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1993-98
Jeep
Grand
Cherokee
Redefining
the SUV
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Thanks
to the Cherokee, throughout the eighties Jeep pretty much had a
lock on any customer in the market for a smallish, 4-door SUV.
The Cherokee was designed and developed in the pre-Chrysler days
by the now defunct American Motors Corporation, and bowed in
1984.
Departing
from traditional Jeep practice, it sported a rigid, fully
unitized construction and was engineered to perform as well on
the road as off. And unlike its super-luxury big brother, the
20-year old Grand Wagoneer, the Cherokee was thoroughly modern
in all aspects.
| STRENGTHS |
WEAKNESSES |
-
Handling/Ride
-
Responsiveness
-
Design
-
Comfort
-
Size
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It
was immensely popular in suburbia, and a large percentage of
them went out the door loaded with comfort and convenience
options. Many analysts believe that along with their minivans,
the profitable Cherokee played a large part in keeping Chrysler
afloat in the early nineties.
Unlike
the inexplicable amount of time that went by before rival car
companies figured out a successful minivan formula, the success
of the Cherokee did not go unnoticed. Soon luxury laden 4-door
compact SUVs were everywhere. In that sense, the Cherokee was a
pioneer of today's huge, and hugely profitable, compact and
mid-size SUV market segment.
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What
They Said When New |
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"....the
ZJ (code name) is smoothly competent and untroubled. Like
a car, actually, but with a taller viewpoint."......Motor
Trend 5/92
"We
spent only $213 to maintain this wagon's health for 35,000
miles.".....Car & Driver 8/93
"At
43,361 miles our Grand Cherokee went to the dealer for a
farewell check. It was feeling old and loose.".......Automobile
12/93
"For
an SUV, the Grand Cherokee hangs in reasonably well in
turns, leaning only moderately.".......Consumer
Reports 8/95
"The
freshened interior isn't a radical change, but it's more
contemporary than the square-cut previous
design."......Motor Trend 1/96
"The
Grand Cherokee rides more comfortably than most SUVs, even
with a full load. The cabin is quiet except for pronounced
gear whine during light acceleration."......Consumer
Reports 6/97 |
More
than any other vehicle, the introduction of the Ford Explorer
ended Jeep's dominance in this market and forced Jeep to
respond. The result was the all-new Grand Cherokee. Trim on the
outside, it suffered when compared to the Explorer's room and
cargo capacity. But it bested the Explorer, and everything else,
when it came to ride, handling and overall performance -- both
on the road and off.
What's
Available
Initially,
the Grand Cherokee was available in three trim levels, Base,
Laredo, and Limited. There was only one engine, the tried and
true 4.0 liter straight six mated to a 4-speed automatic
w/overdrive or 5-speed manual transmission. The 5-speed is
extremely rare (we've never seen one), but Jeep records indicate
that some were built, and we did find two listed for sale at our
web site (vmrintl.com). Jeep offered no less than three
distinct four-wheel drive systems (see sidebar).
Well
into the '93 model year (the Grand Cherokee debuted in the
spring of '92), a powerful and torquey 5.2 liter V8 (available
only with the automatic) hit the option sheet. Also phased in
during the Grand Cherokee's rookie year as a new top-of-the-line
Grand Wagoneer. This model came standard with the V8 and,
evoking the dearly departed old Grand Wagoneer (retired in '91),
had fake woodgrain on the sides.
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Running
Changes |
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1993
-- All new model
1994
-- Grand Wagoneer dropped; new Orvis package; Limited
gets 4-wheel disc brakes; side door beams added
1995
-- 4-wheel disc brakes standard on all models; 5.2L V8
gets modest torque increase; rear tailgate gets optional
flip up glass hatch; 5-speed manual dropped
1996
-- Revised interior w/dual airbags; front fascia and
body cladding restyled; part-time only Command-Trac
dropped; 6cyl loses 5hp but adds refinements that make
it a bit smoother and quieter
1997
-- New, improved ABS system; new steering column design;
upgraded sound systems; new TSi model
1998
-- Last model year for this design; new 5.9 Limited
model; Orvis designer package dropped |
As
the Grand Cherokee matured, Chrysler continued to add new
features and models. A 2-wheel drive version was added during
the '93 model year, the Base model became known as the SE in
'94, and an Orvis designer package arrived for 1995 (dropped in
'98). The Laredo became the entry model in 1996, and the SE was
dropped. For 1997 the lineup saw the addition of the TSi,
slotted just below the Limited. A loaded performance version
equipped with a 245hp 5.9 liter V8, called the 5.9 Limited,
crashed the party for the final year, 1998.
