Used 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Consumer Reviews
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Likes Gas Stations
Just about everything I hoped it would be. It is what every sixty-something should drive both on and off road.
Can you say HEMI?
Attracted to the sleek lines, tried the HEMI and there was no looking back. This is definitely the best SUV that I have ever driven. From Rovers to Hummers. There is no comparison to hitting the accelerator of the HEMI and being driven back in the seat! You have to drive it to believe it.
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,99512 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,490119 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,871129 mi away
Good but need improvements
Car is an excellent option for the price, but need to improve quality. I've just owned this car since December 2005 and it's been in service department 3 times. The last time, we needed to change something on the 4x4 system and it took 2 months to get that part delivered from Chrysler.
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4
I traded in my 2004 Subaru WRX for this vehicle because it was more practical. I have to say that I am very impressed with the Jeep. The engine has substantial power, there is ample cabin space and she handles extremely well for a truck her size. The exterior of the Jeep is beautiful. I have the metallic black model with the black grill and the black side moldings and it is very sharp. People stare at her all the time. I even stare it her all the time. The vehicle is excellent and I highly recommend the Grand Cherokee to anyone who is in the market for an SUV.
Transmission problems
I received my jeep as a Christmas present. It has been amazing! I had so many problems with getting my other cars stuck in the snow. It was a major relief to get my jeep. I never got stuck again! However, my jeep has a very inconvenient problem. Sometime when I drive it the transmission will not shift. I have to pull over and turn off the vehicle, but then it works just fine! Also, the tire pressure light comes on randomly and makes a dinging noise. I like how my jeep heats up fast and the heated seats work wonderful.
4 Month Review: Still Outstanding!
We have owned this vehicle for 4 months now and we are very impressed. We have put 5K miles on it with no troubles. Just within the last week, the Jeep was given 5 star front driver, front passenger, front side, and rear side impact ratings! It (4x4 version) also got 4 star rollover rating which is highest of any SUV tested. Gas mileage is around 14-16 in Washington DC metro driving and 21- 24 in highway driving. I cannot complain about that. The width of the back seat is fantastic for our son's car seat and still room enough for two more adults. It rides and handles great. Very enjoyable to drive as you have a large cabin feel. Great vehicle.
great off road, not so hot anywhere else
The new driver's side hand grip sticks out way too far-- it's a driving hazard. The sound system is way too complicated and not much bang for the buck. I LOVE the off-road handling which is why we bought it. The Hemi engine is great but the pain at the gas pump really hurts -- couldn't it get better mileage? I find the comfort and seeing/views from the drivers' side to be much worse than our previous SUVs -- '93 and '03 Ford Explorers. But out in the desert? Stay outta my way!
Excellent Choice
I lease these very 3 yrs or so - this is my 4th Jeep grand Cherokee and by far the best one yet. I got it with the Hemi 5.7L engine which while it is not great on gas, is a lot of fun to drive. It has amazing power and speed for an SUV.
Not Bad At All!
WE bought it just to tow our camper! We added a tow bar to tow our camper and have made seven trips so far. Even with the 6cyl 3.7, it pulls and rides like a charm! Just recently we have had to have the drivers door seal replaced due to it protruding out a little far when you enter the drivers seat. The back seat leg room is tight for an adult, but is good for kids.
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
With the Hemi and cruise control you can achieve around 17.9 mpg. Not bad for an engine with this much power. The engine does use 5w-20 oil though. Not a common gas station item. The ride however is excellent. Test drive one. The only concern is this is the first year of it's production. Good luck, and happy hunting.
Better Styling, Less Comfort
Great looking car, but nowhere near as comfortable as my previous model Grand Cherokee.
Great Design, Mechanics Questionable
Bought used with 32,000 miles. Transmission began to leak from a bad seal but was covered by warranty. Transmission also does not feel like it shifts properly, with hesitation especially on an incline. Check engine light came on just after warranty went out, unsure of the problem. Fuel mileage is good for an SUV, 22 mpg on long trips 17 in town. Ample room, I am 6'4" and am comfortable, except if the car seat is behind me then it is very cramped. 4wd is great in the snow.
My New SUV
An excellent automobile, and quite a bit better than even the 2004 which I had. It is super quiet, powerful and smooth riding. It is a quality automobile.
Jeep limited
Great car. Love everything about it except the fuel mileage. Haven't been able to take any long trips as yet due to illness in the family. I am anxious to see if the valve cutout system actually makes a difference on steady speeds over a long period of time. Handles like a dream, low center of gravity makes it handle on curves wonderfully. Acceleration is superb.
