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Is it just me or did Roman come off as totally sounding like a total dick to the guys in the side by side? I’ve been in the off roading community my entire life and for the most part everybody helps out everybody and most people are very friendly with one another. Sharing vehicle builds, or what they do for a career and so on. Had Roman not been so short with them for just saying hello and asking about the TFL Jeeps cameras and set up they most likely would have gotten a few more fans and certainly more people to network with and share resources should they ever be needed in the future. It wouldn’t have killed him to take a whopping 5 minutes out of his filming to talk to those people. And since their out off roading it’s not like fans would be lined up for miles on the trail to all have their own conversations with TFL either. But the way Roman acted, you sure would have thought that.
Where is Tombstone Hill trail that you use? I am going to Colorado next year and want to try this trial since I have seen many vehicles on it in your videos
Trouble is, you guys don't become really familiar with the cars you are reviewing. There is no way I would have had the car in Rock-hopper mode with that terrain. Just leave it in 4wd low and watch it go.
As nice as the new generations may be, you just can’t beat solid axels off road. I have an ‘04 WJ with a basic 4” lift and it goes EVERYWHERE I wana go on the weekend, and still gets the wife to work during the week reliably. And as you mentioned, the seats are super comfortable. Great video as always, looking forward to you guys getting the 4Xe! Keep up the good work!
If I had the 63K to buy a 2022, I'd take my 2004 Grand Cherokee to the dealership and have them tweak it back to showroom condition. Not sure what I'd spend the other 60,000 on, but I'm sure I could think of something.
I have a European 2004 WJ (Diesel) so I have a soft spot for them. It goes to show if you want a comfortable useable off-roader that is also comfortable on the road, you can have an ol WJ with a few quid spent on decent tyres and all for less than the VAT depreciation of a new one the minute it rolls out the door.
As a WJ guy I rather liked this video. We do have the best seats and the easiest off-roading of all the Grands. 😎 And all the issues you pointed out, sagging suspension, bad ac, ect can be fixed, you can get those m/t tires, and upgrade the radio and you'll still pay less than you will for the new basic Grand.
I am SO glad you guys finally got a WJ and are doing content with it. The WJ really is the best GC. I love my '03 WJ and would love to see you guys do a cheap Jeep build with it and start modding it. You guys mentioned The WJ not being very safe in a roll over because of the big windows. I would disagree. I had a ZJ which had even smaller pillars and bigger windows. I flipped and rolled it at 65mph after getting in an accident with a semi. It came to a rest on its roof after about 3 flips. The cabin held up and only caved a little in the middle of the windshield. The windows on the drivers side didn't even break.
I would NEVER trade my 2006 WJ with 4inch lift for any new model. It is so easy to maintain and parts available everywhere. Very comfortable on and off road. Great vehicle for whole family.
Loved this video! I owned a 2001 Grand Cherokee Laredo with the S package, the 4.0 inline six and Selec-Trac 4WD. I loved that Jeep. I should have never sold it.
@@dentondunn4346 Sorry I’m not familiar with the QuadraTrac. The beauty of the Selec-Trac is that you can manually select between 2WD, 4H Full-Time, 4H Part-Time and 4L.
That side by side dude was like a nosey neighbor! He was acting like you were on private property. Roman handled it perfectly! I assume he doesn't watch TFL
I’m the (proud?) owner of a 2002 WJ, 4.0 inline six with almost 240k miles. Drives nice, tows surprisingly well, off-roads better than it has a right to, and it’s been paid for for years. Thing is a tank. The A/C works. When it wants to. Oh well. Paint? Meh. Clear coat is overrated. Love the content!
Will always go with the oldies. They were built better for off-road and even built to be very easy to fully modify for more extreme trails. Loved the hell out of my 05 GC before the motor blowout. Had a full stage 3 mod kit on her too!! Will never go newer than 10 in the GC family. Newer ones are more computer than car.
god i'm so tired of people getting in a base level grand cherokee then comparing it to a lexus. it just shows that you know nothing. The summit, the 11 overland, the srts, all have hand stitched leather dashboards.... this is a trail version, it doesn't come with the leather dash.. wtf...
As an owner of both a 2004 WJ and ‘97 ZJ I can tell you definitively you the old Jeeps can’t be beat! The WJ is my dream car, I have a smile on my face every time I drive it. And I have yet to meet another 4wheeler on the trail I can’t keep up with!
As always the 2500.00 jeep is best . Mainly because normal working people can’t afford the rich yuppie toys with heated seats and steering wheel . Simple is always better .words to live by
@@Kana0211 I never said everyone should buy a 63k Jeep, Average people can definitely pay more than $2500 for a car. Don’t just complain, that wouldn’t change anything.
@@jtomtl Just about anyone can pay more than $2500 for a vehicle. I know a lot of people that buy cheap cars because they're simply cheaper. As long as you can fix them yourself. These same people buy nearly everything in cash. One of them paid $300,000 for a house, in cash. Still drives an early 2000's Golf
Always loved the WJ, had a chance to do tire development for that car as my first job out of school. Amazing what they are capable of even with stock tires
Always loved the grand Cherokee I’ve had my WJ now for a very long time even with newer Jeeps in our fleet I still drive the wj allot….when we go off road people like to think the wj isn’t capable or “not a real Jeep” 🤣 until I’m pulling them back to traction then they ask so what exactly does this Jeep have? The 4.0 is a nice trail motor solid axles are always preferred in a trail rig add some lockers front & rear nice skid plates little lift & some mud terrains they go everywhere
I have my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited 5.2 l V8 with only 122,000 miles. I use it as my winter vehicle in Southwest Colorado. 4 wheel drive all the time is hard to beat. I'm interested to hear more about the 4xe.
I have a 2011 wk2 with the 5.7. It's never let me down. The 5.7 is a BEAST and the quadra Trac 2 has enough capability to go where you need it to. Love that thing.
