Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2) Details, Photos and Videos

The fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2) is a mid-size SUV introduced in Spring 2010 for the 2011 model year by Jeep. It was unveiled at the 2009 New York Auto Show. The fourth-generation Grand Cherokee retains its classic Jeep styling combined with a modern and sleek body style. The 2011 Grand Cherokee has won 30 awards for off-road capability, luxury, value, best-in-class, and safety, making it the most awarded SUV ever. Among the awards are: Top Safety Pick for 2011 from the IIHS, listed as a Consumers Digest Best Buy for 2011, Safest SUV in America by MSN Autos, and Truck of the Year for 2011 by The Detroit News.

The body design is all new and has undergone testing for aerodynamic efficiency while improving ruggedness with more than 5,400 welds in the body alone. This results in a 146% increase in torsional rigidity compared to the previous design. This improves durability and reduces noise, vibration, and harshness.

Like the previous generations, the chassis is a steel unibody. Unlike previous models, the new WK2 features four-wheel independent suspension for better on-road handling. The Grand Cherokee (with the 2011 Durango) WK2 platform uses a derivative based on Mercedes-Benz's W166 series.

Four wheel drive systems include Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II. Using Selec-Terrain, the driver can select modes for Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud, and Rock.

Optional Quadra-Lift height adjustable air suspension can raise the vehicle's ground clearance up to 11.1 in (282 mm). Lift modes include Park, Aero, Normal Ride Height, Off-Road 1, and Off-Road 2.

Engine choices include the all new 3.6 L Pentastar V6 and 5.7 L Hemi V8. The Hemi V8 retains the Multiple Displacement System (MDS) that shuts down four cylinders in low-power driving situations. And the V8 remains coupled with the multi-speed automatic transmission which includes Electronic Range Selection (ERS) to manually limit the high gear operating range. Trailer tow is rated 7,400 lb (3,400 kg) for Hemi models and 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) for Pentastar models.

The 3.6 L Pentastar V6 replaces the 3.7 L and 4.7 L PowerTech engines. The 5.7 L Hemi engine was retained as the V8 option, although no Hemi badging is used on the exterior of the vehicle. Also, the WK program code remains.

A 3.0 L turbocharged diesel V6 developed and built by Fiat Powertrain Technologies and VM Motori (with Multijet II injection) rated at 177 kW (241 PS; 237 hp) and 550 N⋅m (410 lb⋅ft) of torque will be offered in export markets by mid-2011.[needs update] The new 3.0 L CRD turbodiesel engine will also be offered in European markets as 140 kW (190 PS; 188 hp) low-power version.

In mid-2012, electric vehicle manufacturer Amp Electric Vehicles, announced that it would be producing an electric vehicle version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, offering a great electric range and the same features of the Grand Cherokee. Slated to be available in early 2013, the AMP Grand Cherokee will have a starting price of around $50,000.00. AMP also produces electric vehicle versions of a step van and the Mercedes-Benz ML. As of April 8, 2017 the SRT Hellcat supercharged v8 was announced for the Trackhawk edition Grand Cherokee. With 707 hp, it will be the most powerful SUV Chrysler has ever produced.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 is available in several different trim levels, each offering their own, distinct level of standard and optional equipment:

Laredo: The Laredo became the base model of the Grand Cherokee starting in 2014. Standard equipment includes: seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a five-inch, color touch screen radio (starting in 2018, a seven-inch infotainment system), a six-speaker audio system, manually-adjustable front bucket seats, a split-folding rear 60/40 bench seat with backrest recline, premium cloth seating surfaces, air conditioning, keyless access with push-button start, a seven-inch TFT color display instrument cluster, the 3.6L Pentastar VVT FlexFuel-Capable (where applicable) V6 gasoline engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are no additional options or packages available for this trim level, due to the Laredo being a "budget" trim level for the Grand Cherokee. The differences between the Laredo "E" and Laredo are that the Laredo does not offer SiriusXM Satellite Radio like the Laredo "E", has a manually-adjustable front driver's bucket seat in place of the Laredo "E" 's power-adjustable front driver's bucket seat, and offers no additional options or packages in addition to its standard equipment.

Laredo "E": The Laredo "E" was the base model of the Grand Cherokee from 2011 until 2013 until the base Laredo model debuted in 2014. Standard equipment includes: seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, an A/M-F/M stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (from 2014 until 2017, a five-inch, color touch screen radio, and a new, seven-inch infotainment system starting in 2017), a six-speaker audio system, power-adjustable front driver's and manually-adjustable front passenger's bucket seats, a split-folding rear 60/40 bench seat with backrest recline, premium cloth seating surfaces, air conditioning, keyless access with push-button start, the 3.6L Pentastar VVT FlexFuel-Capable (where applicable) V6 gasoline engine, and a five-speed (from 2014 on, an eight-speed) automatic transmission. Optional features on the Laredo "E" include eighteen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, an 8.4-inch infotainment system, heated front bucket seats, and remote start. An Altitude package for the Laredo "E" is also available that adds gloss black-finished twenty-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and exterior accents, leather-trimmed seating surfaces with microfiber inserts, heated front bucket seats, power rear lift gate, optional single pane moonroof, and other "value-added" features that are regularly optional equipment on the Laredo "E".

