Manufactured and marketed by Jeep for the 2005 model year, the third generation Grand Cherokee (WK) debuted at the 2004 New York International Auto Show and subsequently in Europe at Euro Camp Jeep in Ardèche, France.
Major features included Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive, rear-seat DVD player, and optional 5.7 L Hemi V8 engine. The 3.7 L V6 engine replaced the 4.0 L straight-6 engine. Notably, the WK featured independent front suspension.
In 2008, the WK received a minor facelift with revised headlights and high intensity discharge (HID) Headlamps with auto leveling. The lower portion of the front bumper became removable to increase the approach angle for off-road use. The 4.7 L was refined, now producing 305 hp (227 kW; 309 PS), and 334 lb⋅ft (453 N⋅m).
The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee was available with an improved 5.7 L Hemi engine rated at 360 hp (268 kW; 365 PS) and 390 lb⋅ft (529 N⋅m) of torque. The engine uses variable valve timing to increase fuel economy.
The Laredo was the base trim level of the Grand Cherokee between September 19, 2004 and 2010. Standard features included: the 3.7L Power-Tech V6 engine with 5-speed automatic transmission, seventeen-inch (17") alloy wheels, a full-sized spare tire and spare wheel, cloth seating surfaces, a 6-way power front driver's seat, an A/M-F/M stereo with CD player (and later, an auxiliary audio input jack), 6 speakers, black body-side inserts and front and rear bumper inserts (both chrome in 2010), remote steering wheel-mounted audio system controls, a driver's information center (VIC), keyless entry, and more. Many features available on the luxurious Limited trim were also available on the base Laredo trim level.
The Limited added these features to the base Laredo trim: a full-sized matching spare wheel, dual power front bucket seats, premium leather seating surfaces, an A/M-F/M stereo with six-disc CD/MP3 changer, a premium 276-watt Boston Acoustics sound system with 6 speakers, heated front bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, chrome body-side inserts and front and rear bumper inserts, driver's 2-position memory, a rear-mounted fold-down center console, and more. The standard engine between 2005 and 2009 was the 4.7L Power-Tech V8 engine, while the standard engine in 2010 was the 3.7L Power-Tech V6 engine.
The Rocky Mountain and 65th Anniversary Edition were "value-added" trim levels of the Grand Cherokee for model years 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009 (Rocky Mountain) and 2006 (65th Anniversary Edition). These trim levels added the following features to the base Laredo trim: power driver's bucket seat, unique cloth seating surfaces with special embroidery, embroidered carpeted floor mats, chrome body-side inserts, an AM-FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3 changer, a premium 276-watt Boston Acoustics sound system with 6 speakers, special emblems on both front doors, special seventeen-inch (17") alloy wheels, a full-size spare, fog lights, and power double-function sunroof.
The S Limited added these features to the Limited trim: unique alloy wheels, "S" emblems on both front doors, the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine, unique premium perforated leather-and-suede seating surfaces, a GPS navigational system stereo, and more.
The Overland was the top-of-the-line trim level of the Grand Cherokee between 2006 and 2009. It added these features to the Limited trim: seventeen-inch (17") (2005-2007) or eighteen-inch (18") chrome-clad alloy wheels (these wheels could be downgraded to seventeen-inch (17") alloy wheels from 2007 to 2009), a GPS navigational system radio, Bluetooth with voice command for phone, 'Overland' badges on the tailgate, the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine, side airbags, leather-and-suede seating surfaces with 'Overland' embroidery, a sunroof, and more. The Overland took a hiatus for MY 2010, returning on the next-generation WK2 Grand Cherokee in model year 2011.
The SRT-8 was the "performance-oriented" Grand Cherokee trim level from December 20, 2005 to 2010. It added these features to the Limited trim: twenty-inch (20x9 front & 20x10 rear—U.S. spec; Four 20x9 Euro spec) polished "Alcoa" forged aluminum alloy wheels, twenty-inch (20") Good Year Eagle F1 performance tires (Goodyear Eagle RS-A EMT run flat tires: 255/45R20 front & 285/40 rear—U.S. Spec), leather-and-suede performance seating surfaces, a sunroof, a 6.1L HEMI V8 engine, mandatory 4X4, a body kit, a center-mounted dual exhaust system, 'SRT' emblems on both front doors and the tailgate, performance-tuned suspension, a special instrument cluster, carbon fiber interior trim, and more.