On my 4th GC - a 2021 Trailhawk with the Hemi, much like the one you tested. I cannot comment on the newest coming out, but having had a 1996, 2008, 2010 and the 2021, the 2021 is the most capable so far. Yes, in the highest setting on the air suspension the ride is very stiff, but all factors considered I'm a big fan of it. That added clearance is hugely beneficial. And you can't downplay the importance of tire choice. I've attempted the same climbs in the same vehicle with basic AT's as well as the KO2's, and the grip was night and day different. I have no doubt you wouldn't get the wheel spin you did had you put the KO2's on the 2021. At the end of the day, I've loved all my Jeeps and interested to see how the 2022 fares in the real world (not that I'll be getting it any time soon!)
Owned 4 WJ's. First one in High School. Fast forward 20 years, I've never kept a car as long as the 1999 WJ that got me through college and 2' snow showers. It was an INCREDIBLE car. Just traded my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek for my old 2012 Jeep KK Liberty (was back up for sale). Made 8K on the sale of the Crosstrek and got out of a car payment. Love Subarus like our Ascent for 4 kids, but forgot how much I loved the Jeep durability. See another WJ in our future.
You should have tested using a 2005/2006 WK with QuadraDrive 2 and the electronic limited slip differentials front and rear... one of the most capable Grand Cherokees..
This review has just strengthened what I had already decided. I'm going to drive my 06 GC until the end of time for two reasons, Jeep has strayed so far away from their roots to be unrecognizable and I'm too poor to afford these luxo-barges.
Jeep still offers the Laredo trim, which would be the way to go for a daily driver. 2022 Laredo, 4x4, luxury tech package, 18in wheel option. $43K. Not a horrible price and on par with Explorer, 4Runner, Passport, etc.
Between the three, my money, I’d rather have the oldest one. I’ve always hated that Jeep decided to remove the solid rear axles on the Grand Cherokees.
I was pissed when they removed the solid FRONT axles. Independent suspension is only good offroad if you are running high speed dirt roads. Unless you are willing to spend $100k on custom independent suspension like some of those recent king of the hammers rigs.
I always wonder why the WK is so underrepresented in the Jeep community. I loved mine. I had the Euro version called WH. it was build by magna steyr, in the same place where they build the Mercedes G.
My 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Special Edition (WJ) with 4.7 V8 and Quadra-Trac 2, had a towing capacity of 6,500 lbs. I added upgraded Overland skid plates, a 3" lift from Iron Rock Off-Road, and newer Wrangler wheel/tire takeoffs. It had 291,000 miles on the original 4.7 V8 and transmission when I sold it to a wrecking yard. I bought it in 2008 when it only had 48,000 miles and it was easily my favorite daily driver vehicle that I have owned. Rocky trails, mud, snow, primitive roads, and more, my Jeep WJ never let me down. I lost control at 75 - 80 mph on I-40 in Oklahoma, rolled it 4x, and inexplicably walked away from the accident with relatively minor injuries. That 2004 WJ made by Daimler saved my life. I loved that Jeep and wish I still had it. Any WJ with Quadra-Trac 2 or Quadra-Drive 2 is a solid purchase.
Yup, it's what Land Rover has been doing as well, that they can equip a Defender for example with large street oriented all-seasons and do great off-road due to those fancy electronics. Pretty much perfected it over time with the last few generations of Range Rover models.
@@Bogeypro256 after 10+ years of off road riding, I can tell you that the GoPro (or any camera) doesn't describes the terrain accurately, multiply the difficulty by a factor of 4 and you'll probably get near the reality.
On the Overland you can order it with an off-road package that changes the wheels to 18 inch, I think some extra skid plates, bigger axles, the Trail-Rated badge, and a few more things.
"Overland" is the name of an early 20th century car company. Willys bought them in 1908, and the combined company became Willys-Overland in 1912. The Overland name was dropped when Kaiser bought the company in 1953. The Overland badge on these trim Jeeps is essentially the same as the one used by the original company. "Overlanding" has existed a lot longer than the current fad! :)
The Overland name has become a top notch name, just like Denali. We have one, 2008, with the Mercedes 3.0 turbo diesel. It was the top of the line for a Grand cherokee. Bought it used 5 years ago. Not impressed. The turbo was changed before I bought it, with 130,000. Mercedes says to change the turbo at 125,000 , it was changed before I bought it. $6000. Per dealership records invoice. The radio doesn't work. Quit working after I bought it, my father has a 1954 Chevrolet with a working radio. Original. Sure, it's only AM. But it works after 69 years ! Obviously Chrysler can't make a radio with new technology to last past 10 years.! My wife bought a 2017 Grand cherokee in 2019, had 22,000 miles on it, at 88,000 miles the 8 spd transmission blew up.! 1,2nd and 3rd gears destroyed. $5500 TO FIX. I'll never buy another Chrysler product.
My wife has a 2002 jeep grand cherokee limited. We searched and found one with a bad engine. I built a 4.7ho motor that has very impressive power. Found the other day the floor has dried blood aaaallllll over. My wife was rear ended and now disabled from the accident. Its a cursed jeep which can only be drivin short distance. Both us are disabled and now income and desperate for a new vehicle. The new jeep is beautiful and just way way to expensive since we couldn't even do Christmas this year is just a dream. Thanks for sharing and great video
Had a 96 and an 01’ GC. 01 died a few weeks ago, 96 has been gone for a bit. Miss the 96 more. Square body, more aggressive looking done right.. did some good bombing in the 96. Took everything and wanted more.
Buddy that rolled up in the side-by-side was something else! Not that it was any of his business from the get-go, but I found it funny that he sounded as if he was a bit suspicious and cheesed. Next time you off-road there you'd better be sure to clear it with him. Ha! Ah, the world takes all kinds. Cheers, lads, thanks for the great vid(s), and Merry Christmas to you all.
@@czrmtz2431 I meant it as a joke. Clearly the guy on the side-by-side is a bit of a goof. Anyway, cheers, bud! It's almost Christmas -- I hope you're sipping on some nice whisky and enjoying time with your loved ones.
The Trailblazer with the straight 6 also had the front half shafts going through the oil pan with the obvious problems that went along with it when it got older.