Upland: The Upland, available for 2018, was based on the Laredo E trim level, and utilized styling elements from the Trailhawk trim level. It included twenty-inch black-painted aluminum-alloy wheels, light blue-accented emblems, and light blue stitching on the seats, interior door panels, and center console.

Laredo "X": The Laredo "X" was available from 2011 until 2013, and was the "step-up" trim level of the Grand Cherokee. It added the following equipment to the base Laredo "E" trim level: eighteen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seating surfaces, dual power-adjustable front bucket seats, a touch-screen infotainment system, a nine-speaker, 506-watt Alpine premium surround-sound audio system, Bluetooth for both hands-free phone and wireless stereo audio streaming, heated front and (optional) heated rear seats, remote start, and an (optional) power rear tailgate. Other optional equipment for this trim level included the 5.7L HEMI MDS/VCT gasoline V8 engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, a dual-pane panoramic moonroof, and GPS navigation.

Trailhawk: The Trailhawk is the "off-road" model of the Grand Cherokee, and was based on the Laredo "X" in 2013, and returned for 2017 based on the Limited. It adds the following features to these models of the Grand Cherokee: leather-trimmed seating surfaces with microfiber inserts, eighteen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a dark gray finish, the Selec-Terrain control system with Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Kevlar-coated on/off-road tires. Most of the optional features on the Laredo "X" and Limited are also available on the Trailhawk.

Limited: The Limited is the "step-up" trim level of the Grand Cherokee, and succeeded the Laredo "X" when it was discontinued after 2013. It offers the same basic standard equipment as the Laredo "X", but offers additional optional features such as heated and ventilated front bucket seats, a driver's memory system, Nappa leather-trimmed seating surfaces, twenty-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and other luxury features. The 5.7L HEMI MDS/VCT V8 gasoline engine, as well as the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 turbocharged diesel engine (starting in 2014), are the other engine options for the Limited.

Sterling Edition: The Sterling Edition is a celebratory trim level of the Grand Cherokee that will only be available for the 2018 Model Year (MY), celebrating its 25th year of production. While offering the same basic standard equipment as the luxurious Limited model, the Sterling Edition adds the following features to the trim level: twenty-inch (20") tires with twenty-inch (20") "Heritage" aluminum-alloy wheels, an 8.4-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-speaker, 506-watt Alpine surround-sound premium audio system with subwoofer, special interior color combination options with perforated and patterned seats, unique interior trim, and special exterior badges commemorating the special edition model. A Sterling Edition Luxury Group is available for the Sterling Edition that adds features such as ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a panoramic dual-pane sunroof, and other luxury options. Most of the other options available on the Limited trim level are also available on the Sterling Edition, which includes the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine.

Overland: The Overland is the luxury trim level of the Grand Cherokee, adding the following standard equipment to the already well-equipped Limited: Nappa leather-trimmed seating surfaces, a dual-pane panoramic moonroof, standard GPS navigation (which is otherwise an optional feature on the Limited), twenty-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, and other exclusive features. The 5.7L HEMI MDS/VCT V8 gasoline engine, as well as the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 turbocharged diesel engine (starting in 2014), are the other engine options for the Overland.

Overland Summit: The Overland Summit (2011-2013) and Summit (2014-present) are the most luxurious trim levels of the Grand Cherokee, and are based on the luxurious Overland, but add additional features, such as: Summit-exclusive interior color options, a nineteen-speaker Harman Kardon premium amplified surround-sound audio system with 825-watt amplifier (2014-present models ONLY), twenty-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels, and other exclusive features. In 2017, the Summit became more luxurious by offering exclusive quilted and perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces, lace-style polished aluminum-alloy wheels, and the Summit California Edition package, which replaces some of the chrome exterior accents with exterior color-keyed accents.

SRT 392: The SRT 392 was the highest-performance Grand Cherokee model available from 2012-2017, and then became the second most high-performance Grand Cherokee model in 2018. The SRT 392 is powered by the 6.4L HEMI MDS/VCT V8 gasoline engine, and features more "performance-oriented" exterior and interior styling unique to the SRT 392. Several special edition models, such as the SRT 392 Alpine and Vapor Editions, and the SRT 392 Red Vapor Edition, were "limited-run" models that were based on the SRT 392.

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