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It's a Jeep thing - You wouldn't understand. The bumper sticker on the old jeep in front of me spoke volumes about the loyalty and passion Jeep owners have for their vehicles. It's one of the few nameplates that evoke such passion up and down their model lineup. For six decades the name Jeep and resulting companies have shown the rugged determination to survive the increasingly rocky road of the automobile manufacturer business. Ford Motor Company and Willys Overlander hold a major stake in Jeep History, but companies such as Bantam, General, Kaiser, AMC and even French automaker Renault play a roll. The dark days of Renault's ownership of AMC gave way to Chrysler's purchase in 1987 resulting in Jeep finding it's home now securely nestled in the Daimler Chrysler family. Jeff Bell, Vice President - Jeep claims "The 1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee created the luxury sport-utility market," but I like to think the tank like ability and luxury of the old Jeep Wagoneer was the first. Regardless, Jeep has sold over 3 Million Grand Cherokees and continues to expand this luxury sport-utility market. While I drove the traditional 4.7 Liter V8, Jeep has borrowed the 5.7 Liter Hemi from Chrysler creating even more horsepower and excitement for this model. If that wasn't enough, a limited number of Jeep enthusiasts will be able to experience the awesome 6.1 Liter producing 415 horsepower and blasting the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds. On the other side of the spectrum a 3.7 Liter V-6 engine producing 210 hp. and 235 lb.-ft. torque powers The Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. My test vehicle was the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD. Loaded with additional features such as GPS based Navigation, heated seats and additional airbags, my test vehicle topped out at $42,675. Certainly this is no entry-level econo-box. This third evolution of Grand Cherokee sports a new more angler styling, decidedly Jeep but with a modern twist. New from the ground up and sporting a more athletic profile the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues the tradition of creating a soft plush Sport Utility Vehicle combined with trail rated off-road capabilities. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to try out the 4-wheel drive abilities but independent reviews attest to its sure-footed design. My test vehicle came with the 4X4 Popular Equipment group complete with the Quadra-Drive II Four Wheel Drive System. Widely respected as one of the best in the industry this system can compete with any four-wheel drive vehicle in off road tests. The standard seven year 70,000 mile powertrain warranty is welcome for any complex four-wheel drive vehicle. Yet this ruggedness does not transfer to pavement driving. I was disappointed by what I considered to be an almost pillow soft suspension that did not give me confidence at highway speeds or acceleration ramps. While most mid size SUV's have grown in size over the years, the 2005 Grand Cherokee seemed to be somewhat limited in cargo space, but I also appreciated its trim size. Driver and passenger comfort however was excellent. The 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD is a bow to the suburban family demanding comfort, styling and gadgets with their luxury. While it appears that the Grand Cherokee holds true to it's off road trail rated performance it is clear that Jeep is pandering to the feminine side of the passenger compartment. As for me I would trade some of the "fluff" for a more traditional Jeep. Yet as the latest in a proud tradition of Jeep this 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD is the basis for more decades of passion and Jeep loyalty.
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD
4.7 Liter V8 Engine
MSRP as driven $42,675 15/20 MPG Additional Web only Information and Resources For Additional Reviews: |
©2006 - Stan Risener