I had the Saab version and while I loved it especially with the 5.3 V8 which also had the half shafts through the oil pan, those axle seals never stopped leaking other than for about 2 weeks after replacing them, but you didn't have to wait long for them to start dripping again.
I hope they understand that when they design that is the difference between Toyota and American competition they go for reliable design and I can’t stand Toyota but you gotta give them credit for simple smart things
Glad you realized going into Rock puts you in OR2. It is a rough ride but the Wk2 is a beast. I took my V6 on a trail ride with off roaders and they were amazed at the capabilities...with Pirelli street tires.
We own a 2004 and a 2019. I would recommend the 'two solid axle' 2004 all day long. Maintenance (you can align this yourself) and reduced degree of electronic complexity is for me. My '04 V8 (not the Hi Output) gives me 16 - 17 MPG and plenty of acceleration. there is also a straight six option that comes in at just 30 HP less and will run forever. The 5 speed transmission is built By Mercedes and the transfer case has locked 4-wheel option. This machine has taken me places I did not expect it could go and I can have 10 of these for the price of one new one.
well I have owned all 3 and now own a WK2 sterling edition, the newest version is by far the most comfortable and best looking. I have never got stuck anywhere and thats all we need to count
Great review. Though I have a 2011 Overland Hemi and it's been a good ride, I would still trust the WJ in terms of offroading. Nothing beats solid axles especially when you have two of them front and rear
Funny you guys did this comparison, I traded in my 19 Cherokee trailhawk for a 22 GC-L Altitude(needed room for increasing size of the family) and bought an 04 GC to go to camp
Love the banta between you guys.. father and son comedy at its off-road best … love all you guys on the channel.. merry Christmas from Darwin Australia 🇦🇺
My mother has a 2018 Grand Cherokee with just 7k miles (she does not drive much). I have found it to handle amazingly well in the snow and inclement weather. However, while it is nice inside, I feel claustrophobic on drives that go anywhere outside town. The seats are not that great either and there are some visibility issues. It's a nice car and my elderly mother really loves it. I've borrowed it to run across state or to the next town a few times over the last couple of years and found it to be a great road trip vehicle as long the interior is kept clean with each stop before it feels cramped. Hers has a 3.6 engine and it gets about 32-33 mpg on the highway at 60mph, which is rather impressive.
When you put the WK2 in rock mode it automatically goes to offroad height 2. So you set it, then dialed to rock which changed the setting again. That Trailhawk has quadra drive 2 so here are what those settings actually do. •Auto - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height is at NRH. The vehicle systems are set to normal performance settings. Combines optimal traction with seamless steering feel. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 38 mm (1.49 in.) above NRH, the transfer case locks, and the transmission shifting adjusts to off road shifting. •Sport - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height adjusts to 15 mm (0.59 in.) below NRH. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and traction control tuning thresholds are raised, and the Antilock Brake Control (ABS) allows less wheel slip, all to allow more driver control. Also the transmission shifting adjusts to a higher performance shifting. Not available in 4WD Low range. •Snow - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height is at NRH. Traction control is adjusted to allow less wheel slip, and initial vehicle launch will be in second gear. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 33 mm (1.3 in.) above NRH, the transfer case locks, the transmission shifting and ABS adjusts to off road settings. •Sand/Mud - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height adjusts to 38 mm (1.49 in.) above NRH. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) tuning threshold is raised, and the ABS allows less wheel slip to allow more driver control. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 38 mm (1.49 in.) above NRH. The transfer case and the Electronic Limited Slip Differential (ELSD) locks, the transmission shifting and ABS adjusts to off road settings. •Rock - Not available in 4WD High range. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 65 mm (2.6 in.) above NRH. The transfer case and the ELSD locks, the transmission shifting and ABS adjusts to off road settings, and hill descent control is activated for steep downhill control.
I have a wk2 diesel with QDII, and a 2007 wk diesel with QDII. For off-road the wk with QDII is better because the front axle locks. Unfortunately, Jeep discontinued the locking front axle with the wk2.
WJ for me. I had one for 8 years. Great vehicle. I'd get another one if I didn't love my JKUR so much. That '22 GC is pretty sharp too, but not a fan of that price tag.
I had a 18 Trailhawk with the 3.6L. Loved it for road trips and was always surprised by the capability. I did have A TON of quality issues that ended up with the car being a Lemon after being in the shop for 5 of the first 11 month of its life. Ultimately, my LR3 was more reliable, more comfortable and more capable.
@CarEnjoyer Yeah in Lalala land. The irony of claiming a POS LR is better quality. Oh and I used to work at the LR dealership fixing those pile of junks.
As a 31 year old "crotchety" person who also has a bad back, that was one of the reasons I didn't get the overland with the air suspension. That and the price tag. It was just a little outside of my budget.
Proof that new and fancy isn't always what certain drivers want. If I wanted a BMW or Land Rover I would've bought one. I wanted a Jeep for a reason. Had a 2004 Grand Cherokee Special Edition. Loved that Truck. It was indestructible. Got a 2015 Limited and was afraid to take it out. Oh and love the tape deck and CD player. LOL
I’m really interested in the 4Xe version. It seems like it’s actually a good system and might just cover my daily driving on just electric. It’s interesting how they’ve made the Overland with Off-road package (which gets you most, but not all, the of the off-road tech and tires of the Trailhawk) more configurable with tech stuff than the Trailhawk. It seems like you have to choose one or the other. Trying to decide if I want to order one now or wait to hear some real reviews and maybe even drive one before having to commit. I will say, the new Overland L (too big for me) really is about as nice as anything I’ve sat in that could actually go (a little bit) off-road without risk.
I'm in the same boat. I'm waiting for pricing to be released by Jeep so I can order my 4xe. Sounds like TFL has some inside info though about delivery dates.
@@Nanaki1422 - March/April is what I was told by the dealer here in UT. Who knows with chips, etc, but I’m guessing certainly by the summer. I heard somewhere that the air suspension is the are where chip shortages have created a delivery issue.