Exterior
Design
From
any angle, the Grand Cherokee presents a tight, crisp and
purposeful look and the prominent fender flares add a hint of
aggressiveness to the design.
The
base and Laredo models carried a charcoal gray colored exterior
body cladding around their lower sides and into the front and
rear bumpers. The Limited models had this same cladding, but it
was painted the same color as the rest of the exterior. The
Laredo eventually gained the option of the monotone paint
treatment that was similar to the Limited. It was part of the
popular "Z" equipment package.
The
front sported the traditional (all the way back to the Willys
Jeep of WWII) Jeep seven-vertical bar grille; chrome on the base
and Laredo, body-colored on the upscale models. The tucked-up
rear presents two taillights flanking the hatch door.
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| This
'96 shows off the mild front fascia restyle |
Uncommon
among "suburban" SUVs, a requirement during
development was that the Grand Cherokee must be able to venture
off-road with confidence. And we're not talking the dirt road up
to the cabin by the lake here, either. Like all Jeeps, the Grand
Cherokee had to be able to handle off-road terrain that included
no road at all. As such, you'll notice that the Grand Cherokee
has short front and rear over hangs. Not only does this
contribute to the crispness of the design, it allows for steeper
approach and departure angles off-road than your typical luxury
SUV.
For
the 1996 model year, things were freshened up a bit. The front
grille grew, fog lights were integrated into the front fascia
and new alloy wheels adorned all versions. The cladding was a
little less busy, too.
Interior
Design
The
Grand Cherokee's interior, with a couple minor exceptions, was a
model of efficiency and smart design when new. The dash greets
the driver with a large speedometer and tachometer directly
ahead flanked by smaller gauges for fuel, temp, oil pressure and
even a voltmeter. Controls are easy to find and use. A minor
update of the interior, including the dash occurred in 1996.
Still, it's a bit dated looking now, with angular surfaces and
lots of gaps and seams, especially on the earlier models. Some
of the materials could've been better selected as well as they
have that cheapo, shiny plastic look. The Limited and TSi models
benefited from trim and materials upgrades, and sported an
standard overhead console that was optional on other models.
 |
 |
| Top:
'94 Limited. Bottom: '96 Laredo. The interior was
freshened a bit for '96. (click to enlarge) |
The
biggest issue we have with the interior design is the placement
of the spare tire. Propped up against the driver's side wall of
the cargo area, it looks like an afterthought and takes up
valuable cargo space. According to Jeep, this was necessitated
by the requirement of high ground clearance in the rear to
facilitate operation in the rough. By not making room for the
spare, the rear chassis pan could be tucked up and away from the
ground. You can purchase an aftermarket outside swing away spare
tire mount, but installing it involves some drilling and it
makes getting in and out of the back awkward.
This
was a big complaint with Grand Cherokee owners, and the new
design '99 model has its spare tire mounted under an access
panel in the floor.
Room
and Comfort
An
abundance of room is not something the Grand Cherokee offers. A
family of four and their gear easily fill up the cabin. What
space it does offer, however, is put to good use. As long as you
limit total passengers to four, sitting in a Grand Cherokee is
rather comfortable. There's plenty of room up front and even
rear passengers have decent room, but we wish the seat cushion
was a little higher. Three abreast in the back is a little
tight, but not as bad as you might expect. All three will stay
reasonably comfortable for even moderate trips. This is a
laudable achievement, for as we have said the Grand Cherokee is
quite trim on the outside.
The
front seats are a little soft, with weak lower back support. The
Limited's leather seats are somewhat better on both counts.
Leather seating surfaces were optional on the other models.
Power
windows and locks, although originally optional on the lower
level Grand Cherokees, adorns virtually all examples. The power
package, which include remote entry, became standard fare for
'96. It was always standard on the Limited.
The
Limited came standard with all kinds of standard comfort and
convenience equipment, including upgraded interior with power
leather seats, upmarket sound systems and dual lighted vanity
mirrors.
Positioned
between the Limited and Laredo was a TSi model in the '97 and
'98 model years. It enjoyed the nicer interior of the Limited
and had leather seats, but power was optional. It lacked some
other minor accessories of the Limited as well.
Cargo
space fell short compared to, say, a Ford Explorer, but at least
the split-back rear seat folds and flips forward to make the
most of the space available. Of course, that spare doesn't help.
Ride/Handling/Performance
For
a SUV, the Grand Cherokee is remarkably nimble. In fact, it was
the first SUV that drove like a pretty good sedan. Stepping out
of a Grand Cherokee and into the previous "car-like"
champ of SUVs, the Ford Explorer, was a revelation. The Explorer
felt like a ponderous slug compared to the Jeep.
