Grand Cherokee is offered in base Laredo, midline Limited, luxury Overland, and sporty SRT8 versions. A 210-hp 3.7-liter V6 is standard on Laredo. A 235-hp 4.7-liter V8 is standard on Limited, optional on Laredo. The 330-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8 from Jeep-parent Chrysler is standard on Overland and optional on Limited. The 5.7 has Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System to deactivate four cylinders while cruising to save fuel. SRT8 has a 420-hp 6.1-liter Hemi V8 without the system. Newly optional on all but the SRT8 is a 215-hp 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel. All engines use a 5-speed automatic transmission. SRT8 has all-wheel drive. Other Grand Cherokees come in rear-wheel-drive and AWD versions. AWD models with the 3.0-, 4.7-, or 5.7-liter engine include low-range gearing; that system is optional with the 3.7, not offered on the SRT8.History
The Grand Cherokee's appearance is led by Jeep's signature seven-slot grille, which is flanked by round headlamps. The grille is body-colored on the Laredo model, chrome on the Limited and wire lattice on the Overland.
With the Hemi V-8, this Jeep starts off with a leap. Acceleration is less assertive at highway speeds, but the automatic transmission performs well on steep upgrades by downshifting promptly when you push the accelerator.
The V-6 is short on power going up steeper grades, but otherwise its performance will suffice for most drivers. After a sluggish startup, speed actually rises fairly rapidly. Jeep's 4.7-liter V-8 is an appealing compromise — closer to the V-6, though more refined.
Cladding is available on the Laredo for 2007 as part of an appearance upgrade. The SUV has what Jeep calls "powerful" wheel flares. Built on a 109.5-inch wheelbase, the Grand Cherokee is 186.6 inches long overall and 67.7 inches tall, with a 62-inch track width. Jeep says it has revised the SUV's rear taillights, and Red Rock Crystal, Light Graystone, Steel Blue Metallic, Jeep Green Metallic and Mineral Gray Metallic are new color options for 2007.
nterior materials are dramatically improved over the previous generation's, which left much to be desired. The atmosphere inside the latest Grand Cherokee is light, comfortable, and more enveloping than the previous model; from the driver's perspective it's more bolted in than hanging on, with lots of seat adjustment, excellent outward vision around relatively slim windshield posts, and with all the switches and controls clearly labeled and easy to find and use. In back is nearly 70 cubic feet of cargo space. A more sophisticated suspension gives the current Grand Cherokee much better handling than that of pre-2005 models, with less leaning in corners, along with better ride quality. Its turning radius is tighter, too, good for crowded parking lots. All four available engines are modern. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is particularly good for towing or driving at higher elevations. The SRT8 has a 420-hp 6.1-liter Hemi and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than five seconds. The smaller, 4.7-liter overhead-cam V8 works quite well, however, and the standard overhead-cam V6 is a big improvement over Jeep's old overhead-valve inline-6.