@@anthonymrskipt9252 I saw the same thing about the air suspension waiting on new chips. Personally I just want a limited without the full air suspension.
I read the entry level limited starts at around 50K (before the federal and state tax credits). Im the stereotypical chick who only needs it to go to Costco LOL so the limited is fine for me
Wow! I learned so much from this video, thanks. I’ve had air suspension on Land Rovers previously and had some issues. I’d definitely go springs after watching this.
I actually liked the 2004 model vs the overly expensive newer ones. 200k+ on a Jeep and most people think Toyotas/Hondas are the only models to reach that many miles.
I bought a 98 ZJ in 2011 for $4k. I put $3k into a long arm suspension lift and 33in MT tires. You would be absolutely shocked at the places I've taken it. Even without lockers or limited slip.
I'll take my 2002 Overland over the new ones anyday... 3" lift and 31" Duratracs and it goes anywhere. My Varilocks still work too, although I'm (slowly) building a pair of axles with 4.56's and real lockers that will eventually get swapped in along with a long-arm lift. And when I'm ready for more power, I'll drop in an LS instead of a camshaft-eating HEMI.
@@tylerfoster828 sorry but the WK2 will get you stuck in real trails-mud-rocks long before my WJ now yes my particular WJ does have upgrades like real lockers & new carriers with higher gear ratios swapped in place of my 20yr old worn out factory ones a fresh suspension lift to accommodate obstacles in the trails we have a XK with QD2 a JK that replaced out WK2 because of the soccer mom feel this video is showing Jeeps in very light duty trails where the more car like Jeeps are already struggling not trying to take anything away from the comfort of a WK2 but they’re definitely not world renowned for hardcore off road capability
@waterloo123100 you're really gonna talk about dropping transmissions on a WJ video LMAO they shoulda never left the AW4, my xjs hit reverse doing 60 and locked the tires, and never skipped a beat, trans is in the garage for a spare currently.
What Tommy said about "ground clearance" in the ancient Cherokee is very true. Despite having the least "ground clearance" it performed very well. I wish you guys wouldn't just repeat the factory ground clearance numbers when talking about review vehicles. In trucks this is often measured from the lowest point which is usually the rear axle center. Instead belly height might be a better metric for off roading. When I have gotten hung up off road due to insufficient "ground clearance" it is almost always in the middle of the vehicles, never on the rear axle center. The breakover angle is a way to quantify the ration of the belly height to the wheelbase, but not many people look at an obstacle and think " I need 20 or more degrees of break over angle for that". Just a simple measuring tape from the lowest point of the belly to the ground is much more intuitive. Maybe mention the wheelbase and the breakover angle at the same time, but the factory stated "ground clearance" number is often misleading. To be far with the air suspension I am sure both of the newer Jeeps had greater belly height then the ancient one, but again Tommy was right to point out that is only one way to judge a vehicle's off road capability.
Good point on the ground clearance. And on a solid-axle vehicle it's never less than that number. Even when the suspension compresses fully, you still have say 9" of clearance under the pumpkin, never less. On an IFS vehicle, as the suspension compresses the structure of the vehicle gets closer to the ground. Independent vehicles seem to have greater static ground clearance, but real-world ground clearance advantage goes to the solid-axle. Think about if you drive one wheel up on a 3" tall rock with a solid-axle. You'll get 3in of extra clearance on that side of the vehicle. If you drive an independent suspension vehicle up on a 3in tall rock, the suspension will compress 3in on that side and you have the same if not less ground clearance. Also in some of these ifs vehicles, everything hangs so low you don't even have a ground clearance advantage. My 4Runner is rated at 9.6 inch of ground clearance with almost 32-inch tires. (The front skid plate was missing when I bought it, so I added an after-market one.) I measured 7.5 in under the skid plate, the same as my Volvo wagon with 27 inch tall tires. Now I could lift it 3in to get more ground clearance, however that's basically like with these air suspension vehicles, now I'm riding around with pretty much no down travel, because I've used most of my down travel in lifting the vehicle.
you guys need to get a WK and test that generation too, that is the best generation in my opinion, It has a lot of the tech of the newer grand Cherokees while still having a solid rear axle.
I drove a 95 limited GC 320k+ miles and a 99 limited 431k. Now I have 2012 Overland. For offroad, I'd take the 95 any day easily, that thing was like a tractor in 4low, and you could beat on the 99 but it still drove like a caddy. The 2012 looks real nice and has lot of hemi power, but a speed bump beats the heck out of you! Darn, why did they have to mess with a really good thing???
The wj is a solid ass car. It’s comfy, good vision, ride is smooth, straights 6 a beast bulletproof, sunroof. I’ve had 4 used em and still sold them good
I have had both v8 and v6 trailhawks and for the 4mpg penalty the V8 is my preference. I am not happy about the known issues with their stupid MDS system on these HEMI engines. I am getting my oil analysis by black stone labs at every oil change which is already seeing an increase in iron which could be lifter issues already at 10k miles. Glad it’s a lease so if it does go bad I can give it back… I will continue to monitor my oil just for my own education.
@Jan Cordero Its the oil Analysis that will make my final decision. But with the way its looking I will be turning in the jeep at the end of the lease. I am also using the oil analysis to see if there is any difference between what the dealer uses for oil and going with Penzoil Ultra Platinum 5W20. I will get a couple of baseline dealer oil changes and then use the "good stuff" and see if there is any benefit. I may even post the results to show the wear from the MDS issue, and the difference between dealer bulk oil and spending the extra bucks on good oil (which may have no benefit? )
@@jackprick9797 so that sample with the higher number must have been contaminated or taken very sloppy. I had another oil Change since then and the numbers are well within spec. I will continue taking samples and keeping an eye on it
@@itgoesfast2722 thanks for your reply! Yeah, i was a bit surprised at your initial finding. From what I have read, the hemi engines, although not necessarily a leader anymore in terms of power density, have at least shown to be very reliable in comercial truck service (2500 and 3500). To me, robustness and reliability are more important than fuel economy and outright power and performance.
