- suv 105,871
- Rutherfordton, NC
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- autoshopper.com
2004 jeep grand cherokee review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Introduced more than a decade ago and redesigned five years ago, it lacks the refinement found in the latest wave of suvs. People were fawning over it. Granted, it was an inferno red overland model. Granted, the 2004 models feature a new front fascia that updates and freshens the looks. The point is, people still love the grand cherokee even though it's been a familiar site for some time now. and they continue to buy them. Grand cherokee ranks among the best-selling suvs in america. Jeep sells about 220,000 grand cherokees a year. That's a whole big bunch. Grand cherokee sales outrank such popular nameplates as tahoe, suburban, yukon, expedition, and durango. And the imports don't even come close. In one month, september 2003, jeep sold 16,410 grand cherokees, which would not be a bad half-year for the mercedes m-class or bmw x5. This drives other manufacturers crazy. The marketing people for every suv sold in america list grand cherokee as a competitor simply because jeep sells so many of them. why is grand cherokee so successful? For starters, everyone knows what it is. The jeep grand cherokee combines luxury with impressive off-road capability. It served as a symbol of success throughout the 1990s. It can tackle steep slopes, slog through mud, and plow through snow. It's reasonably quick with the available high-output 4. 7-liter v8. It was completely redesigned for 1999. It has been continuously revised since for improved ride quality, easier steering effort, improved brake pedal feel, and increased safety and convenience. grand cherokee is luxuriously appointed yet competitively priced. Its interior is attractive and tastefully trimmed in handsome wood. Its list of features looks impressive. Msrps range from $26,980 for a six-cylinder 2wd laredo to $38,995 for a 4wd overland with a v8. Hordes of new suvs offer a smoother ride, better handling and more refinement. Grand cherokee has a relatively rough ride. Its new navigation screen is relatively small (though the system itself is modern and the screen works great for displaying radio stations). Its radio buttons are small, fussy and hard to operate. And in many other ways it does not feel like a contemporary product. Until then, the current model strives to deliver the american dream. lineupjeep has expanded the grand cherokee line to five for 2004: laredo 27,260), limited 32,190), and overland 37,015) continue. A new special edition model has been added along with a new freedom edition. This inline-6 with overhead valves is rated at 195 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. A 4. 7-liter overhead-valve v8 is available that develops 235 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and comes with a five-speed automatic transmission. a high-output version of the 4. 7-liter v8, with 265 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, is standard on overland and optional on limited, special edition, and freedom edition models. The v8 comes with the five-speed automatic transmission plus goodyear wrangler eagle es p235/65r17 tires. laredo, the base model, comes with a high level of standard equipment, including a six-speaker infinity sound system with cd player, cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, tilt steering, cruise control, and power windows, mirrors and locks. the new two special edition models are essentially packages added to the laredo. The special edition features the monochromatic exterior design cues of the limited model, plus fog lamps and an am/fm/ cassette/10-disc cd audio system with infinity speakers. Special edition 4wd models are upgraded with the quadra trac ii transfer case. The freedom edition adds high-back cloth seats with jeep logo embroidery on driver and passenger seat backs and chrome tow hooks. more luxurious is the limited model, which adds leather upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, fog lights, universal garage door opener, low-back bucket seats, and other features. A 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, a memory function for the driver's seat and mirrors, and other features are available in option packages. overland adds satin-silver aluminum wheels and metallic-painted side rock rails. Overland comes with a 10-disc cd changer and express-open power sunroof. Ceiling-mounted side-curtain air bags are standard. walkaroundthe 2004 jeep grand cherokee gets a fresh look with a new front fascia, new grille and new fog lamp appearance for all models. grand cherokee is readily identifiable in a market crowded with on-road suvs. From its jailhouse grille to its squared-off wheel openings, there's no mistaking the grand cherokee for anything but a jeep. Short front and rear overhangs contribute to its off-road capability, and to its pulled-taught styling. Slightly rounded edges and a subtle bulge in the roofline modernize, but do not detract from, a design heritage traceable to the 1941 original. interiorthe interior of the grand cherokee is attractive and comfortable. The overland's redwood burl wood trim is attractive and tastefully applied (and it is wood, not plastic). the front seats are comfortable, though they seem cushy for serious off-road driving. Tall drivers with long legs will find themselves moving the pedals all the way forward (away from them). The pedals automatically reposition themselves with the seats and mirrors when the available memory function is activated, a boon to couples who are significantly taller or shorter than their significant other. That feature relieves the long reach to the dashboard for the radio controls, a reach made longer by the grand cherokee's high seating position. the gauges on limited and overland models are electroluminescent, so the dials themselves appear to glow at night. It's a more pleasing look than the conventional setup, where the pointers and numerals are lighted against a darker background. the new navigation system 1,200) nicely integrates the global positioning satellite data with the radio controls. The 4. 9-inch full-color display on the center console is relatively small by contemporary standards, but it's a crisp readout that displays a map of the surrounding area. On the other hand, this system costs less than most navigation systems. The screen does an outstanding job of displaying radio stations in big, crisp numerals. the stereo system buttons themselves are too small and too hard to operate while driving. Annoyingly, there's a separate set button for station presets, more awkward than the more common method of holding down a preset button for a few seconds. This same awkward button is used for navigation functions. The available cd changer is mounted in the right rear of the cargo compartment in a form-fitting compartment, not as handy as an in-dash changer. big knobs make adjusting cabin temperature quick and easy. rear legroom is tight for long-distance trips with large fishing buddies, but adequate for a night on the town with another couple. Climbing into the back seats is relatively easy thanks to wide doors. the rear seats fold flat (after removing the headrests) to reveal a decent-sized cargo compartment with a flat floor. Tie downs are provided on the sides and floor, handy for securing cargo. The rear tire lies under the floor, which allows mor. Climate Control✔ AM/FM✔ Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ Navigation System✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ CD Player✔ Aluminum Wheels
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