In the early nineties, Jeep was in a difficult situation. The ancestor of a comfortable SUV more and more crowded out from the market created by him. The Japanese, having offered their variants of the “urban SUV”, surpassed their American counterparts, primarily in terms of comfort. However, in 1992, Jeep took revenge. Concern Chrysler presented for all to see the most comfortable and prestigious SUV in its model range - Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. This car impressed customers with its elegant design, spacious and comfortable interior, as well as a rich bundle of most versions.
The model has become a worthy receiver of the already outdated Jeep Grand Wagoneer SJ. Initially, the Grand Cherokee was offered in four trim levels, but the simplest one (Base) was abandoned in the same 1992. The most common are Laredo and Limited. The main differences are in the types of transmissions and control units. Externally, you can distinguish one from the other by the grille (it is chrome-plated in Laredo), bumpers and door linings on the lower part of the doors (gray in Laredo and body-colored in Limited). The interior design is almost identical, but Limited will please fans of leather seats.
A very short time (from 1994 to 1995) was produced Grand Cherokee in a special version for fans of outdoor activities - Orvis. The model differed reinforced suspension, factory protection transfer case, steering rods and even the gas tank. The interior used leather in two colors: brown and green. Externally, Orvis is easy to distinguish by red, not gold, like the rest of Grand Cherokee, moldings. At the start of production, the Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ debuted with a single 4-liter gasoline 6-cylinder engine.
(178 hp). This inline 12-valve “six” consumes, according to the European standard, 11.4 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers when driving on the highway and 21 liters in city mode. Acceleration time to hundreds of km / h - 10.2 s, and the maximum speed is electronically limited to 180 km / h. In 1993, a more powerful 16-valve engine V8 volume of 5.2 liters. (212 hp). Fuel consumption per 100 km increased to 12.7 liters on the highway and 23 liters in the city.
Acceleration dynamics improved: 9.8 s to 100 km / h. The maximum speed is 200 km / h. In 1997, the model year, the most powerful 16-valve V8 engine capacity of 5.9 liters. (241 hp.). This engine consumes: 13.3 liters on the highway and 26.1 liters in the city. Up to a hundred Jeep Grand Cherokee with such an engine accelerates in just 8.2 s., The maximum speed limit is 200 km / h. On the European version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee also installed a diesel 4-cylinder 8-valve engine with a volume of 2.5 liters. (116 hp).
The diesel engine uses split combustion chambers (the so-called vortex chamber). Fuel consumption with a diesel engine is much lower than that of gasoline engines: 7.9 liters on the highway and 12.3 liters in the city. The maximum speed is 160 km / h.
Jeep Grand Cherokee for the US market was equipped with only 4-step "automatic", the lever which is located under the steering wheel. On versions for Canada and Europe, the gearshift lever is located on the tunnel between the seats. The diesel version was equipped with only 5-speed manual gearbox. All engines - longitudinally located, with a system of distributed fuel injection. In the power supply circuit of a diesel engine, turbocharging with intermediate air cooling is used.
The European version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee since 1994 (since entering the European market) has been assembled in Austria at the Steyr-Daimler-Puch joint venture. Cars are distinguished by the European distribution of headlights, the presence of turn signal on the front fenders and yellow direction indicators in the rear lights. The first generation Grand Cherokee set new standards in the off-road world. The appearance of the Grand Cherokee was so successful that it has not changed for six years. Only in 1998, the first generation Jeep Grand Cherokee was removed from production, replacing a more advanced model with the same name.
The second generation of a comfortable SUV produced under the symbol WJ. In the new version, the jeep received more smoothed lines of the body, the form of the headlamps changed, and the fog lights were successfully inserted into the front bumper, but at the same time they maintained continuity with the previous model Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. On the 1999 model, of the first-generation power units, only gasoline, with a volume of 4.0 liters, was saved. (190 hp), But two new engines appeared: a 3.1-liter 5-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 140 hp and an 8-cylinder V-shaped petrol engine with a 4.7 liter capacity of 220 hp.
