Entered CNET Catalog: 02/25/2006
SKU: 100553171
Manufacturer: Jeep
Product summary
The good: With its 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers impressive power. We also like its UConnect Bluetooth cell phone integration and the optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
The bad: The interface for the stereo and navigation system on the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a bit awkward. Its poor fuel economy may be the deciding factor in any purchasing decision.
The bottom line: Although the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's technical options look good on paper, they don't all work in a practical fashion. It's a very powerful car, but that comes at the expense of atrocious fuel economy.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 03/17/2006
From its specification sheet, our test car, a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (with a Hemi 5.7-liter V-8), seemed to have just about every tech option we could want: rain-sensing windshield wipers; an autodimming rearview mirror; HomeLink; Bluetooth telephone integration with voice recognition; a six-disc MP3/CD player; a DVD entertainment system; satellite radio; and GPS navigation. However, the implementation of several of these features could have been better. In particular, the navigation and the stereo had too many layers of menus.
The rounded headlights and revised grille that debuted on the 2005 model year simultaneously make the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee seem both more rugged and more sophisticated than previous generations. On the inside, the seats are comfortable, but rear legroom and cargo space both seem a bit limited. Front multistage air bags are standard, but our test vehicle was also equipped with the optional side-curtain air bags.
The 5.7-liter Hemi provides plenty of power, and its multidisplacement system cuts out four cylinders for better fuel economy when cruising. We were also impressed by its carlike handling, although the suspension bounced a lot on San Francisco's pothole-filled streets. Our test car featured Jeep's Quadra-Drive four-wheel-drive system, which switches between a high range for normal driving and low for off-roading. The base price for the 2006 Grand Cherokee Limited is $34,210, but options and the delivery charge brought our test car up to $44,180.
Our 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited in the optional Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat ($225) looked rugged enough to take out into the backcountry but sophisticated enough for a night out on the town. We were very pleased with the inside's fit and finish--everything felt solid and durable. The sycamore wood-grain trim is a particularly nice addition. The driver and front passenger get comfortable leather, heated, power-adjustable seats, but we weren't very fond of the position of the manual lumbar-support lever because we found it too easy to catch our fingers between the seat and the center console. The driver also has power-adjustable pedals, but the brake pedal is so much higher than the accelerator that we were uncomfortable in stop-and-go traffic. The Cherokee can remember seat, mirror, and pedal positions for two drivers, and it also tracks different radio presets for each. Although the owner's manual doesn't mention it, we found that the driver's seat belt must be unbuckled for the car to recall a memory position.We thought the rear passengers could do with a bit more legroom, and at 34 cubic feet, the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's rear cargo space is smaller than the 45 cubic feet found in the 2006 Ford Explorer. Most of the interior bins weren't large enough for anything but sunglasses, but one bin in the rear cargo floor was the perfect size for hiding a camcorder.
The controls for the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's satellite navigation and stereo systems were fairly awkward to use. A number of settings, such as screen brightness and MP3/CD folder selection, are buried too deep within the menus. Toggling through the menu options using the minijoystick also proved difficult. Curiously, the joystick can be pushed down to click, but a separate Enter button accomplishes the same function.
The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's navigation system was fairly accurate, although it did take a while to recalculate a route if we missed a turn. One area of the freeway, with lots of lanes and a few junctions, gave the system some trouble; it said we had missed our exit when we hadn't even gotten to it yet. We also had problems hearing the route guidance when the stereo was turned up--the automatic volume reduction only seemed to mute the driver's side speakers.
The premium stereo system on our test car was composed of a six-disc MP3/CD player, Sirius Satellite Radio, and a Boston Acoustics six-speaker sound system with a 276-watt DSP amplifier. Because our test vehicle had the optional GPS navigation system, it didn't have an auxiliary jack for the stereo system that would have let us plug in an MP3 player, which was an unpleasant trade-off. Overall, the stereo sounds good, but the bass starts clipping and begins to buzz even at medium volume; a subwoofer would definitely be welcome. We found the stereo controls on the back of the steering wheel easy to use, especially since we could keep our hands on the wheel without looking down to find the buttons.
The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's UConnect Bluetooth cell phone integration worked quite well with our Sony Ericson T610. It took us a bit of time and practice to get used to the voice-command system for dialing out. Listening to the voice menu options can take a while, but we were able to skip through with a simple push of a button. Although the car didn't copy over our phone's address book, it let us program 30 contacts, with multiple numbers for each. Our only real problem was that the car kept telling us we were roaming when our phone showed us to be on our network.
We definitely enjoyed the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's backseat DVD entertainment system. The screen was bright and sharp, and the wireless headphones provided great sound, but headphone jacks would have allowed us to use our own noise-canceling headphones. There are inputs for external devices such as an Xbox or a PlayStation, and you can use an external audio-only device such as an MP3 player, but the inputs are RCA connectors, so you'll need an adapter. Our only other complaint is the lack of a power port for the backseat; there are two power ports in the front and one in the cargo bay.
