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Complete Jeep Grand Cherokee Sport Utility Vehicle New Car Reviews listed below

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee mid-size sport utility vehicle (MRSP: $29,250 - $43,270, Invoice price: $26,938 - $39,451) is available in Base, Limited, and Overland trim levels. This model competes with the Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet TrailBlazer. It also competes with the Dodge Durango, Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, GMC Envoy, GMC Yukon, and Hyundai Veracruz. Other competing models are the Land Rover LR3, Mazda CX-9, Mercury Mountaineer, Nissan Pathfinder, Saab 9 7, Saturn OUTLOOK, Toyota 4Runner, and Volkswagen Touraeg.

The Grand Cherokee was originally a spinoff of the smaller Jeep Cherokee, ^[1] which is no longer in production. The 1989 "Jeep Concept 1" show car foretold the basic design. ^[2] The current Grand Cherokees are assembled in Detroit, Michigan and Graz, Austria.

Buyers can choose from a 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine, a 305-horsepower, 4.7-liter V8 engine, and a 330-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 engine. A 215-horsepower, 3.0-liter common-rail diesel V6 engine is available in non-California-emissions states. This SUV comes with a 5-speed shiftable automatic transmission. It is also available either with a rear-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive system. Maximum towing capacity with the 5.7-liter V8 engine, if properly equipped, is 7,400 pounds; with the 4.7-liter V8 engine, 6,500 pounds.

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a front independent suspension and front and rear stabilizer bars. It also has a double wishbone front suspension and a solid live axle rear suspension.

Basic exterior features on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee are 17 x 7.5 inch painted alloy wheels, all terrain tires, a full-size non-matching spare tire, and a steel spare wheel. The Grand Cherokee also has an inside-mounted spare tire, variable-intermittent wipers, a privacy glass, a rear defogger, and a rear window wiper.

Instrumentation features on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee are a tachometer, a trip computer, and a clock. It also has an external temperature display, a low fuel level warning, and a compass.

Basic seats and trim features on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee are bucket front seats, a five-person total seating capacity, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat. More features include a height-adjustable driver seat, and a driver seat with manual adjustable lumbar support. In the rear, the Grand Cherokee has a 40-60 split bench rear seat and a split-folding rear seatback.

Convenience features on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee are cruise control, power-dependent steering, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise controls on steering wheel, and front and rear cupholders. Other features are front- and rear-door pockets, front seat-back storage, a 12V front power outlet, a front console with storage, an overhead console with storage, and retained accessory power.

Basic comfort features on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee are air conditioning, interior air filtration, and front and rear reading lights. It also has dual vanity mirrors, front and rear floor mats, and a cargo area light.

Entertainment and telematics features on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee include an AM/FM in-dash single CD player, CD-controller with CD MP3 Playback stereo and 66 watts of stereo output. It is also equipped with six total speakers, a mast antenna, and a Sirius satellite radio.

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee has the following safety and security features: a four-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), ventilated front disc and solid rear disc brakes, and an emergency braking assist. This model has traction control, stability control, and dual front side-mounted airbags. It is also equipped with front and rear head airbags, passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation, and front seatbelt pretensioners. The Grand Cherokee is equipped with rear door child safety locks, child seat anchors, a rear center three-point belt, and two front headrests and two rear height-adjustable headrests. More safety features are an engine immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring, driver and passenger head restraint whiplash protection systems, and electronic brake-force distribution.

Additional/alternative features on the Limited trim level include a roof rack, a power glass sunroof, a remote vehicle start, and a remote anti-theft alarm system. Also included are dusk-sensing headlamps, a rear-view camera, auto delay off headlamps, and front fog/driving lights. The Limited trim level is equipped with rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, multi-level heating driver and passenger seats, a four-way power passenger seat, and a passenger seat with manual adjustable lumbar support. More features are a heated rear seat, a folding with storage center armrest, rear ventilation ducts, wood-grain trim, and heated seats in both rows.

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has adjustable pedals, a dual-zone automatic climate control, audio controls on steering wheel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leather trim on shift knob. It is also equipped with power outlets (12V and 115V front, 115V rear and 12V cargo area), a remote engine start, a universal remote transmitter, and memorized settings for two drivers (includes driver seat and exterior mirrors). An upgraded stereo with Boston Acoustics speakers and an in-dash CD/DVD changer, 276 watts stereo of output, an auxiliary audio input, and iPod integration are also standard on this trim level.

The Overland trim level, meanwhile, features a trailer hitch, trailer wiring, 18-inch chrome wheels, skid plates, and xenon high intensity discharge headlamps. More features included are a cargo net, a leather and wood steering wheel, and wood trim on shift knob and doors. A DVD player, a hard drive navigation system with voice activation, pre-wiring for phone, and a Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone are also standard on the Overland trim level.

A safety and crash test report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV received five stars out of five in frontal and side crash tests; and three stars out of five (RWD) and four stars out of five (4WD) in rollover tests.

A reliability history report from ConsumerReports.org showed how the Jeep Grand Cherokee held up mechanically. The Jeep Grand Cherokee (6-cyl., V6) received the following ratings for the year 2007 (major redesign year was 2005): Excellent ratings for engine, major transmission, suspension, exhaust, paint and trim, and drive, fuel, electrical, and climate systems trouble spots; Very Good ratings for brakes and audio system trouble spots; a Good ratings for its minor transmission, a fair ratings for its squeaks and rattles trouble spots; and Poor ratings for its body hardware and power equipment. The Jeep Grand Cherokee (V8), meanwhile, received the following ratings for the year 2007 (major redesign year was 2005): Excellent ratings for engine, major transmission, electrical systems, suspension, and exhaust trouble spots; Very Good ratings for its minor transmission, paint and trim, and fuel and climate systems trouble spots; a Good rating for its audio system; Fair ratings for its power equipment, squeaks and rattles, and brakes trouble spots; and a Poor rating for its body hardware.

Click here for more information on 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Grand Cherokee Sport Utility Vehicle car prices, auto insurance, auto loans, car dealers, and car leases.

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