Full Test: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[NFS4]

http://www.edmunds.com/new/200....html?articleId=103495

 

[geno]

Not *too* hot on the looks, but I'm hearing it's a solid domestic SUV...

The inclusion of the Hemi in the lineup is stellar IMO

EDIT - the interior looks like a slouch, seems Durango quality from the pics

 

[ElFenix]

However, start touching the various surfaces in the cabin and it gets ugly. The dash and door panels are covered in hard plastic

we've found some more dash strokers!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

However, start touching the various surfaces in the cabin and it gets ugly. The dash and door panels are covered in hard plastic

we've found some more dash strokers!

For $41,000 it had better have a damn nice interior. That kind of money will get you these:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100377732/029146-E.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100154000/021960-E.jpg

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ElFenix

However, start touching the various surfaces in the cabin and it gets ugly. The dash and door panels are covered in hard plastic

we've found some more dash strokers!

For $41,000 it had better have a damn nice interior. That kind of money will get you these:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100377732/029146-E.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100154000/021960-E.jpg

dash stroker heaven!

 

[aplefka]

If I even had 10% of the money it costs for that car, I'd be happy with the used car I could get.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ElFenix

However, start touching the various surfaces in the cabin and it gets ugly. The dash and door panels are covered in hard plastic

we've found some more dash strokers!

For $41,000 it had better have a damn nice interior. That kind of money will get you these:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100377732/029146-E.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100154000/021960-E.jpg

dash stroker heaven!

All I'm saying is, if you're laying down that kind of cash, you don't want a hamburger. You want a juicy STEAK

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4


All I'm saying is, if you're laying down that kind of cash, you don't want a hamburger. You want a juicy STEAK

i don't feel up my steak on a regular basis.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NFS4


All I'm saying is, if you're laying down that kind of cash, you don't want a hamburger. You want a juicy STEAK

i don't feel up my steak on a regular basis.

No one "feels up" their interiors either, but you do expect to have nice materials in the interior, especially the ones you make contact with. When you're opening the door to get out of your $40,000 vehicle, the last thing I'd expect to feel is hard plastic

 

[NTB]

Nice. Good point about the price and the interior though. Anybody seen anything on the new Liberty CRD (the one with a diesel engine)?

Nate

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: geno

No one "feels up" their interiors either, but you do expect to have nice materials in the interior, especially the ones you make contact with. When you're opening the door to get out of your $40,000 vehicle, the last thing I'd expect to feel is hard plastic

it probably has soft plastic for the handle. the armrest is a legitimate beef. but the plastic behind the wheel? seriously, who gives a fsck?

 

[CraigRT]

not bad, never been a huge fan of any cherokee though. not to say they suck, just don't love them.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: geno

No one "feels up" their interiors either, but you do expect to have nice materials in the interior, especially the ones you make contact with. When you're opening the door to get out of your $40,000 vehicle, the last thing I'd expect to feel is hard plastic

it probably has soft plastic for the handle. the armrest is a legitimate beef. but the plastic behind the wheel? seriously, who gives a fsck?

As long as it *looks* good, then cool, but when you can see cheap plastic staring back at you like you'd see in a pickup truck, then that just sucks

 

[rh71]

they keep running that commercial about it having better acceleration than a BMW 325ci or an Audi TT... then they show it going offroad and saying how it's better in that respect too. Funny thing is... in the fine print at the bottom it says the shown model was a Laredo 4x2. :roll:

BTW, how does it get a Hemi ? I thought that was a Dodge thing...

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: geno

No one "feels up" their interiors either, but you do expect to have nice materials in the interior, especially the ones you make contact with. When you're opening the door to get out of your $40,000 vehicle, the last thing I'd expect to feel is hard plastic

it probably has soft plastic for the handle. the armrest is a legitimate beef. but the plastic behind the wheel? seriously, who gives a fsck?

As long as it *looks* good, then cool, but when you can see cheap plastic staring back at you like you'd see in a pickup truck, then that just sucks

The dash has crisp lines, somewhat upscale texturing

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: rh71
they keep running that commercial about it having better acceleration than a BMW 325ci or an Audi TT... then they show it going offroad and saying how it's better in that respect too. Funny thing is... in the fine print at the bottom it says the shown model was a Laredo 4x2. :roll:

BTW, how does it get a Hemi ? I thought that was a Dodge thing...

Chrysler thing

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: geno

No one "feels up" their interiors either, but you do expect to have nice materials in the interior, especially the ones you make contact with. When you're opening the door to get out of your $40,000 vehicle, the last thing I'd expect to feel is hard plastic

it probably has soft plastic for the handle. the armrest is a legitimate beef. but the plastic behind the wheel? seriously, who gives a fsck?