For the European market is offered modification equipped with a 2.7-liter turbodiesel. All engines are completed only with automatic hydromechanical adaptive 4-step “automatic”. All-wheel drive chassis are equipped with a transfer case with the Quadra-Trac II system (in the USA - Quadra Drive II), which automatically distributes the engine torque along the axes in a ratio from 0 to 100%. The rear axle is equipped with a Van-Corn Friction Differential Differential, which regulates the distribution of torque over the wheels using an integrated viscous coupling depending on their slip. In 2003, at the Geneva Motor Show, an updated version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV was introduced.
It is easy to distinguish it from the older version in a slightly different design of the front end, where a new grille appeared, slightly different headlights with transparent caps and fog lights integrated into the bumper. And at the 2004 New York Auto Show, the third generation Jeep Grand Cherokee appeared before the public. The car offers improved power, excellent road performance and a well-equipped interior. Round halogen headlights and an aggressive grille gave the exterior identity. The car has increased in length and width, the rear lights have become larger, the windshield has become flatter, improved aerodynamic qualities.
In short, the appearance of the Grand Cherokee III has not undergone any radical changes, but still you will not confuse it with the previous generation. Inside, the SUV has changed much more - now its design is designed in the European spirit. The salon is very ergonomic, spacious and cozy. Two-tone seats harmonize with the dashboard of the same color.
The dark top of the panel plays not only an aesthetic, but also a practical role - in bright sunlight it casts less light. Seat cushions have become more elastic. In the design of the cabin used only high quality materials. The car is equipped with a Boston Acoustics audio system with 6 speakers, optionally you can order a DVD system for the rear passengers. Top model Grand Cherokee is equipped with a 5.7-liter 8-cylinder HEMI engine with a capacity of 325 liters. with .. This is the most powerful unit ever offered for the Grand Cherokee.
It also uses the technology of variable volume MDS (Multi Displacement System) - in cases where the full power of the engine is not needed, it disables 4 of eight cylinders, which saves fuel. The 4.7-liter V8, which was used in the previous generation of the model, was also improved. Now he gives 230 l. from. power and 393 Nm of torque. The base model comes with a 3.7-liter V6 with a capacity of 210 liters. from. and torque of 319 Nm.
All engines are coupled with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Brand new independent front suspension provides complete control of the driver in control and reduces the weight of the car. In the back of the set 5-lever suspension with stabilizer bar. For the first time in an off-road Jeep, the ESP is included in the basic package, which helps the driver to cope with difficult road conditions and reduces the risk of skidding. All this, as well as the increased center distance, allowed the Jeep Grand Cherokee to be brought to a whole new level. For the third-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, two new all-wheel drive systems have been developed.
The Quadra-Trac II system with a down-mounted, electronically controlled locking of the center differential and the braking system of the 4 BTC towing wheels allows the car to feel confident on the off-road. The Quadra-Drive II system with down-linking and electronic locking of 3 differentials: center, front and rear axles, provides Grand Cherokee with amazing off-road qualities. The release of the third generation of the legendary model was established at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria. A change of generations in 2004 did not bring the Jeep brand desired sales growth. A potential buyer gave their preference to more modern crossovers.
The company understood that in order to remain competitive it is necessary to give the Grand Cherokee passenger car handling, without losing the traditional customers who value the car for its off-road performance. So at the 2009 New York Auto Show, the fourth generation saw the light. The car is built on a platform borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz M-class.
The fourth-generation Grand Cherokee has absorbed all the latest technical achievements of the company, dressing them in an elegant, not devoid of family features. Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 model year began to look much more modern, more aggressive and muscular than its predecessor. In the design of the exterior, first of all, a large grille with seven vertical slots, small body overhangs and pronounced trapezoidal wheel arches attract attention. The car has become less angular, spectacular narrowed headlights not only meet fashion trends, but also give the appearance of dynamism.
