Overview & Reviews

The Grand Cherokee is all new for 2005. Among the improvements are new four-wheel-drive systems, an independent front suspension, three excellent engine options and better ergonomics and build quality.

• Strong engine lineup, unmatched off-road ability, balanced handling, long list of advanced safety equipment, solid warranty.

• Hard plastic interior surfaces could use some padding, less cargo capacity than most midsize SUVs.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 448.00

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  Junk!!!!!!!! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Mattt0305 - October 13 - 1:33 am

  Worst car Ive ever owned! Dies at low speeds, rough idle, dealer cant seem to fix the problem. No codes in the computer? This seems to be problem with the 4.7 V8, read the other reviews or any Jeep forum. Now the check engine light is on and its transmission related. I had a 96 G.C. never a problem, now I own the Anti-Chrysler. Such a shame, its beautiful Car.

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  JUnk - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By JUNK - September 11 - 3:36 pm

  I have a 2005 GRand Cherokee. I have been driving it for 2 years. I have had numerous transmission problems two different control modules a million blown fuses, electrical sensors and so on. I always wanted a jeep and never have heard of such problems with one. I bought it at 36 thousand miles and problems started within a week. The first 6 months i spent in the shop getting things fixed under warranty, and 2 years later have spend my own money to fix it. I would not recommend buying one unless u have it thoroughly checked first!

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  great off road, not so hot anywhere else - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Patty Ewing - June 30 - 10:53 pm

  The new drivers side hand grip sticks out way too far-- its a driving hazard. The sound system is way too complicated and not much bang for the buck. I LOVE the off-road handling which is why we bought it. The Hemi engine is great but the pain at the gas pump really hurts -- couldnt it get better mileage? I find the comfort and seeing/views from the drivers side to be much worse than our previous SUVs -- 93 and 03 Ford Explorers. But out in the desert? Stay outta my way!

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  "Rocky Mountain Edition" - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By RGW - June 7 - 8:33 am

  Having had this vehicle for nearly 4 months. I am overall fairly satisfied with the latest design. Jeep has done a commendable job of eliminating the nauseating sea swell motions of the previous version. While I didnt pay anywhere near retail, I still think a vehicle approaching $40k (MSRP) should come with a more refined interior. The dash is far too plasticky and there are many hard surfaces throughout.

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  I Didnt Like It at All - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Cad-Lad - November 5 - 12:58 am

  To the point, the car is a jeep. It does everything and anything you could possibly need. Need to get somewhere? Check. Need to go through bad weather? Check. Need to get groceries? Check. Need to tow something heavy? Check. Wanna attract the ladies? Check. --- Now the downsides: You dont get to do the above that often. I dont know if its just having the 2005 model, but frankly the car wasnt that good. Useful and practical, very; enjoyable not at all. It has a million little issues reliability wise, but with adequate maintenance, youll never be stranded. Not to mention parts are cheap and very easy to find, but that in mind seeing warning lights and hearing beeps every 10 minutes into a ride gets annoying FAST. --- It has a horrible interior. Im not nit-picky, but good lord, I have never seen an uglier interior. The colors for the dash can normally be ignored if nothing else, on most cars, but youre constantly reminded of it in this jeep. It may seem tolerable at first, but believe me, its one of the worst interiors ever created. No where you can touch that wont feel scratchy, rough, or just simply displeasant. --- Onto the absolute worst parts: the seats. Some people like them. I didnt, you have to be fat to sit in them. Or have weird posture. The seats DO NOT hold you in place, unless you are almost fat albert levels of obese. This car has wide side bolsers, and way too much lumbar support. If youre young and charming, like myself, a wily fellow to whom extreme back support is unnecessary, youll get sore and tired fast. Older folks or folks with weaker backs should be fine, because even the lowest settings for lumbar proved too much to me (the lowest lumbar setting was still excessive and exacerbated by how hard the seat are), and I found the seats to push against the top of my back too (the bulging part where they plant the jeep logo). Compared to the previous generation, these seats feel like lead and iron in terms of hardness and were my personal enemy for the 6months that I was stuck with the thing. As for seating room, Id rather you think of it as a coupe. The back seats are somehow worse than tbe front seats lacking in depth or space at all for your legs. --- Onto performance, it was actually Not awful. It wasnt very good though; it had body lean in a straight line and I wasnt personally a fan of the way the transmission shifted and felt (1st second and third were rev happy, 4th wouldn5 budge and no matter how hard you pressed on the pedal youd have to wait a while for it to downshift), thats all my opinion of course, the first few cars I ever worked on were fords and chevies and even ford didnt have such a garbage transmission engine pairing. Chances are youd like the jeep if youre used to driving diesel trucks. It has good power delivery Ill admit, and the gearing is pretty good up until it hits 4th gear (and more horribly 5th). It can stay in low gears pretty well when you ask it to I guess. It does have manual shift (poorly executed since you cant lock fifth gear) -and the 290-305 ft-lbs of torque let you accelerate without revving when you ARE stuck in high gear. The engine is good without a doubt, even if it has a horrible transmission pair. As I stated, this car has too much body lean for aggressive driving. You might not mind, you wouldnt expect an suv of its weight to handle at all; it has some low speed maneuverability which at times can be surprising. The suspension isnt as bouncy as the previous generation, and seating position is much lower and less tank like. If you want a jeep that still feels like you can go to war in it, look for the previous body style. --- As per the technology, its without a doubt simple and efficient, I have nothing bad to say. --- Off-roading? Hahahahahahahaha! Thats so 1963. But I guess it probably does it well, if you do an enormous amount of off roading, buy a wrangler instead. The grand cherokee is more for people who want to camp occasionally on a trail, but also have handy car around for when the time arrives. I sold my jeep to someone who wanted a replacement after he drowned his TJ in a mudpit at some mountain, his was a newer TJ and he was surprised at the tech that came with the Jeep especially its GPS console. --- Bottom line: if all you want is a nice commuter car, skip it. This jeep is for people who have other things to do, mountains to climb, and snowy parking lots to be alone with their girlfriend in.

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  MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE 05 - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By unhappy jeep girl - July 9 - 10:10 pm

  I bought the car in 06 with 23K miles on it. By 45K miles, I had to replace the transmission. At 60K I had to replace the starter, alternator, brake pads, rotors, and transmission again. 2 weeks later, the drive shaft and casings were all replaced. Now, at 75K I am looking to replace the drive shaft again and possibly a wheel baring. The service manager at a dealership told me that starting in 05 Jeep started "turning and burning them!" Doesnt exactly make you feel good about your purchase!!! Be very careful when buying a Jeep from 05 and on!

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  Good boy/ Bad Boy - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Think Snow - July 8 - 3:50 am

  Still a Jeep. This Jeep is absolutely awesome driving on mountain passes at night. At 30 below zero the heated seats are a real treat. The front seats are very very hard.They HURT after an hour drive. No arm rests - what were they thinking at Jeep. The back seats do not fit car seats for children; they are too up right and when your child falls asleep they slump forward and hang on the child seat straps.

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  unsatisfied - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By dan - May 10 - 7:46 am

  This is my fourth Jjeep and I am not impressed. Vehicle seems to handle poorly on bumpy turns at highway speeds. Also purchased vehicle with 4.7v8 and it seems under powered. Don’t rest your elbow on window when auto locks engage you get pinched. A/C not up to par and windows seem to fog up too much.

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  Cheap materials - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Dann - May 8 - 10:00 am

  Change battery twice, the 4 doors panels are made from a very cheap plastic and break easy cost to repair 4 doors almost $2000, front panels each $640 rear each $ 420, factory wont help or accept the bad quality, never will buy a Chrysler again was my first and last.

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  Update After 6+ Months - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Evlengr - January 27 - 2:36 pm

  Well I am back with a 6+ month review. This vehicle still gets very poor gas mileage. 15.673 per gallon to be exact (calculated by taking current mileage and dividing by gallons used to fill tank ---- 40 times). It still has a horrible tendency to down shift like a 67 Chevelle station wagon. Baaaaam! Is the best way to describe it. Sometimes bad enough to think you have been rear-ended. This is my third Jeep. And my last. Steer clear of Jeeps. That are not what they once were.