The third-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK) is a mid-size SUV that was manufactured and marketed by Jeep from the 2005 to the 2010 model years. It was unveiled at the 2004 New York International Auto Show and subsequently in Europe at Euro Camp Jeep in Ardèche, France.

Major features included Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive, rear-seat DVD player, and optional 5.7 L Hemi V8 engine. The 3.7 L V6 engine replaced the 4.0 L straight-6 engine. Notably, the WK featured independent front suspension.

In 2008, the WK received a minor facelift with revised headlights and high-intensity discharge (HID) Headlamps with auto-leveling. The lower portion of the front bumper became removable to increase the approach angle for off-road use. The 4.7 L was refined, now producing , and .

The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee was available with an improved 5.7 L Hemi engine rated at and of torque. The engine uses variable valve timing to increase fuel economy.

Models

2005–2010 – Laredo (not in Europe) 2005–2010 – CRD (Europe) 2005–2010 – Limited 2006–2009 – Overland 2006–2010 – SRT8 2007–2008 – CRD (NAFTA)

The Laredo was the base trim level of the Grand Cherokee between September 19, 2004, and 2010. Standard features included: the 3.7L Power-Tech V6 engine with 5-speed automatic transmission, seventeen-inch (17") alloy wheels, a full-sized spare tire and spare wheel, cloth seating surfaces, a 6-way power front driver's seat, an AM/FM stereo with CD player (and later, an auxiliary audio input jack), 6 speakers, black body-side inserts and front and rear bumper inserts (both chrome in 2010), remote steering wheel-mounted audio system controls, a driver's information center (VIC), keyless entry, and more. Many features available on the luxurious Limited trim were also available on the base Laredo trim level.

The Limited added these features to the base Laredo trim: a full-sized matching spare wheel, dual power front bucket seats, premium leather seating surfaces, an AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3 changer, a premium 276-watt Boston Acoustics sound system with 6 speakers, heated front bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, chrome body-side inserts and front and rear bumper inserts, driver's 2-position memory, a rear-mounted fold-down center console, and more. The standard engine between 2005 and 2009 was the 4.7L Power-Tech V8 engine, while the standard engine in 2010 was the 3.7L Power-Tech V6 engine.

The Rocky Mountain and 65th Anniversary Edition were "value-added" trim levels of the Grand Cherokee for model years 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009 (Rocky Mountain) and 2006 (65th Anniversary Edition). These trim levels added the following features to the base Laredo trim: power driver's bucket seat, unique cloth seating surfaces with special embroidery, embroidered carpeted floor mats, chrome body-side inserts, an AM-FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3 changer, a premium 276-watt Boston Acoustics sound system with 6 speakers, special emblems on both front doors, special seventeen-inch (17") alloy wheels, a full-size spare, fog lights, and power double-function sunroof.

The S Limited added these features to the Limited trim: unique alloy wheels, "S" emblems on both front doors, the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine, unique premium perforated leather-and-suede seating surfaces, a GPS navigational system stereo, and more.

The Overland was the top-of-the-line trim level of the Grand Cherokee between 2006 and 2009. It added these features to the Limited trim: seventeen-inch (17") (2005–2007) or eighteen-inch (18") chrome-clad alloy wheels (these wheels could be downgraded to seventeen-inch (17") alloy wheels from 2007 to 2009), a GPS navigational system radio, Bluetooth with voice command for phone, 'Overland' badges on the tailgate, the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine, side airbags, leather-and-suede seating surfaces with 'Overland' embroidery, a sunroof, and more. The Overland took a hiatus for MY 2010, returning on the next-generation WK2 Grand Cherokee in model year 2011.

The SRT8 was the "performance-oriented" Grand Cherokee trim level from December 20, 2005, to 2010. It added these features to the Limited trim: twenty-inch (20x9 front & 20x10 rear—U.S. spec; Four 20x8 Euro spec) polished "Alcoa" forged aluminum alloy wheels, twenty-inch (20") Good Year Eagle F1 performance tires (Goodyear Eagle RS-A EMT run flat tires: 255/45R20 front & 285/40 rear—U.S. Spec), leather-and-suede performance seating surfaces, a sunroof, a 6.1L HEMI V8 engine, mandatory 4X4, a body kit, a center-mounted dual exhaust system, 'SRT' emblems on both front doors and the tailgate, performance-tuned suspension, a special instrument cluster, carbon fiber interior trim, and more.