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4-Wheel
Drive Options |
|
No
less than three four-wheel drive systems were available
on the Grand Cherokee.
Standard
on the Base, SE and Laredo was a simple, basic part-time
system called Command-Trac. It was designed to be used
only off-road. Optional on these models was an on- or
off-road 2WD/4WD selectable system called Selec-Trac.
The most sophisticated, and capable, system is Jeep's
Quadra-Trac. It is always in 4-wheel drive mode and can
direct power to where it's needed most.
All
these systems have a low range, and a locking rear
differential was also available if you intend to go
hunting big horn sheep in the Rockies. |
The
Grand Cherokee is responsive in both everyday and emergency
maneuvers. There is some body roll, but the front and rear
ends can easily be kept in line by the accelerator. Many
contemporary road test reports cited slightly numb and
somewhat vague steering, but we think they're being a little
picky. While it's no Miata, the steering feel and precision is
well within acceptable bounds. We didn't like the steering
wheel shook over harsh bumps, however. We didn't test a model
outfitted with the Up Country suspension package, which
includes different springs and an extra inch of ground
clearance. We would expect handling to suffer just a bit.
As
for the ride, again the Grand Cherokee was the benchmark.
Smooth and compliant over bumps, it was difficult to upset.
The Explorer had a good ride too, but what tipped the scale in
favor of the Jeep is its rigid body. Where the Explorer
shudders over bumps, the Grand Cherokee soaks them up.
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| The
Limited model sported body colored bumpers and
cladding and lots of luxury. |
What
makes this all the more amazing is the Grand Cherokee's
suspension setup. It's got a solid axle in the rear and one in
the front, too. Now, any elitist automotive know-it-all will
tell you what a crude and out of date setup that is. And
they'd be right. But it works, and works well.
Of
the three models we drove, two had the Quadra-Trac setup and
one had the Selec-Trac. The comments about handling here apply
to both. A Command-Trac equipped model in two-wheel drive may
handle a little differently when pushed, as by necessity the
vehicle will be directing power only to the rear-wheels. Ride
quality should not be affected.
Acceleration
with the V8 was very brisk. Even the six got things moving
along pretty well. We didn't drive the 5.9 Limited, but for a
while it was the quickest SUV in the world.
The
V8 equipped Limited model we drove was noticeably quieter than
a Laredo with the six. The quality of the sound coming from
the engine compartment was more pleasant, and road noise was
more subdued. Still, the Laredo was quiet enough for all but
tomb lovers, and they'd buy a Lexus anyway.
Even
though all three vehicles we drove still felt tight, two of
them had more than one rattle or buzz -- not a good sign, as
things will only get worse as time goes on.
All
Grand Cherokees have ABS brakes. Initially, the setup
consisted of front discs and rear drums, but this was remedied
for '95 when 4-wheel discs adorned all Grand Cherokees.
Stepping hard on the brakes revealed some squishiness, but
stops were straight and true. We'd call the brakes acceptable,
but not spectacular.
Serious
off-roading is beyond the scope of our testing. Reports
from popular car and truck magazines all rated the Grand
Cherokee as one of the best. Its combination of a
capable four-wheel drive system, compliant suspension and trim
size made it a favorite in the woods. Many called it one
of the best luxury SUV in the rough -- able to hang in there
with such illustrious and pricey models as Land Rover and
Toyota Land Cruiser.
Safety
As
mentioned above, from the start all Grand Cherokees had ABS
brakes. The addition of 4-wheel discs to all models brought an
extra measure of safety, as discs are less apt to fade after
repeated braking during operation in wet weather.
When
the Grand Cherokee was introduced, it was the first SUV to have
an airbag as standard equipment. It was a driver only setup
until the 1996 model year when a passenger airbag was added with
the interior redesign.
US
Government crash test on a 1993-95 models resulted in "very
good" rating for the driver and a "good" rating
for the front passenger. Oddly, later examples that had dual
airbags reversed those results, scoring a "good" for
the driver and a "very good" for the passenger.
Service/Maintenance
Normal
service and maintenance costs fall in the average category, with
only the extra fluid changes for the 4-wheel drive stuff
deviating from passenger car norms. Both the six and the eight
are durable, long-lived engines. The six in particular has a
track record of regularly reaching 200K miles without a rebuild.
Assuming proper maintenance, of course.
Parts
cost are fairly low, as the Grand Cherokee shares many
individual components with other Jeep and Chrysler products.