The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee's 5.7-liter Hemi produces 330 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 375 pound-feet of torque at 4,000rpm. Even with the Cherokee weighing 4,735 pounds (700 pounds more than the pre-2005 version), we found the acceleration impressive and had no problem getting up to freeway speeds, even on fairly short on-ramps. Jeep claims a believable speed of 0 to 60mph in 6.8 seconds and a 15.25-second quarter-mile. To save fuel, the engine utilizes Jeep's multidisplacement system, which deactivates four cylinders when all eight aren't needed. Even so, we found it to be very thirsty. Although the car is rated as 15mpg in the city and 20mpg on the highway (the same as a Chevy Tahoe), we averaged 11.6mpg, with a decent mix of both highway and city driving. The EPA classifies the Cherokee as a Special Purpose four-wheel-drive vehicle, in contrast with the impressive LEV-2 rating of the 2006 Ford Explorer.
Our test car was equipped with the Quadra-Drive four-wheel-drive system, which is differentiated from the base Quadra-Trac II system by the addition of electronic limited-slip differentials. Quadra-Drive is part of a $1,900 option package that also includes Sirius Satellite Radio, a power sunroof, and parking assist. The five-speed automatic transmission has a two-speed active transfer-case system that has a full-time four-wheel-drive high mode with a four-wheel-drive low available for off-roading.
In four-wheel-drive high mode, the power is split 48 in the front and 52 in the rear, but if the roads are slippery, 100 percent of the available torque can be sent to a single wheel. The car felt quite safe and stable in wet conditions, and in dry, the handling seemed almost carlike, which almost made us forget that this is a top-heavy SUV that shouldn't be thrown about like a sports car. If we wanted, we could manually select gears one through four with a side-to-side gearshift movement, as with some performance cars (the top gear could not be manually selected).
The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a number of solid safety features, including a tire-pressure monitor and SmartBeam headlamps that adjust high-beam brightness for oncoming traffic. Air bags are in the form of multistage front air bags with an occupant-classification system and optional ($560) supplemental front and rear side-curtain air bags. There's also Jeep's ParkSense parking-assist system, which we inadvertently tested when it saved us from reversing into a small post just outside the CNET offices. The brakes are antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist; Jeep claims an impressive 169 feet from 70mph. The ABS brakes, the all-speed traction control, and the stability system are all tied together by the electronic-stability program. The Cherokee is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile warranty (same for the power train) and a 100,000-mile outer-body rust-through warranty.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11out of 11 user reviews
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. Par. Good Jeep.
Pros: I have the limited pckg w/ custom navi AVICx910bt Nav/Sat/DVD/BT/iPhone - fully automated for an additional 1K. It is a tough car (I've abused it quite a bit). The combination of "decent" highway MPG and comfort make it a great road trip car.
Cons: Poor City MPG leaves my wallet a little thin. High frequency drive train vibrations are present and Chrysler will not resolve or even acknowledge the issue.
The specifics: The back seats are cramped, but fortunately for me I don't have many back seat passengers. The MPG in the city is terrible. But I don't really care. The best HW mileage I ever got was 19 mpg on a trip from AL to VA. Again, I did not buy this car to save money on gas. After much searching, a seasoned local mechanic identified the drive-shaft as the source of a high frequency vibration (about 3x the RPM of the wheels). Chrysler says to him the the drive-shaft is within the spec for a heavy-duty truck... So, I'm living with it. I just don't drive at the resonating speeds: 45, 67, or 90 mph any more.
You get what you pay for with this car and I'm not surprised to see a few odd things surface here and there. Overall, the car is very nice, luxurious, handles well, is comfortable for the driver, and is good for almost anything. I drive it to work, I tow my boat with it, I haul the 3 big dogs around in it, and I take it on loooong road trips. Not much more you can ask for as far as cars go...
out of 11 user reviews
Fund to drive but horrid on gas
Pros: the jeep is amazingly fun to drive and i feel so powerful on the road.i love being high above all of the small cars such as corollas and civics.
Cons: the way i drive(lead foot) i get around 11 to 12 mpg with a v6 so that is not so good with the gas situation right now.the seats stain super easily and with just water especially!i have the Laredo so i don't have a in dash gps which is a bummer also!
out of 11 user reviews
Love Hate Relationship With This Car
Pros: Safe, Comfortable, Easy to Drive/Maneuver, Cool Features, Very Good-looking truck
Cons: Gas, Gas, Gas, Electrical Problems, Gas, Gas, Gas
out of 11 user reviews
Worst car I have ever had DONT BUY IT!
Pros: Handles good looks good
Cons: I have replaced the multifunction switch, transmisson, and electronic shifter. I get 3.2 MPG! It is gutless no acceleration at all. This morning I discovered a new problem where the car wont even start. It cranks and then makes a horrible noise.
out of 11 user reviews
Awesome vehicle for all conditions.
