Hall, and right through a plate glass window.

It was an audacious debut - and a fitting one, for the original Grand Cherokee was visually striking and sophisticated, surprisingly well-mannered on the highway, and yet confidently capable off-road, as well. Perhaps no product did more to ignite the so-called crossover boom, as Americans raced to trade in their passenger cars for SUVs and other light trucks.

Jeep has certainly benefited from this boom, yet it can be argued that in recent years, the Grand Cherokee has slipped a bit to the side of the mainstream. These days, sport-utility buyers seem increasingly divided into two camps: those who want traditional utes with three-row, minivan-like seating, and others looking for the even more car-like ride and handling of so-called crossover SUVs. So there was plenty of interest in seeing what DaimlerChrysler would come up with when it unveiled the third-generation Grand Cherokee earlier this year.

Evolution in time

The Jeep just getting ready to hit the road can best be described as an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, update. There's a good chance that you might walk right by one in the parking lot and not even realize it's the 2005 redesign. There's the traditional, seven-slot Jeep grille, of course, and the basic silhouette is very much that of a Grand Cherokee.

Yet a closer inspection reveals some notable differences from the '04 model, starting with the rounded headlights borrowed from the popular Jeep Liberty. The latest incarnation of Jeep's flagship SUV is a big longer, a slight bit wider, and a bit more boxy than the vehicle it replaces. The rear glass has been squared off and is much more upright than with the second-generation Grand Cherokee. The practical purpose is to provide easier access to additional cargo space. The wheel openings are now a trapezoidal design. And there's more chrome, but the use of the additional brightwork is quite classy.

The hood is longer, noted designer John Sgalia, "to project the power we have in the HEMI engine." The wildly popular, 5.7-liter V-8 is, in fact, one of three engines available for the '05 Grand Cherokee, along with a 4.7-liter V-8 and a 3.7-liter V-6. And sources tell TheCarConnection that the new 6.1-liter version of the HEMI, making around 425 hp, will be added as an option in the 2006 model year.


link to full article

[dindak]

GM needs to freshen it's TB / Envoy next year. Both could use some upgrade brakes and interiors.

[Buick61]

That's pretty sharp looking, and that Hemi option will do marketing wonders. The interior is nice, but I don't think those rectangular air vents fit on the curved and domed center stack.

Irregardless, it's a very competent entry. I'd get it over the Explorer, Durango, 4Runner, Rainier (no low-range <_< ), and upcoming Pathfinder (and pretty much all other Japanese SUVs).

And this competes with the Envoy? I think GM needs to slap in a new interior and offer the DoD 5.3L in the short wheelbase---and quick.

[zeobandit]

It doesn't look all that different from the previous Grand Cherokees. Hemi is a good thing though!

[Ming]

There's something very "tack on" about the rounded headlights in the grille. Doesn't work with the rest of the angular design. Round headlights are OK in a design like this, but not when they break up into the hood area like that -- mixing organic and angular shapes like that reeks of amateur design or a last minute marketing add-on.

The interior looks good and the contrast of colors are a welcome departure from the sea of monotone gray and beige being offered by 99% of the SUVs out there.

[Murch93]

I saw one of these new Grand Cherokees the other day, they are very sharp trucks. One thing I found interesting it that the brake calipers say JEEP on them, just a small detail I noticed.

[tgagneguam]

It's funny, while I think the interior easily eclipses the mid-size utilities from GM - no large feat, I might add - and the HEMI option is good, I really have not got terribly excited over this vehicle. I always thought that the Grand Cherokee was standout since its introduction in the early nineties, but I guess I find a lot of its competition appealing, too.

Overall, perhaps this is more of an evolution than a revolution?

[paul8488]

i agree with most... looks good, nothing extrordinary though. i think the TB, envoy and rainier are aging well style-wise. anyone know when they'll be freshened? i knda like the headlights, especailly since it looks like the hood was modified to blend in a bit. and you're totally right buick61... they clearly grabbed parts-bin vents and jammed thm into the dask. vents that angled with the dash would look much better.

as much as i complain about the 4 versions of the midsize SUV, now that i think of it, it's kinda like having updated versions all at once. rainier came out a few years after the TB and envoy, and the 9-7 is still to come... so if someone likes the vehicle but is getting tired of the TB look, they might consider the rainier or 9-7, since they're a little more recent. i know they are marketed and priced differently, but it might not be as horrible as i used to think. releasing them at different times keeps the overall vehicle more current, as opposed to the (yes i'm going to say it!) CSV's we're getting almost all at once.

[ponchoman49]

I saw 3 of these driving last week. Right in a row. They didn't have window stickers on them or any packaging so not sure where they were going. But I thought they were pretty sharp and upscale looking. The Hemi is awesome and the 425 hp version is mind blowing. Wake up GM! Offer at least the 320hp version of the 5.3 as an option on both your short and EXT versions of the TB and Envoy and
spruce up the interiors a bit.

[Taycron]

I don't want no stinking white steering wheel..

[giagastormer]

I think the interior of the 2005 Envoy is much better than this. I'm not impressed one bit. There is no need for 320 horsepower in the TB or Envoy, my step-mom's Rainier has the I-6 and 275 HP is plenty of power, especially for passing on the highway.

[paul8488]

Originally posted by giagastormer@Sep 3 2004, 03:50 PM
There is no need for 320 horsepower in the TB or Envoy

when has that ever stopped anyone from wanting more? i agree with you... i don't care much about one-upmanship in horsepower ratings, but i think enough people do that GM has to play along.

[giagastormer]

Originally posted by paul8488+Sep 3 2004, 03:59 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (paul8488 @ Sep 3 2004, 03:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-giagastormer@Sep 3 2004, 03:50 PM
There is no need for 320 horsepower in the TB or Envoy

when has that ever stopped anyone from wanting more? i agree with you... i don't care much about one-upmanship in horsepower ratings, but i think enough people do that GM has to play along. [/b][/quote]
It gets to the point where it's ridiculous. 5 years from now people will want their Tahoe to have 600 HP, and for what, so they can get their kids to soccer practice faster? Anything over 300 HP for a TB is absurd. For a limited edition SS model it would be cool to have 350+ HP in a TB. I've always felt Chrysler doesn't offer that much vehicle for the money, so they gotta throw a 325+ HP V8 in half their model line-up to make up for it. Sure the 300C is a great car, if it didn't have the HEMI would you still be willing to pay $38,000 for a loaded one with the 3.5 V6 in it?

[AdmiralViscen]

...The Hemi is what puts its price over 30k, so your question is totally pointless.

[giagastormer]

You can get the 300 Limited for over $30,000 when optioned with all the goodies. The LS2 is part of the GTO's appeal because it's a sports car, it's supposed to have lots of HP. The Hemi is part of the appeal of the 300, but for alot of people being able to say "yeah, I got a HEMI", is worth buying the car alone. So my question still stands, if the 300 didn't have the HEMI would you pay upwords of $35,000+ for it? Ok so $38,000 is a little steep, because the Hemi does push the price that high.