2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Reviews, Pricing & Specs

For last year’s redesign, Jeep sought a bolder, yet cleaner and more aerodynamic, look for its flagship SUV. The result is an appealing vehicle properly incorporating all of the requisite Jeep styling cues, such as the seven-slot grille. The round headlights cutting into the hood and residing in a single housing do make the Grand look less grand, though.

You won’t mistake the new SRT-8 version for anything else. Sitting on a lowered performance suspension, it adopts a slammed look over massive 20-inch polished aluminum alloy wheels. Subtle styling modifications and a centre-mounted dual exhaust outlet complete the custom look.

While it represents an improvement over the previous-generation Grand Cherokee, this Jeep’s interior still isn’t up to par in relation to its price. Mainly, acres of hard plastic and a lack of sharp colour contrasts make the Grand Cherokee look dull and feel inexpensive on the inside, though the new Overland and SRT-8 trim levels do their best to eliminate that perception.

The dashboard and the controls are laid out in a modular and symmetrical fashion, making it easy for Jeep to accommodate left- and right-hand drive in the SUV maker’s various global markets.

When it comes to the Grand Cherokee, you pick a trim level and you get a specific engine. But they all have a five-speed automatic transmission, and in Canada they all offer four-wheel drive (4WD) as standard equipment (rear-wheel drive, or RWD, is not available in this market).

Grand Cherokee Laredos have a 3.7-litre V6 engine making power specs of 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with the Quadra-Trac I full-time 4WD system or available Quadra-Trac II part-time 4WD with low range. A new Off-Road Package is available with Quadra-Trac II, adding skid plates, tow hooks, and off-road tires to the Grand Cherokee.

Step up to Limited trim for a 4.7-litre V8 good for 235 hp and 305 lb-ft, with Quadra-Trac II 4WD. This V8 is also available as an upgrade for the Laredo trim.

A 5.7-litre “Hemi” V8 is standard with Overland trim. It generates 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, delivered to Quadra-Trac II 4WD. This engine is an option for Limited trim.

The Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is fortified with a 6.1-litre Hemi V8 churning out 420 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. This version of the SUV has a special electronic all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, a lowered performance suspension, and 20-inch aluminum wheels with performance-oriented rubber. Jeep says it will accelerate to 60 mph in less than five seconds (exact 0-to-100-km/h figures are not available) and is actually worth driving on a racetrack.

No doubt the latest Grand Cherokee is better to drive on pavement, in large part thanks to a new independent front suspension and plenty of input from German engineers as part of the marriage of Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler with Chrysler. Better yet, the Grand Cherokee improves for daily driving without losing the off-roading capability that makes it perfect for weekend adventuring.

The 3.7-litre V6 engine is merely adequate in this application, making one of the smoother and more powerful V8 engines a better choice. For maximum traction off-road, you’ll want the Quadra-Drive II 4WD system for its two-speed transfer case and front, centre, and rear limited-slip differentials.

Perversely, the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is good to drive. Fast, responsive, and incomprehensively capable on the pavement, it proves that a single vehicle can serve two widely disparate purposes.

Fuel economy measures between 14.2 and 15.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 10.3 to 11.2 L/100 km on the highway, depending on which of the three entry-level powertrains you select. The 6.1-litre V8 is the thirstiest of the lot, consuming 16.5 L/100 km city and 11.2 highway.

A five-passenger midsize SUV, the 2006 Grand Cherokee offers comfortable front seats that feel firm at first but prove supportive over time. As has always been true of the Grand Cherokee, the rear seat is a tighter squeeze and is shorter on headroom and legroom than might be expected.

Standard equipment on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD includes air conditioning, power windows with one-touch up and down, a power driver’s seat, and remote keyless entry. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited trim adds leather seats, automatic climate control, a power sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, a premium sound system, a power front passenger’s seat, and power-adjustable pedals.

Overland trim is new for 2006, installing real wood trim including a wood and leather steering wheel, metallic accents, Ultrasuede seat inserts, and leather on the console and armrests. It also gets rear parking sensors and side curtain airbags.

The performance-tuned Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 is based on Limited trim, adding all of its go-fast goodies plus a pair of front sport seats with larger bolsters. You can option it with many of the Overland’s extras.

As far as utility goes, the Grand Cherokee offers 977 litres of cargo space behind the back seat and 1,909 litres with the rear seat folded down.

Jeep offers the modern stereo and connectivity features people want in a midsize SUV.

Laredo trim is basic, equipped with a CD player and an auxiliary audio input jack. A CD changer, an MP3 player, and a Boston Acoustics premium sound system are standard with Limited and SRT-8 trim. A navigation system is available.

Depending on the trim level, Uconnect Bluetooth is available for your cell phone, which allows for hands-free calling.

With the addition of stability control as a standard feature on top of traction control and antilock brakes (ABS), the 2006 Grand Cherokee is safer than ever. Buyers can option the SUV with side curtain airbags, which we highly recommend, but side-impact airbags for the front-seat occupants are unavailable.

In crash tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Grand Cherokee five-star ratings in every assessment, plus a four-star rating for rollover resistance when equipped with 4WD.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Grand Cherokee a Good rating for frontal-impact moderate overlap protection and a Good rating for its seats and head restraints. However, even with the optional side-curtain airbags, the Grand Cherokee rates as Marginal for side-impact protection.

In spite of a reputation for mediocre reliability, Jeep sport utility vehicles carry brand cachet and, in turn, command a price premium. Nevertheless, the Grand Cherokee’s overall value equation is strong, especially if you need maximum off-roading capability or you’re seeking a high-performance SUV.

Note: Images show a US model.