09:36 w8 rly? Ecopia? it's kinda towards fuel saving tires for cheap small displacement car here in tropical climate idk if they change tire composition for sub tropic market or it is exactly the same thing that we use here
While the GC's are unibody construction, they have body stiffeners to make them more rigid than a regular unibody. Also, you may want to do some research on the WJ transmissions. While the 4 speed behind the I6 is known for problems, the 5-speed behind the 4.7 V8 is reliable. I have an '03 Overland with the original transmission at over 215K and it still operates like new. Proper maintenance goes a long way. Same goes for the VariLock axles. They still give me amazing traction.
Tires are so important...if you slap those beefy off road tires on any of those models it will greatly improve the off road capability. The only way to accurately compare them is to put the same rims/tires on each. That being said it was a great video...nice to see the old model showing it's stuff. So affordable and yet capable, great to see that!
Wife has had multiple versions of the Grand Cherokee through the years. So far all have been great vehicles. There are not a lot of options out there for this size vehicle (not compact, not a full size) that has "real 4 wheel drive". Jeep and Land Rover, most of the stuff we looked at before going back to a Grand Cherokee were all wheel drive car base SUV's.
If your stating that it is car based due to fact it does have unibody construction as opposed to full frame then that I agree. But "Cross over" ..no it still has a transfer case with four wheel drive including 4L which all cross overs do not
@@Grodd70 SUVs have a full frame (Wrangler, 4Runner, Bronco, etc.). CUVs have a reinforced unibody (Escape, Explorer, Highlander, Bronco Sport, Grand Cherokee, etc.). The transfer case and suspension setup are irrelevant.
@@user-tb7rn1il3q That I can get due to it no being body on frame construction. So with that criteria I will say that it is one of the more capable CUV's due to suspension and transfer case set up. Since the majority of those mentioned are a slightly lifted car with all wheel drive. Rav4 = Corolla Highlander = Camery Ford Explorer (new) = taurus (old) was a truck based off Ranger. I am at least grateful that 4 Runner as stayed true to its roots. That was a debate I had with a person on the Ridgeline its NOT a truck, not saying bad car but not a truck.
This videos was awesome! I've had a 93 laredo, 02 and 14 limited, now have a summit L 21....my fave and most capable for sure was the 02....the new one is the nicest/most luxurious though for sure
13:40. My brother in law has rolled twice at high speeds. Once after being t-boned by a diesel. My dad rolled his up the side of a canyon and off it. Both walked away. I still drive that one. 310k 4.0.
Tommy I was very surprised at how the 2001 does in a roll over, one of my daughters was on a road that the edge gave way and her 2001 rolled over twice on the side and hit a tree to stop. The windshield cracked up and the front pillar gave way very little. It still runs and drives we use it on the farm and for pushing snow. I did not expect it to be as safe as it was and we replaced it with another 2001 Limited which she loves. I may be interested in yours when you want to sell it. Nice review and be nicer to Roman, like I tell my kids they are not to big for a spanking if they mouth off.
Wish you had did a WK with hemi and Elsd rear and front preferably 09 or 10 version. Mine with superlift and 34s tear up everything when i needed it to. More so than my 87 wrangler on 35s fully locked did
Was thinking about changing my 04 WJ today to a pickup or a WK2 Limited. Nah… will spend some money on some KO2s, maybe a RC lift and will continue to rock on happily with no car payments.
Thanks to Warby Parker for sponsoring this video! Visit warbyparker.com/offroad to try on 5 pairs of glasses at home for FREE! Home Try-Ons are only offered in the US.
wait-- tommy got eye surgery and so now warby parker is sponsoring? I think he should just wear non-prescription glasses and make everyone happy.
Is it just me or did Roman come off as totally sounding like a total dick to the guys in the side by side? I’ve been in the off roading community my entire life and for the most part everybody helps out everybody and most people are very friendly with one another. Sharing vehicle builds, or what they do for a career and so on. Had Roman not been so short with them for just saying hello and asking about the TFL Jeeps cameras and set up they most likely would have gotten a few more fans and certainly more people to network with and share resources should they ever be needed in the future. It wouldn’t have killed him to take a whopping 5 minutes out of his filming to talk to those people. And since their out off roading it’s not like fans would be lined up for miles on the trail to all have their own conversations with TFL either. But the way Roman acted, you sure would have thought that.
Where is Tombstone Hill trail that you use? I am going to Colorado next year and want to try this trial since I have seen many vehicles on it in your videos
Trouble is, you guys don't become really familiar with the cars you are reviewing. There is no way I would have had the car in Rock-hopper mode with that terrain. Just leave it in 4wd low and watch it go.
Jeep comparison aside, you two had some real dad-son moments throughout the video. Keeping it real.
the bickering was adorable!
Agreed. 👍🏼☺️
As nice as the new generations may be, you just can’t beat solid axels off road. I have an ‘04 WJ with a basic 4” lift and it goes EVERYWHERE I wana go on the weekend, and still gets the wife to work during the week reliably. And as you mentioned, the seats are super comfortable. Great video as always, looking forward to you guys getting the 4Xe! Keep up the good work!
Me too. 2004 WJ represent! 🍻
WJ gang strong
WJ for life 😎🇺🇸
Loved my ‘01 WJ!!!
'04 bone stock WJ. 👍
Thanks for giving so much respect to the WJ. They are amazing and may actually go up in value in the future. Proud 2004 owner. :)
WJ for life 😎 and HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS ⭐️🏈
Hush!!
If I had the 63K to buy a 2022, I'd take my 2004 Grand Cherokee to the dealership and have them tweak it back to showroom condition.
Not sure what I'd spend the other 60,000 on, but I'm sure I could think of something.
@@ninjabearpress2574 Possibly an engine rebuild? Or you can pay for a supercharged 4.7 PowerTech
@@zaccorpseman7366 Now I really wish I had the money, gots to get me a Powerball ticket.
I miss my Dad. Treasure these moments.
I miss my dad too. I definitely should have treasured him more when he was around.