In addition, the body of an SUV became more rigid, and its aerodynamic qualities improved, for example, the drag coefficient decreased to (0, 373). The interior of the Grand Cherokee meets high-quality materials and fresh style solutions. Main devices located in the yardoh separate "wells" with a chrome frame. Indications onboard computer displayed on a separate display on the dashboard. The size of the cabin is impressive. An increase of 135 mm in the wheelbase (now it is 2915 mm) allowed us to provide more space for passengers and luggage accommodation. The space for the legs of the rear passengers increased significantly, which undoubtedly had a positive effect on the level of comfort.
Not deprived of comfort and front passengers. Comfortable seats with good lateral support, with a wide range of adjustments, including the lumbar support, as well as the steering column adjustable in height and reach, offer good opportunities for choosing the optimal position. The luggage compartment volume, which is now 990 liters, and 1945 liters with the rear seats folded slightly increased slightly. Special attention is given to changes in the design of the car. Grand Cherokee now has a supporting body structure and a fully independent suspension, which is best reflected in handling and comfort when driving on high-quality roads.
In addition, the fourth generation was first introduced with the Quadra-Lift air suspension (available only in the “Overland” version), with five different settings, where each is characterized by a different level of ground clearance. In the “normal” mode (NRH), the ground clearance is 204.5 mm, in the “Off-road 1” - 242.5 mm. The “Off-road 2” mode provides 270.5 mm and is ideal for overcoming difficult areas.
In the “Park” mode, the ground clearance is 164.5 mm and is used for ease of boarding and disembarking passengers. The “Aero” mode of 189.5 mm is intended for driving on highways and is activated automatically when a certain speed is reached. A very successful addition to the air suspension is the new Selec-Terrain system. It allows the driver to choose modes to achieve optimum performance when driving on roads and off-road. The system coordinates up to 12 different systems that control the power unit, brake system and suspension, including throttle control, automatic transmission range switching, transfer case transmissions, anti-skid system and dynamic stabilization system.
The driver can choose one of five modes to obtain optimal ride quality on any roads and off-road: Sand / Mud (sand / mud), Sport (sport), Auto (auto), Snow (snow), Rock (rocks). As for the drive, here the engineers of the company did without bright prime ministers and used two time-tested schemes, however, after upgrading them. So, for example, the center differential in the Quadra Trac II drive circuit is no longer provided, the friction clutch with electronic control is responsible for torque distribution. Depending on road conditions, up to 100 percent of the torque can be realized through the wheels of one of the axles.
The transfer case is downshifted with a ratio of 2.72. The Quadra-Drive II system with rear friction differential and electronically controlled (ELSD) delivers best-in-class traction performance. The system constantly monitors the level of wheel slip and smoothly redistributes the torque between the wheels with the best grip. In some cases, the system is able to predict the onset of wheel slip and controls the distribution of torque between them to forcibly reduce the level of slip. The first time on the Russian market, the Grand Cherokee was introduced with two engine options: a completely new 3.6 and a reliable, proven over the years 5.7 HEMI engine with a power of 352 hp.
and torque of 520 N * m. This engine was equipped with the previous generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was produced from 2004 to 2010. 5.7 HEMI easily dispersed the previous body of the Grand Cherokee in 7.1 seconds, however, according to official data, in combination with the new body 5.7 shows much more modest results - 0-100 km / h in 8.7 seconds.
At the same time, 5.7 remained no less voracious, despite the system of cylinders to be disconnected. Owners of this car need to be ready for consumption of 25 liters of 95 gasoline per 100 km. 3.6 DOHC - a completely new engine designed specifically for the Jeep Grand Cherokee of the 2011 model year, shows quite decent features: power 286 hp and torque 347 N * m.