Reliability
Early
Grand Cherokees seem to have more than their share of problems,
and we recommend avoiding them. Among the trouble areas:
transmission, axles, seals, body hardware and electrics. '93 and
'94 was not a good time for many Chrysler products, and these
are no exception.
Things
got progressively better, and a '96-'98 model are a safer bet.
Still, these are not the most trouble-free vehicles. Sure,
they're durable, but that's different. The sheer volume and
nature of technical service bulletins issued for the Grand
Cherokee is disappointing -- the Grand Cherokee has so many
charms that it's a shame that Chrysler dropped the quality ball.
Recommendations
There's
really nothing that would prompt us recommend one particular
model over another. If you like the luxury treatment, the
Limited or TSi model is for you, otherwise the Base, SE, and
Laredo have most of the convenience equipment that really
matters and do just fine.
The
Grand Cherokee is for those who are looking for something a
little different than your standard SUV. It was the first
that actually combined sport with utility. It had to give
up some of the latter for the former, but your reward is a
go-anywhere vehicle that is fairly nimble and responsive to
drive.
We
think it was a good compromise. As long as you don't need a lot
of room or have something very heavy to tow, and can accept the
fact that its no 4Runner in the reliability department, we can't
think of another SUV we'd rather live with day in and day out.
Despite being an 8-year-old design, it is still competitive with
the latest SUVs, and in terms of off-road prowess still bests
most of them.
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General
Trim
Levels:
Base, SE, Laredo, Tsi, Limited, 5.9 Limited
Body
Styles:
4dr utility wagon
Dimensions
& Capacities
Weight:
3600-3800lbs;
4200lbs (5.9 Limited)
Length:
177.2"
Wheelbase:
105.9"
Width:
69.3-70.7"
Height:
64-65"
EPA
Class: Sport
Utility
Interior
Vol: n/a
Cargo
Vol : 40.9
Fuel:
23 gallons
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Mechanical
Layout:
Front-engine,
Rear/Four-wheel drive
Engines:
4.0L
(6cyl-185/190hp) 5.2L (8cyl-220hp) 5.9L (8cyl-245hp)
Transmission:
4-speed automatic w/overdrive; 5spd manual
Brakes:
Front
disc/rear drum (93-94 except 94 Limited); Front/rear
disc (rest) All w/ABS
Performance
(4.0L/5.2L
w/4WD)
0-60mph:
10.5/8.8
seconds 1/4 mile: 17.8/16.8 seconds Top Speed:
112/115mph (electronically limited)
EPA
Mileage:
(city/hwy) (4WD) 15/20 (4.0L); 14/18 (5.2L)
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Safety
ABS
Brakes:
Standard
Air
Bags: Driver
only ('93-'95) Dual ('96-up)
NHTSA
Safety Rating:
('97 model)
Driver
*** Passenger ****
Key:
Best:
***** No or minor injuries probable
Worst:
* Serious injury probable
IIHS
40 mph Crash Rating: Marginal
Original
Warranty:
3yr/36,000
mi limited bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance;
7yr/100,000 (93-96), 5yr/100,000 (97-98) mi
corrosion/perforation
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Government
Safety Recalls |
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NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 92V181000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 600
Year:
1993
Summary:
The
retainer cup which secures the master cylinder input rod
to the brake pedal was not installed properly, and could
work loose. Disengagement of the retainer cup will allow
free play in the attachement and can allow the input rod
to separate from the brake pedal causing complete loss
of brakes which could result in an accident. Improperly
installed retainer clips will beremoved and new retainer
clips will be properly installed.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 93V051000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 25000
Year:
1993
Summary:
The
eccentric cam adjuster bolts in both front lower
suspension arm-to-front axle bracket attachments may
fail due to assembly misalignment. Cam bolt failures
cause the vehicle to pull to one side when the brakes
are applied, resulting in a possible loss of vehicle
control and an accident. Replace the front suspension
cam bolts, cam woshers, and nuts with components of a
different design.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 93V055000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 80000
Year:
1993
Summary:
Grease applied to the liftgate latch rubber bumpers to
ease component assembly caused the bumper to swell,
interfering with the movement of the liftgate latch
pawl. This interferes with liftgate latching operation.
