Cars

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the top-of-the line model from the Jeep Division of Daimler/Chrysler. The 2004 Grand Cherokee is a true Jeep. Its primary mission in life is off-road travel. On-road travel is intended to be the second function. However, it packs in a multitude of options including leather seats and a programmable body computer.

Two new frills packages have been added to the original Laredo Limited and to the Overland trim levels. The 2004 Cherokee Special Edition package with four-wheel drive has fog lamps, a ten-CD changer with Infinity speakers and a cassette player. Also available is the DVD-based navigation system and a new Navigation Radio featuring a 4.9" display screen. The Freedom package has a bright silver front fascia, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels and a uniquely painted front grill.

The vehicle exterior features include the well known upright grill, a standard roof rack, and a rear lift-gate window which opens separately. The sports utility vehicle styling is more rounded than some of its rivals. Its dimensions are 181.6" long on a 105.9" wheelbase. It measures 69.4" tall and 72.3" wide.

Interior leather upholstery is optional in the Laredo, but standard in all other versions. The van will transport up to five people and holds 71.7 cubic feet of cargo. The spare tire disappears under the rear cargo floor.

Standard Laredo equipment includes a CD player, rear privacy glass, and power mirrors, locks and windows. Moving up to the Limited model means features such as heated mirrors and automatic dual-zone temperature control. Another step up with the Overland model and you have heated front seats, a wood steering wheel with leather wraps, and rain-sensing wipers.

Under the hood is the standard 195-hp, 4.0 liter inline-6-cylinder carrier engine, driving a four-speed automatic transmission, which also appears in models with the Special Edition package. The standard Freedom package model teams a five-speed automatic with a 235-hp, 4.7 liter V-8 engine. The Overland model gets a 265-hp version of the V-8.

Available drive systems in the Cherokee include Selec-Trac -- the Laredo model standard; Quadra-Trac II -- standard for the Limited and Special Edition package models; Quadra-Trac I - optional on the Quadra-Drive - the Overland standard which combines Vari-Lok axles and Quadra-Trac II.

Also important to mention are the Jeep Grand Cherokee safety features - standard all-disc antilock brakes and side curtain airbags which are standard for the Overland and included as options in other models.

Article Published: Saturday 30th December 2006