History of the Jeep Grand Cherokee

While the Grand Cherokee's first production model year was 1993, the origins of the model date back to 1983, when AMC, Jeep's parent company at the time, began designing a successor for the Jeep Cherokee. However, Chrysler bought Jeep from AMC in 1987 and picked up the development. The first generation Jeep Grand Cherokee debuted at Detroit's North American International Auto Show. The revealing was anything but subtle, as then-Chrysler president Robert Lutz drove Detroit's then-mayor, Coleman Young, from the Jefferson North Assembly Plant up the steps of the event venue and through a pane of glass. The first 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee models went on sale in the luxury SUV market in April of 1992. The 1993 Grand Cherokee featured a 4.0L straight-six engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Features for the first-generation Grand Cherokee included five-spoke alloy wheels, cruise control power windows, power door locks, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more. After the 1998 model year, the first generation, named ZJ, was discontinued, making way for the second generation.

The second generation Grand Cherokee, named WJ, came in 1999 and shared just 127 components with the previous generation, most of which were just fasteners. A notable upgrade for the second Grand Cherokee generation was the automatic Quadra-Drive four-wheel-drive transfer case, with 4-All Time, Neutral, and 4-Lo modes. The transmission was also upgraded for the second generation. The interior was also upgraded for more comfort and convenience. These upgrades included heated seats, dual-zone climate control, larger rear doors, a larger rear seat area, and more. In 2004, the second-generation Grand Cherokee received a minor facelift, adding fog lights, a lower front fascia, and a new body-color inset grille design. 

 In 2004, Jeep introduced the third-generation Grand Cherokee WK for the 2005 model year with most of the updates coming from the powertrain. This introduced a 3.7L V6 engine along with an optional 5.7L HEMI V8. Other optional features for the 2005 Grand Cherokee included a rear-seat DVD player and Quadra-Drive II 4x4. Additionally, the WK Grand Cherokee generation replaced the leading-arms live-axle front suspension of the previous two generations with an independent double-wishbone suspension. In 2008, the Grand Cherokee WK received a slight facelift, adding optional HID headlamps with auto leveling and reshaped headlights. In 2009, the 5.7L HEMI was upgraded to provide an additional 32 horsepower. The 2006 Grand Cherokee saw the introduction of the 6.1L V8, exclusive to the SRT8 trim. 

The Grand Cherokee's fourth generation, dubbed WK2, was introduced for the 2011 model year and lasted through 2021. It featured a new four-wheel independent suspension system for better on-road handling and performance. The WK2 introduced the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that has remained standard equipment since 2011, while the 5.7L HEMI V8 remained optional. The SRT8 trim remained, but implemented a 6.4L HEMI V8. Meanwhile, the Trackhawk trim, introduced in 2018, borrowed the Hellcat engine from Dodge. The 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 gave the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk a ground-shaking 707 horsepower. The WK2 also introduced Jeep's Selec-Terrain traction management system, featuring Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud, and available Rock modes. In the 2022 model year, Jeep rolled out the fifth generation Grand Cherokee WL, which was marketed alongside the WK2 during the 2022 model year, before the WK2 was discontinued in 2023. 

The fifth-generation Grand Cherokee WL was introduced for the 2023 model year, bringing some of the model's most significant upgrades. The overall appearance of the Grand Cherokee was redesigned, with an upgraded grille that nods at Jeep's heritage with a wide, forward-leaning posture. While still featuring the streamlined, aerodynamic design, the shape and size of the Grand Cherokee WL is noticeably different. Additionally, three 4x4 systems are available for the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee: Quadra-Trac I full-time automatic 4x4, Quadra-Trac II with 4-Lo mode, and Quadra-Drive II with an electronic limited-slip rear differential. The 2022 model year also saw the introduction of two brand-new Grand Cherokee models. The first of which was the three-row Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Cherokee L features a 2+3+2 layout as standard equipment, meaning two front bucket seats, a second-row three-seat bench, and a third-row two-seat bench offering room for seven. Meanwhile, the Grand Cherokee L is also available with a 2+2+2 format, featuring second-row captain's chairs. The other all-new model is the Grand Cherokee 4xe, Jeep's first-ever plug-in hybrid. The 4xe features a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four engine, two electric motors, and a rechargeable battery pack to deliver 375 horsepower, 470 lb-ft of torque, and 56 MPGe. Other new features for the Grand Cherokee WL include an available front passenger 10.25-inch touchscreen display, available heated/ventilated front seats, a 19-speaker McIntosh labs audio system on the Summit trim to replace the previous generation's 18-speaker Harman Kardon system, available wireless smartphone chargers, and an 8.4- or 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, among other features. The Uconnect 5 system features a customizable home screen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 4G LTE WiFi, dual Bluetooth connectivity, Amazon Alexa, and more. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has come a long way since being driven through a plate of glass in 1992. However, its values of providing comfort, convenience, style, and world-class capability have remained the same. If you're interested in getting a new or used Grand Cherokee in the Erie, Pennsylvania, area, then Gary Miller Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram can help! Visit our new inventory to find an array of Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L, and Grand Cherokee 4xe models. If used is more your pace, you can find the Grand Cherokee you're looking for within our used inventory. If you have any questions regarding the Grand Cherokee, our inventory, or would like to schedule a test drive, please contact our sales team using the contact form below this page. We look forward to earning your business!