Engines

EnginesYearsEnginePowerTorqueNotes2005–20103.7 L PowerTech V6 Laredo, Limited2005–20074.7 L PowerTech V8 Laredo, Limited2008–20094.7 L PowerTech V8 Laredo, Limited2005–20085.7 L Hemi V8 Limited, Overland2009–20105.7 L Hemi V8 Laredo, Limited, Overland2006–20106.1 L Hemi V8 SRT82005- (2007–2008 in NA) 3.0 L OM642 Diesel V6 Laredo, Limited, Overland

Notes

The 4.7 L High Output engine that first appeared with the Grand Cherokee Overland WJ was dropped from the Jeep lineup. It was used in the Dodge Dakota and Dodge Ram 1500. The 4.7 L was revised in 2008, increasing horsepower and torque to and of torque. A dedicated High Output version was dropped as a result. The WK was known as a WH in international (i.e., non-US) markets. The 5.7 L HEMI engine for 2005-2008 has slightly less horsepower than those found in the Dodge Ram or the Dodge Charger (330 vs 345) due to different engine control unit (ECU) programming. The 5.7 L HEMI engine for 2009 and up was upgraded with Variable Cam Timing (VCT), adding and of torque. The 3.0 L diesel ceased production for North America at the end of 2008. The late production models with diesel engines are commonly referred to as 2008.5 models. They can not be stamped as 2009 models due to more restrictive diesel emissions standards.

SRT8

An SRT8 (Street & Racing Technology V8) version of the Grand Cherokee debuted at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. It's powered by a version of the 6.1 L Hemi, and also features upgraded Brembo brakes, large dual performance exhaust with polished tips (exiting out the middle of the rear), Bilstein performance gas charged shocks and modified suspension components, Mercedes-Benz NAG1 (WA580) 5-speed transmission, unique NV146 transfer case, specially designed electronic all-wheel-drive system and interior and exterior updates. A drive shaft from a diesel application, fortified Dana 44 rear differential, and 11.2" (285 mm) wide Goodyear tires in the rear (10" or 255 mm in the front) complement the performance package. The sports tuned suspension allows the Jeep SRT8 to develop 0.92 g on the skidpad.

A road test of the 2006 production model conducted by Road & Track yielded a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.6 seconds and a quarter mile dragstrip of 13.2 seconds at . Such numbers made the SRT8 Grand Cherokee the fastest accelerating vehicle within the SRT8 lineup, second only to the Dodge Viper SRT10 among all SRT vehicles. There is no electronic speed governor employed, leaving the top speed rev-limited (revving to redline in top gear) to .

To improve on-road handling and decrease weight, off-road gear has been removed. The SRT8 uses an NV146 transfer case, which uses an electronically applied clutch pack to transfer 0-50% of torque to the front axle but has no low-range or manual controls. The front and rear differentials are both open, with no limited-slip capability. Its ride stance is significantly lower, and the front fascia spoiler gives the vehicle of ground clearance. A total of 14,921 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s were manufactured.

Models

Laredo: The Laredo served as the entry-level Grand Cherokee model offering an AM/FM radio with single-disc CD player (later, an auxiliary audio input jack was also added), seventeen-inch alloy wheels, power windows, door locks, side mirrors, and driver's seat, lumbar support, keyless entry with security system, cloth seating surfaces, tinted windows, and six speakers. Features such as leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, side airbags, a Boston Acoustics premium sound system, a navigation system and a CD and MP3 changer, as well as a CD/MP3/Cassette combo could be added to further enhance this model.

Limited: Limited trim added an AM/FM radio with six-disc in-dash CD changer, a Boston Acoustics premium sound system, full-sized spare tire, and leather seating surfaces. Features such as a sunroof, heated front seats, and chrome wheels could also be added.

Overland: The Overland added Uconnect Hands-Free Bluetooth technology, a six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 changer with navigation system, satellite radio, leather and suede seats, heated front seats, a sunroof, and chrome wheels.

Diesel

In Europe, South America, South Africa, and Australia, a V6 CRD engine produced by Mercedes-Benz was available from the Grand Cherokee (WK) introduction in 2005: OM642 3.0 L CRD V6 Turbo Diesel with Variable geometry turbocharger (VGT). It produces and of torque at 1,600 to 2,800 rpm at a fuel consumption of city and highway. Note: MPG figures are based on United States Environmental Protection Agency, European combined consumption is .

In North America, the 3.0 CRD was available for the 2007 and 2008; however, the rest of the world - i.e., UK, Europe, Australia, etc.- had the Mercedes-sourced engine for the production life of the vehicle from 2005. The Mercedes-Benz sourced unit meets stringent Euro 4 Emission standards without the need for a diesel particulate filter, which hampers vehicle efficiency; however, it includes a diesel particulate filter (North America only) to further reduce exhaust emissions. It was not, however, available for sale in California or certain Northeast states, due to new stricter emissions regulations for non-commercial vehicles. Vehicles could be bought used in California and the Northeast states, as the regulations only applied to new vehicles.

This engine is also used in the majority of Mercedes-Benz vehicles: C-Class, CLS, E-Class, S-Class, ML-Class, GLK-Class, GL-Class, G-Class, R-Class, the Vito / Viano, and the Dodge / Freightliner / Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Changes for the 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK

Throughout its five-model-year production run, the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK received many changes: