1993-98: the original Jeep Grand Cherokee
In Spring 1992, Jeep fans across the nation woke up to a new beast: the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Not much larger than the standard Jeep Cherokee, it added layers of luxury hitherto found only in the Wagoneer, with a base 4-liter engine pumping out 190 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque through a four-speed automatic. Part-time, full-time, and all-time 4x4 capabilities were available.
In 1993, the venerable 318 V8 was added (220 hp / 285 lb-ft), with a heavier-duty four-speed automatic; Chrysler confusingly referred to the 1993 model year Grand Cherokee as the first, and then referred to the 1993 model year as adding the V8 (first V8 in the “compact sports utility segment”), increased towing (6,500 lb, vs 5,000 with the I-6), the addition of the Grand Cherokee Wagoneer, a rear drive and manual transmission version, and a power sunroof option. This extended first year of the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the brand’s most successful year to date, with 480,000 sales.
Bob Sheaves wrote,
In 1989, during the final approval review, Lutz, Stallkamp, and Gale beat up on Castaing over the interior of ZJ and halted the program for, as I remember, 6 to 12 months for a newly styled interior to be designed and prototyped. During this time, Chrysler also decided the 318 was to be an option, in place of the just-started 4.7L Jeep engine.
There was also a big fight over XJ and ZJ, as far as which would be killed off. At that point, the Explorer came to market and the XJ Limited was killed (converted to the Country model) and ZJ was to go head to head with Explorer. XJ was to replace JJ at that time and also, through the efforts of Mike Smith and others, to fill the commercial and governmental needs, first with the XJ Special Service package, and other less known packages, such as RHD for USPS.
Norm Layton wrote, “By the time ZJ debuted, Chrysler was the owner, but the heavy lifting of the design work had been performed by AMC. It was Chrysler’s decision to build it at Jefferson and leave XJ in production. It was really an easy decision because the ZJ was built at Jefferson and did not require the XJ facility to be closed.”
Later on, those who just wanted the looks or the shape got a rear wheel drive version (six cylinder only), and a five-speed manual became available for a time (again, six cylinder only). For 1994, four wheel disc brakes were added, along with front and rear door beams for better side impact protection, and a power sunroof. The base model was given a name, SE; the upper models remained Laredo and Limited.
For 1995, Chrysler added a higher torque camshaft to the 318, started using returnless fuel injection, made four wheel disc brakes standard, created an Orvis edition and optional integrated child seats and flip-up liftgate windows, darkened the deep-tint windows, and added a mini-overhead console with the sunroof.
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 1993-98 Grand Cherokee | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach Angle | 35.9 | 36° |
| Departure Angle | 29.2 | 29° |
| Breakover Angle | 25.1 | 17.5° |
| Ground Clearance | 8.1 - 10.7 | 8.0 - 8.3 |
| MPG (4WD Six) | 16/22 | 15/20 |
| Weight | 3,569 - 3,958 | |
| Wheelbase | 114.8 | 105.9 |
| Length | 189.8 | 179.0 |
| Width | 84.8 | 70.9 |
| Cargo volume, seats up | 36.3 cf | 40.1 cf |
| Cargo, rear seat folded | n/a | 81 cf |
| Headroom F/R | 40.0/39.3 | 38.9/39.1 |
| Legroom F/R | 40.3/38.6 | 40.9/35.7 |
In 1993, SE got standard P215/75R15 tires, Laredo got P225/75R15 tires, and Limited got P225/70R15 tires. Each had optional choices up to P245/70R15.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee used three different transfer cases, all from New Venture Gear: the NV231, NV242, and NV249.