Peace be with you, R C.
I have a European 2004 WJ (Diesel) so I have a soft spot for them. It goes to show if you want a comfortable useable off-roader that is also comfortable on the road, you can have an ol WJ with a few quid spent on decent tyres and all for less than the VAT depreciation of a new one the minute it rolls out the door.
I call my 2004 Grand Cherokee Big Red, that says it all.
it would be such a head turner to have a European WJ here in the States. Diesel and RHD. Er more specifically a British WJ since those are RHD
As a WJ guy I rather liked this video.
We do have the best seats and the easiest off-roading of all the Grands. 😎
And all the issues you pointed out, sagging suspension, bad ac, ect can be fixed, you can get those m/t tires, and upgrade the radio and you'll still pay less than you will for the new basic Grand.
Miss those times when things were simplier
Came for the WJ, most underrated off-road SUV ever
I am SO glad you guys finally got a WJ and are doing content with it. The WJ really is the best GC. I love my '03 WJ and would love to see you guys do a cheap Jeep build with it and start modding it.
You guys mentioned The WJ not being very safe in a roll over because of the big windows. I would disagree. I had a ZJ which had even smaller pillars and bigger windows. I flipped and rolled it at 65mph after getting in an accident with a semi. It came to a rest on its roof after about 3 flips. The cabin held up and only caved a little in the middle of the windshield. The windows on the drivers side didn't even break.
Big windows mean better visibility, you can see bad thing coming and avoid it.
Love my 04, wouldn't trade it for anything new.
The best part of this video was the father/son banter and arguing coming down in the “old” GC. Keep it up fellas. Awesome content!
I would NEVER trade my 2006 WJ with 4inch lift for any new model. It is so easy to maintain and parts available everywhere. Very comfortable on and off road. Great vehicle for whole family.
WJ's in the states ran from 1999-2004. So either you got the year of yours wrong, or you have a WK (2005-2010).
Loved this video! I owned a 2001 Grand Cherokee Laredo with the S package, the 4.0 inline six and Selec-Trac 4WD. I loved that Jeep. I should have never sold it.
Find another one, you won't be sorry.
Loving my 2004 Grand Cherokee SE.
aldo90731
*had owned
My 99 has 4.0 but it's a Quadra Trac. Is the select Trac Better?
@@dentondunn4346 Sorry I’m not familiar with the QuadraTrac. The beauty of the Selec-Trac is that you can manually select between 2WD, 4H Full-Time, 4H Part-Time and 4L.
That side by side dude was like a nosey neighbor! He was acting like you were on private property. Roman handled it perfectly! I assume he doesn't watch TFL
Right? I was wondering why that guy felt the need to investigate someone as if he owned the place...
He could have been a future subscriber if Roman had told him. Like he's done, in past years.
I think he just saw a car driving by with cameras protruding all over it and was curious what was going on.
He just wanted to know what’s going on… relax. He responded like a grown man should
I’m the (proud?) owner of a 2002 WJ, 4.0 inline six with almost 240k miles. Drives nice, tows surprisingly well, off-roads better than it has a right to, and it’s been paid for for years. Thing is a tank.
The A/C works. When it wants to. Oh well. Paint? Meh. Clear coat is overrated.
Love the content!
Will always go with the oldies. They were built better for off-road and even built to be very easy to fully modify for more extreme trails. Loved the hell out of my 05 GC before the motor blowout. Had a full stage 3 mod kit on her too!!
Will never go newer than 10 in the GC family. Newer ones are more computer than car.
god i'm so tired of people getting in a base level grand cherokee then comparing it to a lexus. it just shows that you know nothing. The summit, the 11 overland, the srts, all have hand stitched leather dashboards.... this is a trail version, it doesn't come with the leather dash.. wtf...
Right like the Laredo might be cheaper but it sucks
As an owner of both a 2004 WJ and ‘97 ZJ I can tell you definitively you the old Jeeps can’t be beat!
The WJ is my dream car, I have a smile on my face every time I drive it. And I have yet to meet another 4wheeler on the trail I can’t keep up with!
I always smile in anticipation of the opportunity to drive '02 WJ anywhere.
@@AndreiDRoman Yes! You can definitely feel the love that went into building those WJs.
As always the 2500.00 jeep is best . Mainly because normal working people can’t afford the rich yuppie toys with heated seats and steering wheel . Simple is always better .words to live by
Try to get a better job….. then you can afford a car that cost more than $2500
@@jtomtl your average person won't dump 63k on a jeep that's a waste of money. And others are too poor to afford a car and insurance.
@@Kana0211 I never said everyone should buy a 63k Jeep, Average people can definitely pay more than $2500 for a car. Don’t just complain, that wouldn’t change anything.
@@jtomtl Just about anyone can pay more than $2500 for a vehicle. I know a lot of people that buy cheap cars because they're simply cheaper. As long as you can fix them yourself. These same people buy nearly everything in cash. One of them paid $300,000 for a house, in cash. Still drives an early 2000's Golf
The wj has standard heated seats mate 😂
Always loved the WJ, had a chance to do tire development for that car as my first job out of school. Amazing what they are capable of even with stock tires
Always loved the grand Cherokee I’ve had my WJ now for a very long time even with newer Jeeps in our fleet I still drive the wj allot….when we go off road people like to think the wj isn’t capable or “not a real Jeep” 🤣 until I’m pulling them back to traction then they ask so what exactly does this Jeep have? The 4.0 is a nice trail motor solid axles are always preferred in a trail rig add some lockers front & rear nice skid plates little lift & some mud terrains they go everywhere
I’ve always loved the way those old WJs look too. IMHO, it is the best looking of the bunch.
I have my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited 5.2 l V8 with only 122,000 miles. I use it as my winter vehicle in Southwest Colorado. 4 wheel drive all the time is hard to beat. I'm interested to hear more about the 4xe.
Sweet ride, dawg.
Built when Jeep meant something, not the poofed-out junk they sell these days.