An SRT-8 (Street & Racing Technology V8) version of the Grand Cherokee debuted at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. Powered by a 420 hp (313 kW) version of the 6.1 L Hemi, it also features upgraded Brembo brakes, large dual performance exhaust with polished tips (exiting out the middle of the rear), Bilstein performance gas charged shocks and modified suspension components, Mercedes-Benz NAG1 (WA580) 5-speed transmission, unique NV146 transfer case, specially designed electronic all-wheel-drive system and interior and exterior updates. A drive shaft from a diesel application, fortified Dana 44 rear differential, and 11.2" (285 mm) wide Goodyear tires in the rear (10" or 255 mm in the front) complement the performance package. The sports tuned suspension allows the Jeep SRT8 to develop 0.92 g on the skid-pad.
A road test of the 2006 production model conducted by Road & Track yielded a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.6 seconds and a quarter mile dragstrip of 13.2 seconds at 104.1 mph (167.5 km/h). Such numbers made the SRT-8 Grand Cherokee the fastest accelerating vehicle within the SRT-8 lineup, second only to the Dodge Viper SRT10 among all SRT vehicles. There is no electronic speed governor employed, leaving the top speed rev-limited (revving to redline in top gear) to 170 mph (274 km/h).
To improve on-road handling and decrease weight, off-road gear has been removed. The SRT-8 uses an NV146 transfer case, which uses an electronic-applied clutch pack to transfer 0-50% of torque to the front axle but has no low-range or manual controls. The front and rear differentials are both open, with no limited-slip capability. Its ride stance is significantly lower and the front fascia spoiler gives the vehicle 7 inches (178 mm) of ground clearance. A total of 14,921 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s were manufactured.
Laredo: The Laredo served as the entry-level Grand Cherokee model offering an A/M-F/M radio with single-disc CD player (later, an auxiliary audio input jack was also added), seventeen-inch alloy wheels, power windows, door locks, side mirrors, and driver's seat, lumbar support, keyless entry with security system, cloth seating surfaces, tinted windows, and six speakers. Features such as leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, side airbags, a Boston Acoustics premium sound system, a navigation system and a CD and MP3 changer, as well as a CD/MP3/Cassette combo could be added to further enhance this model.
Limited: Limited trim added an A/M-F/M radio with six-disc in-dash CD changer, a Boston Acoustics premium sound system, full-sized spare tire, and leather seating surfaces. Features such as a sunroof, heated front seats, and chrome wheels could also be added.
Overland: The Overland added Uconnect Hands-Free Bluetooth technology, a six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 changer with navigation system, satellite radio, leather and suede seats, heated front seats, a sunroof, and chrome wheels.
In Europe, South America, South Africa and Australia, a V6 CRD engine produced by Mercedes-Benz was available from the Grand Cherokee (WK) introduction in 2005:
Note: MPG figures are based on United States Environmental Protection Agency, European combined consumption is 27.7 mpg‑imp (10.2 L/100 km; 23.1 mpg‑US).
In North America the 3.0 CRD was available for the 2007 and 2008, however the rest of the world - i.e. UK, Europe Australia etc., it had the Mercedes sourced engine for the production life of the vehicle from 2005. The Mercedes-Benz sourced unit meets stringent Euro 4 Emission standards without the need for a diesel particulate filter - which hampers vehicle efficiency, however - it includes a diesel particulate filter (North America only) to apparently further reduce exhaust emissions. It was not however available for sale in California or certain Northeast states, due to new stricter emissions regulations for non-commercial vehicles. Vehicles could be bought used in California and Northeast states, as the regulations only applied to new vehicles.
This engine is also used in the majority of Mercedes-Benz vehicles: C-Class, CLS, E-Class, S-Class, ML-Class, GLK-Class, GL-Class, G-Class, R-Class, the Vito / Viano, and the Dodge / Freightliner / Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
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