What a Ride
The new Limited Laredo with the Hemi engine as compared to the last 2 Jeeps owned is SUPERIOR! The ride is smooth, plenty of power to tow, it is quiet and fun to drive. Yes, the gas mileage is what the sticker says (16.5 in town and 19 highway) but is worth the slight additional cost in fuel. We have not experienced any problems during the first 2000 miles and I would recommend this vehicle to anyone.
Sparkling performer
Third Limited owned. Best by far. Hemi is king. Quick and smooth acceleration. Monster on the highway. Gas guzzles for sure but what do you expect from a 340 hp performer in an SUV that loves to be hammered? Off road ops is sweet and steady. Jeep knows how to track in the trenches. Let it snow.
Could of bought any car
Quite frankly, I am in a position that I could have bought any new SUV of my choice. When I saw an ad for the new Grand Cherokee, I was immediately intrigued as I owned the last model and it was a fun ride. Went to the dealer, drove it off the lot, and that was it. The main complaint I had with the old Jeep was it was the ride was a bit bouncy. Well, they have taken care of that and the ride, power, and technology really should elevate this car to compete with the next price category up in the mid-size SUV ($50k+). I did have one problem with a dial on the navigation system and had to have the entire stereo/nav system replaced.
I Love Jeeps... BUT!
I have had this JGC for 10 months. Within that time I have had to send it in for 2 major repairs. This car has already cost me $1,700 to fix and according to the mechanic, who just replaced my starter, servos and battery, I will be needing a new Water Pump soon. That's another $600 fix. In addition to the mechanical fixes there are several issues that I have let slide, including burnt out LED's in the dash ($150 to repair), window motor broken, AC not getting cold, and door lock getting stuck. This Jeep has been a NIGHTMARE. I've owned 4 jeeps and will probably never buy another one again.
A Must-SEE
This SUV gives everyone an incredibly reliable SUV while still having the comfort and luxury of a car. Honestly, it feels like I'm driving on a cloud, it's like I don't even feel the ground under me.
Seats!
The seats are not comfortable. Water stains the seats, raindrops, sweat, anything. I have had nothing but trouble with this vehicle. It has been in the shop several times for the transmission. I wish I haven't bought this vehicle.
First Jeep
What an awesome SUV! I never knew Jeeps were so awesome; driving feels both like driving a luxury SUV and a sport SUV all in one. I think I'm hooked.
Fit and Finish could use some help
Overall much improved from previous models in design, comfort, ride and handling.
First Jeep
Gotta love the Hemi! Hard to stay off the gas. Nav system amazingly accurate and useful, but not intuitive to use. Fully equipped Limited has so many bells and whistles, quality time with manuals is required to set/operate. Also own '99 BMW540i 6-speed and '87 Porsche 944S 5-speed and will usually choose the Grand Cherokee for most drives; really defines "sport/utility" and something of a "stealth" vehicle in the black crystal pearl color. Could almost be called "poor mans" Porsche Cayenne, but is a much more attractive SUV!
TRANY IS JUNK
bought this vehicle Jan 09, with 17000 miles on it and thought I had purchased a good vehicle. have owner several jeeps before without problems , all being wranglers so I would consider myself a loyal Jeep owner. The transmission light on the dash has came off and on several times but has never acted or done anything weird and went out. Just prior to reaching 22,000 miles the transmission just died. I could manually shift in 1st 2nd and reverse and thats it. just took it to the dealer and they have to rebuild it. as I was looking through these posts I think this wont be the last time either. DON'T buy this vehicle. If the trany drops after 22,000 miles I cant wait to see what else will happen
My First SUV is a Jeep
I looked a lot of vehicles and then I bought the Laredo with the X package. I drove two Limiteds (one with the Hemi), before deciding that I didn't want all that chrome on the outside with a wood interior on the inside. I got it with the 4.7 V8 and it has plenty of power. Unless you need to tow "bigger stuff" the 4.7 is plenty good and fun. It handles wonderfully well and doesn't "feel" as big as it is. It's very nimble and can make very nice (legal) U-turns. With the cornucopia of a la carte options you can really get the Jeep YOU want. It's both a blessing and a curse as figuring out what you can get and what you do get can sometimes be confusing. Do your homework BEFORE you go out.
my fourth Cherokee
Looks good, and is comfortable. The gas mileage is poor (I had the 4.7l in my previous one, which got 2 mpg better); head clearance is awful if you're 5'9" or above, and to make matters worse they removed the 6-way power seat and put in a 4-way so that you can't lower the seat height. The four wheel drive is suspect (I have gotten it stuck twice already). Jeep has sacrificed little comforts also such as removing the sun visor extensions which is annoying, but that "trail rated" badge sure is nifty. Forget changing your own oil, or doing other "minor repairs" unless you have a garage with a lift, and a degree from MIT. Somewhere jeep has lost its identity to the soccer moms. Good luck.