An unlatched liftgate can open while the vehicle is in
motion and could result in an occupant falling out. Replace
the liftgate assembly on affected vehicles.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 93V210000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 115000
Year:
1993
Summary:
The molded plastic pin which connects the upper steering
column shaft and the lower column shaft may have been
sheared prior to installation of the steering column
assembly into the vehicle. If this occurred, the upper
steering shaft will separate from the lower steering
shaft. If the upper and lower steering shafts separate,
complete loss of steering control will occur, which
could result in an accident. A restraining sleeve
will be added to the intermediate shaft to limit the
amount of steering shaft movement available.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 95V172000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 135000
Year:
1995
Summary:
The parking brake handle release button can separate
from the parking brake handle assembly, causing the
parking brake to be innoperative. The parking brake may
not hold causing the vehicle to roll inadvertently Dealers
will replace the parking brake handle assembly.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 95V193000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 32000
Year:
1996
Summary:
The fasteners which secure the alternatior circuit fuse
to the power distribution center may have an improper
clamp load. Imporoper clamping can result in arcing at
the connection potentially causing a fire in the engine
compartment. Dealers will replace the alternator fuse
with a fuse link and any damage to the power
distribution center iwll be repaired.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 96I004000
Component:
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SEAT BELTS:LAP:REAR
Year:
1993
Summary:
This is not a safety problem in accordance with Federal
Regulation 573. However, it is deemed a safety
improvement campaign by the agency. The center rear seat
belt buckle may not be accessible when the right
(passenger) side of the rear seat back is folded down in
the cargo stowage position. In the event of a collision,
the occupant of the center rear seat may not be properly
restrained and personal injury could occur. Dealers
will replace the seat belt buckle assembly.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 97I002000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 1010400
Year:
1993-95
Summary:
Vehicle Description: Multipurpose passenger vehicles
equipped with automatic transmissions. This is not a
safety recall in accordance with Federal Regulation 573.
However, it is deemed a safety
|
improvement
campaign by the agency. Drivers can mistakenly step on
the accelerator pedal when they intend to step on the
brake pedal. Pedal misapplication by a driver can cause
unintended acceleration. Dealers will install a shift
interlock on the automatic transmission of these
vehicles.
NOTE:
Chrysler has decided to conduct a safety improvement
campaign to install a shift interlock on these vehicles.
Owners can contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 97V039000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 70000
Year:
1996
Summary:
Vehicle
Description: Vehicles equipped with memory seat option.
The memory seat module wiring harness can come in
contact with the seat spring, A low resistance short
circuit can develop resulting in localized heating. The
localized heating can result in ignition of the seat
cushion material and a vehicle fire. Dealers will
relocate the memory seat control module and wiring
harness and a protective shield will be installed on the
seat frame.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 97V080000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 125000
Year:
1997
Summary:
The electrical circuit design allows the potential for
an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition
shut down. Unexpected air bag deployment can result in
occupant injury. Dealers will replace the air bag
electronic control module with a newly designed module.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 97V194000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 360000
Year:
1997
Manufactured
From: SEP 1996 To: NOV 1996
Summary:
Vehicle
Description: Multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The fuel
tank mounted fuel level sending unit accuracy can
degrade over time, indicating significantly more fuel in
reserve than is actually present. Owners may not be
aware that their vehicle is low on fuel increasing the
risk of a vehicle crash if the vehicle stops due to no
fuel. Dealers will replace the fuel level sending
unit.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 98V005000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 293369
Year:
1993
Summary:
Vehicle Description: Passenger and multi-purpose
vehicles originally sold in (or are currently registered
in) the States of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Vermont, or Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The
front disc brake rotors can experience severe corrosion
if operated for an extensive period in the "salt
belt." If the rotors are not replaced, the
corrosion can eventually compromise the structural
integrity of the stamped steel center hub section of the
rotor. The reduced strength can allow the cast iron wear
surface to separate from the hub, reducing the brake
effectiveness of the vehicle. Dealers will replace
these rotors with rotors that are coated with a
corrosion protection.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 98V006000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 65000
Year:
1996
Manufactured
From: JUL 1995 To: JUL 1996
Summary:
Vehicle
Description: Multi-purpose vehicles equipped with
"Quadra-Trac" transfer case, temporary spare
tire, and any of 225/70R16, 225/75R16 or 245/70R15 road
tires. When the temporary spare tire is in use, the
front axle can overheat. An overheated axle can force
axle fluid out of the seals, increasing the risk of a
vehicle fire. Dealers will replace the the temporary
spare tire with a full sized tire and wheel.
NHTSA
CAMPAIGN ID Number: 98V023000
Potential
Number of Units Affected: 8900
Year:
1998
Manufactured
From: OCT 1997 To: NOV 1997
Summary:
Vehicle
Description: Multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The power
brake booster vacuum reservoir diaphragm can split or
tear. This can cause an increase in engine idle speed
and a loss of power assist during brake application
without prior warning. Dealers will inspect the brake
booster date code and any boosters with the suspect
manufacturing date range will be replaced.
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