OVERVIEW:
In the early 1980s, American Motors Corporation
(AMC) started a project known as the “XJC”, as a future replacement to its new
1984 Jeep Cherokee “XJ”. AMC commissioned three designers to design a compact
sport utility vehicle (SUV). In the late 1980s, Chrysler Corporation bought
Jeep from American Motors Corporations (AMC). In the late 1980s, Chrysler
Corporation decided to replace Jeep’s aging Grand Wagoneer “SJ”, whose design
dated back to the 1970s, with an all-new, midsized sport utility vehicle (SUV),
and keep the compact Cherokee “XJ”, which sold in large numbers. In 1989,
Chrysler Corporation showed off the Jeep Concept 1 at the 1989 North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, which would preview the
exterior design for Jeep’s all-new midsized sport utility vehicle (SUV), which
would go on-sale in the early 1990s. In 1992, Bob Lutz, who was in charge of
Chrysler Corporation at the time, drove then Detroit mayor Coleman Young from
the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) on Conner Avenue in Detroit to the
front steps of Cobo Hall, where the 1992 North American International Auto Show
(NAIAS) was held, and through a plate-glass window in the front of the building
that was installed specifically for the all-new 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee “XJ”
to drive through.
EXTERIOR:
The
Jeep Grand Cherokee “ZJ” features a boxlike exterior design, with traditional
Jeep characteristics, such as a seven-slot front grille, trapezoidal wheel
arches, and a boxy exterior design. Although called the “Grand Cherokee”, the
vehicle does not share many exterior design characteristics with its compact
Cherokee “XJ” sibling. The Grand Cherokee features a “Unibody” frame design,
shared with its Cherokee “XJ” sibling. The Cherokee “XJ” and Grand Cherokee “ZJ”
were the only sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) to feature this type of frame
design at the time. Up front, a rectangular, seven-slot grille separates two
large headlamps. Bumpers and side cladding panels are either black, light gray
or body-colored in color with either chrome, black, light platinum, or light
char gold-colored inserts. On the SE and Laredo models, white pinstripes, and
on the Limited model, either light platinum or light char gold pinstripes adorn
the sides and part of the rear end of the vehicle. Fifteen-inch wheels are
mounted on black sidewall (BSW) or outlined white-lettered (OWL) all-season
tires, and wheels are styled steel on the SE model, alloy with dark
charcoal-painted pockets on the Laredo model, and waffle-like alloy with either
light platinum or light char gold-painted accents on the Limited model. An exterior
roof rack is available to carry cargo atop the vehicle, and the crossbars are
adjustable, depending on what you want to carry in terms of cargo. Overall, for
an early 1990s vehicle, the Jeep Grand Cherokee “XJ” definitely had a
nicer-looking exterior design than that of its competitors.
INTERIOR:
Inside
the Jeep Grand Cherokee “ZJ”, the interior is utilitarian, yet luxurious. Power
features, such as windows, door locks, and front seats are available, and are
all standard on most models. Choose from Jayne vinyl, Bishop cloth, or Highland
Grain luxury leather seating surfaces, black lacquer or dark wood interior
trim, and vinyl or carpeted door panels, depending on which model you purchase.
The Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) at the bottom of the center
stack displays all essential information at all times about the vehicle, and
full instrumentation in the gauge cluster is standard on all models. An
overhead trip computer and full console is available on models not equipped
with the available power sunroof. The seats are comfortable for long trips, and
the rear bench seat folds flat for extra cargo space, since either the
temporary, non-matching or full-sized, matching spare tires and wheels take up
much of the interior cargo space in the rear (the spare tire and wheel are both
covered by a vinyl cover to conceal them when they are not in use). All
interior surfaces are relatively soft-touch, and Antilock Brakes (ABS) are
standard, as is a driver’s-side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) front
airbag. An anti-theft ignition system is also standard, and two keyless entry
remotes are available on all models.
PERFORMANCE:
Standard
on all Jeep Grand Cherokee “ZJ” models is an American Motors Corporation
(AMC)-designed 4.0L “Power-Tech” Inline Six-Cylinder (I6) engine that produces
190 horsepower and 220 lb. feet of torque, mated to a five-speed, Aisin-derived
manual transmission is standard on the SE and Laredo models, while a four-speed
automatic transmission is standard with the Chrysler-derived 5.2L “Magnum” V8
engine that produces 220 horsepower and 285 lb. feet of torque, and on the
Limited model, and optional on I6-equipped SE and Laredo models.
Two-wheel-drive (4X2/2WD/RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4X4/4WD) models are
available for all models, with the 4X2/2WD/RWD models only being available with
the I6 engine. A towing package with a rear-mounted tow hitch that can tow up
to 5,000 lbs. is available. The V8 engine is very powerful, and ride quality is
good, yet sometimes rough.
PRICING:
A
base Jeep Grand Cherokee SE 4X2 started at around $22,000.00 MSRP. Upgrade to
the Laredo 4X4 model and the price increased
to around $27,000.00 MSRP. Top-of-the-line Limited 4X4 models started at around
$32,000.00 MSRP, and ran up to around $35,000 MSRP. The tested model, a 1994
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 28E Package 4X4 with the V8 engine sold for about
$31,000.00 MSRP.
SUMMARY:
If
you are looking for a decent family-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) with
decent power and decent ride quality, plus luxurious features, look no further
than the Jeep Grand Cherokee “ZJ”.
-Vincent D., Vincent’s Auto Reviews
Mileage
as Tested: 177,497.2 Miles
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