Owner
Very dependable and reliable vehicle with a lot of comfort. Made very well only needs a little improvement. Would recommend it to everyone for purchase. The pricing and service is excellent. Not much else to say except if you need a vehicle Jeep is the way to go. Dollar for dollar you receive a good quality product for your investment and it is money well spent. With this vehicle you have peace of mind for safety security knowing this vehicle is a fine SUV.
Great looking, Driving 4x4 Vehicle
Bought vehicle for wife and family, before family grew too big. Wife loved the car. Drove great on the highway. No reliability issues while we owned the vehicle.
Great Off Road and On Road
I wanted a capable SUV for weekend camping, trail riding, and exploring. To complicate matters, I also wanted luxury ride, classic looks, and serious horsepower for time on the open road. After research, I chose the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 Hemi with offroad/towing packages. With 5900 miles, I've made these observations: Off Road: Handles sand (beach), rocky/muddy trails (camping) with no drama -- on stock tires. Even while running through mud it makes it easily on stock tires. On Road: Quiet ride, good leather quality, great audio, and accelerates like a sportscar. There is some headtoss over bumps, but overall much better than my previous '03 Grand Cherokee Overland. The controls are intuitive.
comparison buying
I traded in a Range Rover for my Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi engine). Rovers are good but very high maintenance, and too many mechanical problems. My Jeep is very reliable, and the upgrades make it a pleasure to drive. I feel safe and at the same time enjoy driving my vehicle. I have owned two Rovers, and this is my third Jeep. I will never go back to the overpriced Rover with all the maintenance headaches. Jeep off-road performance is excellent, and like most 4x4's, it depends on off-road driver knowledge to fully appreciate its ability. I am as proud driving my Jeep on the highways as I was with the "prestigious" Range Rover. I receive as many compliments on my Jeep as I did with my Rover.
Performance and Style Review
I traded in my 1998 Range Rover for my 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited w/5.7 Hemi. I'll never go back to a Land Rover brand vehicle.
LUV 2 Drive
I love this car! We had an Isuzu before this. It was great, but not enough guts to tow anything. We also have a CJ5 & 2003 Wrangler now.
Power and Looks
Recently I purchased a boat which weights approximately 6,000 lbs. I looked at trucks to purchase to pull my new toy; however, a four door crew cab would not fit into my garage. I bought a Limited Grand Cherokee, Hemi engine. Perfect size for my garage and plenty of power to pull the boat up steep mountains. Since I do not need to have a lot of space in a SUV, I am very happy with my new Jeep.
Help
Have this JGC with over 100,000 miles runs great but today while driving all the gauges went on and off the rpm dropped to 0 but the car didn't stop or decrease in speed.
Best SUV on Market
This is our 5th Grand Cherokee. They all seem to get better. We tow the Cherokee behind a 40 foot motorhome and we don't know its there. We have had many people admire this one as the interior is something special. As long as Chrysler keeps this style in production we will keep buying them. We live where there is snow and the full time 4 wheel drive does the job.
Love to drive my Jeep Limited Hemi----
Love that SUV. I own a BMW 330ci and 540M Sport and choose my Jeep in the morning to drive to work. I tested several SUV's and picked this one because of its handling (especially), power, looks and options for the price. Love the way it feels on the road. I travel for work quite a bit. I like the Bluetooth Technology, love the stereo. I am truly impressed with this car. Anyone looking for an SUV must test drive this one. Gas mileage stinks, "but who cares" when this vehicle is so much fun to drive.
Best Jeep Yet
This is a much better Jeep than in previous years. Engine is powerful and responsive, and the ride is quiet and smooth. Handling is true and the car doesn't wander over the road as my 2004 Laredo did. So far, it has been a quality ride.
Excellent vehicle
I have owned earlier models of this vehicle, 96 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland and it is hard to believe how much my 2005 has improved just over the 2003; ride, handling and of course performance. The gas mileage is good -- 17 average locally with a lot of stop and go driving, mostly trips of 10 miles or less. I have been very pleased with it.
New Jeep
Great new ride -- clearly major German influence in build quality and state of the art features.
Limited Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi
This is my 3rd Jeep and this new one is the best ever. It is more stable on the road and around corners. The Hemi is great and gives that surge of power when needed. I have taken it on a long trip and it was very comfortable. No back aches or leg aches. The navigation is great and the smart high beams are amazing. I would recommend this quality vehicle to everyone.
Love my jeep
This is my 5th jeep and i just love them if you take care of it it will take care of you. 3.7 has nice power and stopping is nice. great American made auto.
The new 2005 Jeep with Hemi engine
I had a Jeep for years and waited till the 2005 came out with the new body and all new features. I have never driven such a quality vehicle in this price range. With the new suspension and new Hemi 5.7 engine it is a truly wonderful drive. It has the pick up you need and the smoothness for complete comfort.
Nice ride
The ride in the 2005 is 10 times better then the prior years, it floats on the road. I love my Jeep and so does everyone who gets in. The only thing I have to say is that I get horrible gas mileage. Also, there are more and more rattling noises, but other than that, so far so good.
Some good some bad
When I bought this car new, it was absolutely what I wanted - for about 10 miles. I had to turn in the car I bought and get a whole new vehicle because nobody could figure out why there was so much terrible wind noise and why is sputtered going up hills in low gear. The new one had similar transmission problems but a recall fix eliminated 99% of the sputtering. When the AC is really cranked, it can sputter a little at times at low speed when trying accelerate. However, this car has been really a gem other than that. No mechanical issues, good ride, takes off road bumps like a champ, and has been remarkably maneuverable in avoiding accidents. Great family car.
TERRIBLE NEVER BUYING ANOTHER
I bought my 05 Jeep Grand cherokee in June of 2008 and have had nothing but problems since day one. Right away the starter went and then from there on the list is endless now the rear end is leaking the car only has 54,000 miles on it and it's sitting in a driveway because within the past 3 weeks it has cost me over $2,000 in repairs. love my jeep but it is really getting ridiculous. I am looking into trading it in for a brand new honda, no more jeeps even though I have loved them my whole life. I guess it's just the luck of the draw some people have good luck others do not.
Best Jeep Grand Cherokee Yet
This is our 3rd Jeep Grand Cherokee. We owned a 1993 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (V8 w/QuadraDrive) and 2001 GC Laredo (6 cylinder). This time we got the Hemi with QuadraDrive II. We loved the '93 Wagoneer. Hated the 6 cylinder Laredo. We love the 2005 GC with Hemi. It rides like our 2001 Audi Allroad. The ride and handling is like a European sports sedan. The acceleration is awesome. The QuadraDrive II did exceptionally during the last New England snow storm. It tracked perfectly without any slippage. The traction and stability control truly enhances the QuadraDrive system--this Jeep can go anywhere. The Bluetooth link to the cell phone is a very nice feature. The navigation system works flawlessly.
Awesome
Except for having a rear view mirror in my view, i don't have any complaints. I've driven mine into a ditch on the interstate, off-road, very off-road, on gravel, and it's a great ride and I've never broken anything on it. Built like a tank. GET ONE!
Love-Dislike relationship
Bought with 600 miles - two weeks after purchase in shop for blower motor in fan, gas cap light on, whistle in air conditioner. 1 month later - gas cap light on, still noise in a/c, wind noise from all doors, low voltage light. 2 weeks later - gas cap light on, seats badly stained from water, etc! 6 days later - check engine light on, still noise in a/c (after being repaired-ha-each time). 1 1/2 months later - seats replaced; still stain, noise still in a/c, problem with rear vent. Had surgery, so not driven for a bit. May 06 - wind noise around all doors, sway bar links bad, 4WD light on, bumper paint peeling. All have been repaired, but Jeep customer service is a joke and can't get answer on lemon status.
2005 Jeep
Bought this vehicle to replace my 1999 GMC truck that I wrecked. The vehicle was still under factor warranty when I bought the car. I'm getting 18-20 mph around town and 20-24 on the road. I like the design of the Jeep and the ride and for the price it was the best deal that I could find. Had to have something large enough for a family of t but still got decent MPH.
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo
Pros: The '05 is quieter and has a smoother ride than the older models. Cons: The gas tank is smaller than the older models, so I'm filling up sooner. Plus, this model is bigger and more square; sometimes can difficult to park because of this.