According to the manufacturer, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, equipped with a 3.6-liter engine, can accelerate to 100 km / h in 9.1 seconds. This is only 0.4 seconds slower than the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 HEMI. At the same time, the flow rate of the 3.6 DOHC is noticeably more economical than about 18 liters per 100 km in the city. Regardless of the modification, a 5-speed “automatic” with a manual gear selection function is offered as a transmission. On September 1, 2011, sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with a new 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, equipped with direct fuel injection and turbocharging, started in Russia. This engine, developed in collaboration with Fiat, develops 241 hp.
power at 4000 rpm and reaches 550 N • m of torque in the range of 1800-2800 rpm. The fuel consumption of a car equipped with this engine in the combined cycle is 8.3 l / 100 km. CO2 emissions (also in the combined cycle) - up to 218 g / km. The car is made at a high quality level in terms of safety. The design includes 45 systems and components that can help in a critical situation.
Basic equipment includes anti-lock braking system (ABS), stabilization system (ESP), seven airbags, dual-zone climate control, full power accessories, light-alloy wheels, a multimedia system with a touch screen, adaptive bi-xenon headlights. The assets of this generation are attractive appearance, rich equipment, spacious interior, good handling, decent dynamics, comfort and, of course, excellent off-road qualities. Four years later, after the debut of the fourth generation model, Jeep decided to upgrade its flagship SUV Grand Cherokee. The car of the 2014 model year was first shown to the public at the Detroit Auto Show.
The model has undergone changes both outside and inside, and also received a new diesel engine and a modified automatic transmission. Characteristic elements of the restyling were “squinting” headlights, in modern fashion, surrounded by LED strips of running lights, a modified grille and fog lights, which are now located higher on the bumper. LEDs settled in the rear lights of the new form, and the feed itself received an enlarged roof spoiler, a new bumper and twin chrome-plated tips of exhaust pipes. Inside the Grand Cherokee 2014 modernized and ennobled. In the interior decoration, which was released to a higher level, high-quality leather is widely used, combined with wood and aluminum.
The car received a three-spoke steering wheel and a gearbox selector of a new design, a fundamentally different design of the climate control unit. Individual words deserve an updated dashboard with a 7-inch TFT-display in the central part, which visually looks like a part of the speedometer on the left and an odometer - the digital image complements the analog semi-circles. The developers have promised more than 120 different options for the combination of data on the dashboard. When switching to sport mode, the devices change the backlight. The driver can choose a digital speedometer or analogue, to display detailed data about the trip.
Fuel consumption, engine temperature, tachometer, compass, power reserve - all this is displayed on the dashboard. You can also call an additional menu where you can see anything you want - from songs and calls to suspension indicators. On the front panel appeared UConnect multimedia system with a 8.4-inch touch screen. Music, navigation, picture from the rear view camera.
All controls are sensory. This screen even performs operations such as ventilation or heated seats. The place of a rather bulky lever of the “automaton” is now occupied by an elegant selector-joystick of an eight-speed automatic transmission from the German company “ZF”.
It does not obscure the buttons on the center console and is made in such a convenient form that it can serve as a stand for the hand, so that if necessary it can work with the nearby keys and knobs. The car retained the same range of engines and chassis, but received a new 8-speed automatic transmission. This gearbox, which is included in the standard equipment of all configurations, can significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions of harmful substances, improve the dynamic characteristics of the car, and also provides a smooth and fast gear shift.
If we compare the characteristics of the previous and updated Grand Cherokee, the difference is noticeable. The version with a three-liter turbodiesel still accelerates to “hundred” in 8.2 seconds, but its “appetite” has decreased to 7.5 liters of fuel per 100 km. A car with a 3.6-liter petrol V6 takes the first 100 km / h in 8.3 s (earlier - in 9.1) and consumes 10.4 liters of gasoline per hundred kilometer versus the previous 11 liters. The modification indicators with a 5.8 liter V8 also improved: they accelerated in 7.3 seconds (it was 8.7), gasoline consumption was 13 liters (it was 14.1).
The entire running and off-road arsenal of the Grand Cherokee 2014, without any modifications, took over from its predecessor. This includes the four-wheel drive system Quadra-Drive II with a constant redistribution of thrust along the axes, and the Selec-Terrain traction control system, and the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, which allows an increase in clearance of up to 28 cm.
