Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999-2005 used car review

The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers off-road ability and luxury. It is costly to fuel and feels poorly set up for on-road driving.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was launched into New Zealand in 1999 as the flagship of the brand’s range. Its luxury interior and specifications overshadowed its off-road credentials, which included proper ground clearance and automatic four-wheel drive. Although the Jeep brand is American, cars sold in New Zealand were built in Austria.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee feels luxurious, with large soft, thick leather finishes and seats. In some areas the plastics feel a little hard and cheap, and the wood trim is very glossy and fake. The steering wheel features Audi controls in an unusual spot behind the steering wheel. 

Above the windscreen is a small digital information display. There are separate climate-control settings for the driver and passenger, and the system uses infrared sensors to measure the temperature of the passengers for more precise control. The stereo is powerful and bass-heavy.

The heated front seats are very soft yet comfortable, although when cornering they do not do a great job of keeping you in place. The driver’s seat can be adjusted electrically. The outer seats in the second row are sculpted and comfortable, though this makes the centre position smaller and more of an occasional seat. Rear leg and headroom are not as good as you would expect, considering the Jeep’s size.

The boot is broad though not very deep and should hold four to five large cases. The rear seat folds forward and a fold-down panel covers the gap between the boot and seat back for a relatively flat floor. Tiedown points and a luggage net help keep your load in place.

Performance is reasonable and loads don’t bother the car. The engine also makes a throaty rumble when accelerating and a nice burble at idle. The transmission is called a four-speed automatic though, oddly, mechanically it is a six-speed unit with software that allows it to use five of the ratios. It is smooth enough but not quick to shift.

The Jeep’s suspension is soft and the car feels wobbly and bouncy on the road - it does not like to be pushed hard through corners and is best driven in a relaxed way.

There is a lot of body roll. The payoff to this is that it is excellent off the road, with decent ground clearance and a smart “Quadra-drive” four-wheel drive system. That includes a low-range transfer case and a centre locking differential.

The three large rear headrests restrict vision to the back of the vehicle, which makes it tricky to park. Parking sensors and cameras were not standard and we recommend having a system added. You can buy one to fit yourself from $50 or have a professional do it from $200.

Towing is something the Jeep does well. The Overland can pull 750kg unbraked (a medium-size garden trailer) and up to 2,950kg braked (a medium-to-large trailer boat.

The exhaust manifold bolts can come loose which will lead to exhaust gases leaking. Be alert for an odd sound from the exhaust or the smell of exhaust fumes.

Transmissions are known to fail so make sure they shift smoothly. Also, look out for leaks from the transmission as fluid can enter the wiring harness and cause further damage. A shudder or thump on take-off can indicate an issue with the lock-up torque converter.

The rear upper and lower control arm bushes are prone to premature wear, often detected by rattling or banging at the rear while driving over uneven surfaces. The shock absorbers need replacing more often than on most cars and can fail at a level as low as 50,000km.

As mentioned, many of the interior plastics are of low quality. The most common issue is the cracking and eventual breakage of the internal door handle units, around the lever hinge themselves, rendering the door unable to be opened from inside.

This model has suffered from the inexplicable and random failure of all dashboard and cluster lights, lighting units and accessories while driving. It does not prevent the vehicle from being driven but it can certainly prove dangerous at night. Wiring replacements, re-flashes at the dealership and a fault in the starter motor grounding have been attributed as causes.

Stalling altogether - a complete loss of power while driving - has been traced to a fault in the steering column ignition barrel unit, which will require expensive replacement. Again, this symptom can be random and without warning.

Other interior issues to watch for include horn units not working, failure of the air-conditioning unit, electric window regulators and central locking mechanisms, seat anchorage mount cracking and premature wear of the leather seating material.

Japanese import models were available in Laredo and Limited trims. Unlike the New Zealand models, the Limited was available as a six-cylinder.

This review covers the Jeep Grand Cherokee for model years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.

*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.