2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee LS

Jeep's redesigned Grand Cherokee looks rugged, but it is surprisingly refined on the road., , The 2005 Grand Cherokee's exterior styling is more angular than before. The trademark seven-slot grille is larger, and the dual headlights have subtle character lines that taper back through the hood. The windshield has a steeper slope, the hood is proportionally longer, and the sides of the body have been designed to protect the vehicle from debris picked up by the tires. The body looks shrink-wrapped around the mechanical pieces., , The Grand Cherokee has always been one of the smaller full-size SUVs. The wheelbase, now 109.5 inches, has grown substantially. While overall length is up 5 inches to 186.6, it is still short enough to give decent off-road maneuverability. The extra length results in a bigger interior., , This iteration of the Grand Cherokee does not have the ever-popular third seat because a larger, seven-passenger Jeep Commander with a third seat will be available next year., , Inside, the new Grand Cherokee Limited definitely feels luxurious. The two-tone instrument panel, new door trim and new finishes are a significant advancement. Headroom is greater, and the seats have longer tracks for more travel. Convenience items such as a navigation system, rear-seat DVD player, Boston Acoustics audio package and rear parking sensors are optional., , The combination radio and navigation system has a small screen and even tinier buttons., , Buyers have three engines and three four-wheel-drive systems from which to choose. The base engine is the 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6. The 235-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8 is likely to be the most popular choice. Topping the range is the 330-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V-8., , Last summer I sampled the base 3.7-liter V-6, and it was certainly more than adequate in daily driving. Towing or off-roading is better with one of the V-8s., , The 4.7-liter V-8 has been revised with dual knock sensors, composite valve covers and structural improvements to reduce noise and vibration., , The Hemi-powered test vehicle bristled with power, but, in a nod to reduced fuel consumption, it has a multi-displacement system that shuts down four cylinders when full power isn't needed. Electronics enable the four cylinders to be activated in 0.04 seconds, too fast for me to discern., , The Hemi really flies when you want it to, and it is capable of towing 7,200 pounds., , At the vehicle's national launch in California last summer, I drove some off-road trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains. The Grand Cherokee scrambled up a dry, craggy road as easily as a mountain goat. We crawled over the ridge and down into a deeply rutted arroyo that tested this SUV's mettle to the max. The Jeep twisted, tilted and three-wheeled its way through this section like a ballet dancer in super-slow motion., , Almost no Jeep owner is going to give his car a workout like this because it is easy to ding the body or rip off a bumper covering., , Base prices start at $26,950 for a two-wheel drive Laredo, $28,920 for a four-wheel-drive Laredo and $34,740 for a four-wheel-drive Limited., , An electronic stability program is offered for the first time. Hemi models can be equipped with a hydraulically controlled active stabilizer system that reduces body roll in turns yet provides a smooth ride on straight roads., , Three four-wheel-drive systems are available. Quadra-Trac I is an all-wheel-drive system whose transfer case does not have an extra-low gear for off-road use. This system splits power almost equally between the front and rear wheels, which gives good traction in mixed driving. Quadra-Trac I provides traction control by using the brake system. It appeals to those who might otherwise buy a two-wheel-drive, entry-level model., , Quadra-Trac II is the next step up. It has a transfer case with an extra-low gear., , Quadra-Drive II uses the Quadra-Trac full-time transfer case a