Pros: Overland edition surrouds one with luxury and looks good cruising the boulevard or going off-road. 5.7 Hemi is powerful. Goes through deep snow with ease.
Cons: Gas mileage could be better, but hey,it's a HEMI.
out of 11 user reviews
Sturdy safe in all weather & built to tow 07Jeep w/4.7L
Pros: Excellent Handling, safety factor for rain & snow & night visibility. 4.7L V8 torquey engine that easily tows 3k lb boat & trailer (rated to 6500 lb but seems too much). Intuitive controls. 07s & beyond hv lifetime powertrain warranty.
Cons: Gas mileage 20mpg@70mph, 15mpg suburban, 13 city winter with remote starter warmups (can use E85). Interior headroom w/sunroof lacking. Should have switch to defeat 4wd in summer to improve mileage.
Handling & comfort is excellent, and it would take 6 years (assuming gas averaged $3-5/gal, maybe conservative based on the past year) to recoop a hybrid SUV's extra cost vs the Jeep with less off road & towing capability. We have a loaded Laredo with the X package giving us heated leather seats and sunroof (I did not want the sunroof but the wife wanted heated seats & that is the only way to get them but goodies like remote start in the winter is great). We also had hope that in a few years we'll see cheaper cellulosic E85 ethanol and move away from the corned based product, we'll see.
However, since this is a technical column here is one warning, a minor one but despite all my testing I did not notice this. The Jeep standard radio/CD Aux jack always reverts back to the radio mode after powering off the vehicle for more than a few minutes; the dealer tech says this is normal. It seems dumb to me as I use MP3 players or XM radios (Jeep comes with Sirus but we like XM)- you have to hit the Aux every time when restarting ... not a big deal but a boo boo by their radio engineers in my mind.
Beyond that all is well, again so far the quality even exceeds our 01's in the first year.
out of 11 user reviews
In the worst road conditions, ice, snow, and wind...it gripped the road for a smooth, steady ride.
Pros: Awesome handling, luxurious but rugged, well appointed, quite
Cons: gas guzzler
out of 11 user reviews
In it's class, a clear winner
Pros: Absolutely terrific ride, on and off road
Cons: Like any other SUV, mileage is as you'd expect
There's no comparing an Explorer to this. The Ford drives like a bus (wife's words). The JGC rides like it's on rails. It corners like no other SUV, and better than quite a few cars. It's nowhere near top heavy, not at all. Flick the wheel on most other SUVs and you'd rightly feel nervous, not so on the JGC. You actually CAN throw it around like a car, albeit one weighing two tons. The only SUV that comes close to it's handling is the Toureg.
NAV systems, in general, all seem pretty lame when it comes to user interface. But you generally get used to them. Just how long or short should route recalculation take? I find the JGC takes between 5-10 seconds to recompute a route and that's plenty fast for me.
The volume of the nav system is adjustable. Simply turn it up if the default level isn't to your liking. I live near DC, an area notorious for difficult driving, and find the nav system does a great job.
Catch fingers on the console when adjusting the lumbar support? Is the reviewer just TRYING to find negatives? Sit in one of these, use the lumbar knob. If you get your fingers caught you probably shouldn't be IN a vehicle at all.
You can link the key to driver seat position. When you unlock with a linked key it will automatically adjust the seat, pedals and mirrors to your stored settings. Quite nice for his-and-hers keys. Or just tap the memory buttons. If the seat position is far forward there's an option to automatically move the seat back to ease exit/entry.
The floor of the rear storage area flips over to provide a raised tray to keep dirty stuff off the carpet.
If you want the typical SUV, with a truck-like ride then spend nearly the same money and get an Explorer. If, however, you want an interior that uses much better materials and a ride like no other SUV on the road then you'd do well to get yourself a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
out of 11 user reviews
Excellent Vehicle!
Pros: Quality, Performance, Comfort, Safety
Cons: Tired of "Professional" bias against American products
I drive in snow/ice/mountain passes and what ever else the Colorado Rockies throw my way. I take it down un-improved BLM roads to find the best fishing. It's just a great car.
But, the C-NHet reviewer describes the 5.7 Jeep Grand Cherokee gas mileage as "atrocious" while in fact it gets as good or better gas mileage as its closest competitor.
What's the deal? Does fawning over some unreliable import like a Land Rover supposed to make the "professional" reviewer appear urbane?
Jeep has produced an outstanding vehicle. Go Jeep and go U.S.A.!
out of 11 user reviews
Great Tech Car!
Pros: Bluetooth works great with my Treo. GPS is wonderful!
Cons: Gas mileage is about 15-14mpg. not bad for a HEMI though.
out of 11 user reviews
Around town, Interstate off-road-super-it's a great car-solid
Pros: performance (5.7 Hemi), ride, comfort, technology, safety, stability, pulling capability, looks
Cons: Gas milage is as expected but not much real difference between it and the want to be's