I have a 2011 wk2 with the 5.7. It's never let me down. The 5.7 is a BEAST and the quadra Trac 2 has enough capability to go where you need it to. Love that thing.
On my 4th GC - a 2021 Trailhawk with the Hemi, much like the one you tested. I cannot comment on the newest coming out, but having had a 1996, 2008, 2010 and the 2021, the 2021 is the most capable so far. Yes, in the highest setting on the air suspension the ride is very stiff, but all factors considered I'm a big fan of it. That added clearance is hugely beneficial. And you can't downplay the importance of tire choice. I've attempted the same climbs in the same vehicle with basic AT's as well as the KO2's, and the grip was night and day different. I have no doubt you wouldn't get the wheel spin you did had you put the KO2's on the 2021. At the end of the day, I've loved all my Jeeps and interested to see how the 2022 fares in the real world (not that I'll be getting it any time soon!)
i have trailhawk 2019 now use micky tomsom degan AT38 mach better than bf goodrich
AIR SUSPENSION?
@@NYRIKAN yes
Owned 4 WJ's. First one in High School. Fast forward 20 years, I've never kept a car as long as the 1999 WJ that got me through college and 2' snow showers. It was an INCREDIBLE car. Just traded my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek for my old 2012 Jeep KK Liberty (was back up for sale). Made 8K on the sale of the Crosstrek and got out of a car payment. Love Subarus like our Ascent for 4 kids, but forgot how much I loved the Jeep durability. See another WJ in our future.
You should have tested using a 2005/2006 WK with QuadraDrive 2 and the electronic limited slip differentials front and rear... one of the most capable Grand Cherokees..
It is an unreal system. I have a 2010 WK HEMI and it kicks the $hit out of my 4Runner.
This review has just strengthened what I had already decided. I'm going to drive my 06 GC until the end of time for two reasons, Jeep has strayed so far away from their roots to be unrecognizable and I'm too poor to afford these luxo-barges.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
I traded in my ‘05 about 7 months ago and kick myself almost every day.
Driving my 2004 GC until I die...luxo-barge, I like that.
They couldn't pay me to take that 2022, it's a poofed-out pile of junk.
Jeep still offers the Laredo trim, which would be the way to go for a daily driver. 2022 Laredo, 4x4, luxury tech package, 18in wheel option. $43K. Not a horrible price and on par with Explorer, 4Runner, Passport, etc.
@@RysterARCEE Neh, too frilly.
SOS the best father and son in the business! So much enjoyment from watching these videos.
Just bought a 2021 Trailhawk. Thanks for the video. Really like the father-son aspect of your show. Keep up the good work.
My 91 xj with 4 litre was unstoppable. Now have a 02 wj with the 4.7. No matter what type of weather/terrains, it's getting you home.
Between the three, my money, I’d rather have the oldest one. I’ve always hated that Jeep decided to remove the solid rear axles on the Grand Cherokees.
I was pissed when they removed the solid FRONT axles.
Independent suspension is only good offroad if you are running high speed dirt roads. Unless you are willing to spend $100k on custom independent suspension like some of those recent king of the hammers rigs.
Always love your old vs new videos. Would love to see a comparison with the WK as well. I wish I could bring mine.
WK and XK with Quadra-Drive-II were the BEST!
@@hoagieman26 QDII really works. Once followed an open-diff truck, where it struggled the QDII handled with ease, no momentum needed.
I always wonder why the WK is so underrepresented in the Jeep community. I loved mine. I had the Euro version called WH. it was build by magna steyr, in the same place where they build the Mercedes G.
My 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Special Edition (WJ) with 4.7 V8 and Quadra-Trac 2, had a towing capacity of 6,500 lbs. I added upgraded Overland skid plates, a 3" lift from Iron Rock Off-Road, and newer Wrangler wheel/tire takeoffs. It had 291,000 miles on the original 4.7 V8 and transmission when I sold it to a wrecking yard. I bought it in 2008 when it only had 48,000 miles and it was easily my favorite daily driver vehicle that I have owned. Rocky trails, mud, snow, primitive roads, and more, my Jeep WJ never let me down.
I lost control at 75 - 80 mph on I-40 in Oklahoma, rolled it 4x, and inexplicably walked away from the accident with relatively minor injuries. That 2004 WJ made by Daimler saved my life. I loved that Jeep and wish I still had it.
Any WJ with Quadra-Trac 2 or Quadra-Drive 2 is a solid purchase.
The fact that the '22 model went up Dare with basically summer tyres, says a lot about the electronics :)
Yup, it's what Land Rover has been doing as well, that they can equip a Defender for example with large street oriented all-seasons and do great off-road due to those fancy electronics. Pretty much perfected it over time with the last few generations of Range Rover models.
True but more electronics to stop working and then you have no 4WD. And DCJ is known for their electronics /s
Or it says that the trail isn't difficult.
@@Bogeypro256 after 10+ years of off road riding, I can tell you that the GoPro (or any camera) doesn't describes the terrain accurately, multiply the difficulty by a factor of 4 and you'll probably get near the reality.
@@raynetorrin yuppers. Simple is easy. Less is more.
On the Overland you can order it with an off-road package that changes the wheels to 18 inch, I think some extra skid plates, bigger axles, the Trail-Rated badge, and a few more things.
"Overland" is the name of an early 20th century car company. Willys bought them in 1908, and the combined company became Willys-Overland in 1912. The Overland name was dropped when Kaiser bought the company in 1953. The Overland badge on these trim Jeeps is essentially the same as the one used by the original company. "Overlanding" has existed a lot longer than the current fad! :)
Back then, all cars were overlanders.
The Overland name has become a top notch name, just like Denali. We have one, 2008, with the Mercedes 3.0 turbo diesel. It was the top of the line for a Grand cherokee. Bought it used 5 years ago. Not impressed. The turbo was changed before I bought it, with 130,000. Mercedes says to change the turbo at 125,000 , it was changed before I bought it. $6000. Per dealership records invoice. The radio doesn't work. Quit working after I bought it, my father has a 1954 Chevrolet with a working radio. Original. Sure, it's only AM. But it works after 69 years ! Obviously Chrysler can't make a radio with new technology to last past 10 years.! My wife bought a 2017 Grand cherokee in 2019, had 22,000 miles on it, at 88,000 miles the 8 spd transmission blew up.! 1,2nd and 3rd gears destroyed. $5500 TO FIX. I'll never buy another Chrysler product.