As long as it *looks* good, then cool, but when you can see cheap plastic staring back at you like you'd see in a pickup truck, then that just sucks

The dash has crisp lines, somewhat upscale texturing

"However, start touching the various surfaces in the cabin and it gets ugly. The dash and door panels are covered in hard plastic ? the cheap, thin kind of plastic you find in lower-end economy cars. "

when you make a tight turn and bump your knee on the door panel just like you would in a ford focus, you'd start thinking about trading that $41k jeep for a lexus or an acura.

if looks is so important over substance, why not just get a fiero with a ferrari bodykit rather than going for a real ferrari?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Haha, a brand new car that needs "an interior overhaul". That's pathetic.

The only Jeep I'd probably buy is a Wrangler. I've never been a big fan of Jeep before, but after riding in my boss' Jeep w/ 33" tires, the sh!t eating grin on my face never went away the whole time. That thing is awesome.

 

[Goosemaster]

The only good thing about this is that with a HEMI you can outrun other soccer moms on the way to pick up the grocceries...

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
The only good thing about this is that with a HEMI you can outrun other soccer moms on the way to pick up the grocceries...

You don't need a Hemi. A V8 4-Runner would probably stay with it.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

dash stroker heaven!

Just cause your sentra has a dump truck interior doesn't mean all cars should.

 

[RagingBITCH]

http://www.melvinchu.com/pictu...oregon/IMG_0484?full=1

ALright unlike everyone else in this entire thread, I'm the only one who has actually driven the damn thing - got one as a rental So here's my review:

Out of 5 stars: 2.5/5
Would I buy it: If it was cheaper, yes. At the current price - fvck no.

I'm only the second person to rent it - had 669 miles on the odometer when I got behind the wheel. It was the base model I believe - only the 3.7 V6, cloth interior.


*** Pros ***

- Invincibility factor. I felt and still feel like I'm invincible when I'm behind the wheel of this thing. It's hard to describe but I don't feel this way driving every SUV/large vehicle.

- Overall Ride. Honestly, I feel like it rides better than my 2004 Accord. The ride overall is much smoother, it takes bumps a lot better, and it feels great. I don't know what it is about it but I just love the way it rides, both on and off pavement. (Um, the off pavement - nothing too extreme, I did decide to see how off-road capable it was. It passed the test, that's all I'll say)

- Handling. For something that large, it handles very well. Crisp turning, sharp steering wheel feel. I wasn't expecting much but it handles very well. I tried an emergency maneuver (had to) and it responded very well.

- Stereo. The stock stereo is impressive. Bass and mid/highs sounded very good. It starts to distort past a volume of 17 or so, but you only need it that loud with the windows down.

- Comfort. The seats in the Grand Cherokee feel very nice. Firm enough to provide good lateral and overall support, but plush enough that it's not uncomfortable. I drove to Washington right after the airport - I probably spent 4 hours driving to and from there, as well as an additional 2 hours driving through and around Portland. No complaints about comfort whatsoever. The seats are quite excellent.


*** Cons ***

- Performance. Granted, this is only because I had the base craptastic 3.7 V6. There were sometimes where it felt adequate, but the majority of the time it struggled with that much weight. Only when I floored it and kicked it into overdrive did I start to feel any oomph.

- Brakes. Edmunds.com mentions the progressive braking. Honestly - I just think the brakes suck ass. They're soft and provide no real stopping power. Press on the brakes too hard - I can repeat it on cue - and the car starts shaking and the rear end slides out. It does have 4 massive disc brakes and yet it still sucks. I'm disappointed in it.

- Interior. The seats only have 670 miles on them and already it looks like the cloth is about to rip/fall apart. Horrible. The panels (plastic) are cheap as well. I'm not all that impressed with the metal grille interior either.

- Storage. Where is there room? Oh wait, there is none. I couldn't fit crap in the back in any of the hidden compartments. Any other SUV provides ample stow away storage. Blah.

For the price, there's much better alternatives. Honestly, I like the vehicle, but not at that price.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ElFenix

However, start touching the various surfaces in the cabin and it gets ugly. The dash and door panels are covered in hard plastic

we've found some more dash strokers!

For $41,000 it had better have a damn nice interior. That kind of money will get you these:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100377732/029146-E.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332...100154000/021960-E.jpg

But have those things got a Hemi?

 

[yhelothar]

Looks the same as the models from the last 10 years. :disgust:

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
The only good thing about this is that with a HEMI you can outrun other soccer moms on the way to pick up the grocceries...

You don't need a Hemi. A V8 4-Runner would probably stay with it.

EXACTLY! I was just about to say how I'd rather have a loaded 4Runner Limited V8 than the Jeep. Of course I've been converted by my Tacoma, so I'm a bit of a ToyoFanBoi right now.