Jeep Grand Cherokee

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $38500.00 from Courtesy Jeep of San

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 Grand Cherokee Limite4d

Summary:
Quite impressed with all the amenities to include bluetooth, Navigation, DVD, rear parking camera, hard drive, etc. However I believe the engine to be louder than past SUV's I have owned not to mention much smaller. If you are looking for a roomy vehicle (something similiar to a Durango) this is not the vehicle for you. The rear seating is quite cramped and the overall feel of the vehicle is more like a car and not an SUV. Having traded in a 2004 Durango for it, I personally have not experienced massive savings at the pump.
If I had to do again, I would not purchase this vehicle.

Strengths:
The technology in this vehicle is amazing. The windshield wipers are automatic; and not only does it tells you that the tire pressure is low but also gives you the actual values for each tire!

Weaknesses:
Its small. The DVD obstructs the rear view. Back seat okay for small child. Difficult for three adults or even one adult seated next to a car seat. We have one two year old but will likely have to trade this vehicle in should we decide to extend our family.

Similar Products Used:
2004 Dodge Durango, 1995 Ford Explorer, 2001 Chevy Tracker

Price Paid:  $25000.00 from moncton auto sales

Summary:
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a geat driving vehicle along with an exceptional winter vehicle.I am 6ft 3 inches and fit into this SUV very nicely.It is great on the highway and delivers 26 mpg in the winter in 4 wheel drive in very bad weather conditions.I had owned a 1999 GMC JIMMY and never felt as confident driving as I have with this JEEP GRANDE CHEROKEE.It has four doors and loads of space in the back for gear.I have driven this truck in very difficult weather and road conditions and it has come thru with flying colours.Prior to this I took out a Pathfinder,Mitubishi montero and outlander and although they were good vehicles none could remotely compete with the JEEPS exceptional 4 wheel drive system.In all my years driving 4 x 4 trucks this is the best yet.I have a Ford Escape(DRIVEN BY MY WIFE IN TOWN) which is far better than any import,but the Jeeps 4 wheel drive sytem cannot be beat.If you can drive for 3 hours at a stretch and pass everything on the road with confidence on all season tires in blizzard conditions and the truck does not even move slightly ,you know you have an exception vehicle.The interior is quite with heated leather seats,a great dash,great sightlights all around,this vehicle even passing on wash board icy roads sticks to the road.I would not hesesite in recommming this truck to anyone.I have owned this truck for 4 months and have encountered no problems.I do not know how Consumers Report does not like this vehicle but this truck gets great gas mileage(26mpg at 15F ON 4 WHEEL DRIVE) and this vehicle is by far better than they have rated it to date.They overlooked the biggest factor in my eastimation and that is trust.This truck will go thru anything and is exceptional in snow or ice battered paassing lanes.Do not believe what they say as this is a great 4 x 4 with good gas mileage on the highway.The city mileage is not better than my 99 Jimmy with 2 doors and 600 lbs less.It is quiet,has a stright forward dash,space for people and luggage......thanks Gerry w

Strengths:
It is a true 4 x 4 with an exceptional true smarts.

Weaknesses:
There are none.The writers at Consumers Report should take this truck out in winter conditions and find out how great it really is.The Pathfinder,Pilot,MDX,Rav 4,Highlander are not even close in the winter ability of this true 4 x 4,Jeep past history and the huge amount of technology makes those japenese crossovers look like a poor alternative to a real 4 x4.I would like these guys to come for a ride in real conditions at 70 MILES PER HOUR and I am sure the Jeep wou;d be far superior to ant thing out there.Remember it is your life when driving in truly bad weather and not some writers preception of what he thinks it takes to run in truly difficult conditions.

Price Paid:  $6500.00 from private sale, Berkel

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 Grand Cherokee Limited

Summary:
I bought this GC to haul dogs and boats. I have put 50K on the Jp from 100 to 150k, critical mileage for everything to go wrong. Thus far, reliable and rather problem free. One big repair: differential cv at 150k. $500. I also have a bmw x5 and a volvo turbo 850. The volvo is of course much peppier, and the bmw handles like the sports car that it is, but the GC is adequate and for the money, a good deal.

Strengths:
Very solid 4.7 l. engine. Smooth as silk and never hiccups. Only one real repair. I am very impressed by no repairs from 100 to 150k. Maintenance and consumables only.

Weaknesses:
Rides like an outhouse on wheels. Terrible handling and ride. I would like it a little more if I did not have an X5, but still--the ride is atrocious.

Price Paid:  $29500.00 from Adamson Motors, Roch

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Jeep Gr Cherokee Laredo 4WD 4.7L V8

Summary:
We bought a loaded Jeep Gr Cherokee Laredo 4WD with the X package (heated leather seats, sunroof, remote start, hi power radio, etc). We got the 4.7L V8 since it has higher torque to tow and MPG is not much worse the the V6. (We sold our 01 Gr Cherokee to our son, the Inline 6 cylinder engine had better torque than the new V6).
So we were familiar with JGCs already: the new body styles from 05 on are much better highway rides, quieter, with more room inside. EG, I could not fit in the 01 with a sunroof so we skipped that but the new 07 w/sunroof I have an inch to spare.
MPG was a concern with a V8 but in first 500 miles am getting 15mpg in town and 21 on highway, just like EPA sticker (ours will take E85 ethanol, common in midwest, we will probably try it next spring since it's not supposed to start/run as well in cold winter temps). The lifetime warranty and resonably priced extended warranty was attractive as well since we tend to drive our vehicles 10 years or more. However Jeeps do require frequent drivetrain fluid maintenance much of it like transfer case and differentials are under vehicle, hard to reach (the engine belts, plugs, filters, battery, cooling system however are very accessable and look relatively easy to service).

Strengths:
Nice ride, 4.7 has plenty of power and OK MPG.
Easy to drive/manuever with smaller turning radius and good visibility including parking.
LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.
Excellent value as deals on 07s with good dealer cash or rebates (appears to be spilling over to 08s since there are a lot of SUVs on the lot due to $3/gal gas).

Weaknesses:
MPG, ok, but could be better.
Frequent 15k mi differential, 30k mi transfer case and 30k mi plug changes (100k mi coolant however)pushes high costs of ownership like other truck SUVs (CUVs better) and drops resale, only a factor if you plan to trade in < 5 years.

Similar Products Used:
2001 Jeep Gr Cherokee

Price Paid:  $1400.00 from company used vehicle

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 grand cherokee limited

Summary:
Upon receiving this vehicle from the company I work for, This was their company car. This car was mostly used on the interstates and in the hard winters of michigan.The vehicle has some minor problems that need corrected. Body: the lower plastic which was gray is fading, The window wipes that clean your window off when rolling it up is rusted and need replaced. interior: ok seats comfortable and the fact radio is great.drive train: ok all works well.

Strengths:
peppy inline 6 cylnder engine.

Weaknesses:
fadded headlights thank god for ebay!
window wipes rusted
lower body plastic fading.