My wife has a 2002 jeep grand cherokee limited. We searched and found one with a bad engine. I built a 4.7ho motor that has very impressive power. Found the other day the floor has dried blood aaaallllll over. My wife was rear ended and now disabled from the accident. Its a cursed jeep which can only be drivin short distance. Both us are disabled and now income and desperate for a new vehicle. The new jeep is beautiful and just way way to expensive since we couldn't even do Christmas this year is just a dream. Thanks for sharing and great video
Had a 96 and an 01’ GC. 01 died a few weeks ago, 96 has been gone for a bit. Miss the 96 more. Square body, more aggressive looking done right.. did some good bombing in the 96. Took everything and wanted more.
Grew up riding around in a ZJ and WJ, gotta say I haven't enjoyed a seat or ride that comfortable in any vehicle ever since.
Love my old WJ/WG, taken me to some amazing places all round in Europe. Can't beat it!
Buddy that rolled up in the side-by-side was something else! Not that it was any of his business from the get-go, but I found it funny that he sounded as if he was a bit suspicious and cheesed. Next time you off-road there you'd better be sure to clear it with him. Ha! Ah, the world takes all kinds. Cheers, lads, thanks for the great vid(s), and Merry Christmas to you all.
Roman’s response was perfect.
Roman said “see ya bud!” 😂😂
Imagine seeing people obviously filming and then interupting to ask what theyre doing
It’s not like the guys owns the place so I don’t see any reason why they’d have to clear anything up next time
@@czrmtz2431 I meant it as a joke. Clearly the guy on the side-by-side is a bit of a goof. Anyway, cheers, bud! It's almost Christmas -- I hope you're sipping on some nice whisky and enjoying time with your loved ones.
The Trailblazer with the straight 6 also had the front half shafts going through the oil pan with the obvious problems that went along with it when it got older.
I had the Saab version and while I loved it especially with the 5.3 V8 which also had the half shafts through the oil pan, those axle seals never stopped leaking other than for about 2 weeks after replacing them, but you didn't have to wait long for them to start dripping again.
I hope they understand that when they design that is the difference between Toyota and American competition they go for reliable design and I can’t stand Toyota but you gotta give them credit for simple smart things
I think they first did it with the Oldsmobile Toronado in the ‘70’s
It’s amazing how much the Grand Cherokee has changed during the years.
Yeah, I was watching them play with the touchscreen and hoping they didn't accidentally fire the phasers.
From decent to dainty 😂
I've had 3 WJ because I love how they handle on and off road. They've saved my life a few times. Still have one even through I have a nice newer WK2.
seems like i waited YEARS for TFL to review the WJ and even before watching I KNEW it would own the competition! ✊😎 so much love for those ole Jeeps!
Glad you realized going into Rock puts you in OR2. It is a rough ride but the Wk2 is a beast. I took my V6 on a trail ride with off roaders and they were amazed at the capabilities...with Pirelli street tires.
WJ is better. Solid axles wins off-road. Every. Single. Time.
You can just hit the button to override it and put it back in OR1 while remaining in rock mode.
We own a 2004 and a 2019. I would recommend the 'two solid axle' 2004 all day long. Maintenance (you can align this yourself) and reduced degree of electronic complexity is for me.
My '04 V8 (not the Hi Output) gives me 16 - 17 MPG and plenty of acceleration. there is also a straight six option that comes in at just 30 HP less and will run forever. The 5 speed transmission
is built By Mercedes and the transfer case has locked 4-wheel option. This machine has taken me places I did not expect it could go and I can have 10 of these for the price of one new one.
My zj has different modes for the various scenarios you may encounter during its operation.
Park, Reverse, and Drive.
well I have owned all 3 and now own a WK2 sterling edition, the newest version is by far the most comfortable and best looking. I have never got stuck anywhere and thats all we need to count
My 2007 wk jgc just hit 213k mikes and she’s still strong and smooth! It’s just a laredo v6 3.7 4wd but in my head I drive a track hawk 😎
I have a 95 ZJ, a 05 WK and a 12 WK2, and although I love them all, the solid Axl totally makes the difference on offroad.
Nice job handling the “busybodies.” That kind of thing happens to me all the time.
I got so pissed off for Roman like da hell git on somewhere damn 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Total vibe killers ugh
Great review. Though I have a 2011 Overland Hemi and it's been a good ride, I would still trust the WJ in terms of offroading. Nothing beats solid axles especially when you have two of them front and rear
Funny you guys did this comparison, I traded in my 19 Cherokee trailhawk for a 22 GC-L Altitude(needed room for increasing size of the family) and bought an 04 GC to go to camp
Love the banta between you guys.. father and son comedy at its off-road best … love all you guys on the channel.. merry Christmas from Darwin Australia 🇦🇺
Banter*
@@gunplaytv W⚓️
My mother has a 2018 Grand Cherokee with just 7k miles (she does not drive much). I have found it to handle amazingly well in the snow and inclement weather. However, while it is nice inside, I feel claustrophobic on drives that go anywhere outside town. The seats are not that great either and there are some visibility issues. It's a nice car and my elderly mother really loves it. I've borrowed it to run across state or to the next town a few times over the last couple of years and found it to be a great road trip vehicle as long the interior is kept clean with each stop before it feels cramped. Hers has a 3.6 engine and it gets about 32-33 mpg on the highway at 60mph, which is rather impressive.
I would much rather feather the accelerator as needed than let an automated system lurch me forward.
I had a 1999 wj limited with a 4.7 and qd2.thing was amazing. Now I have a 2006 xk limited 4.7,great jeep too just miss the front solid axle
When you put the WK2 in rock mode it automatically goes to offroad height 2. So you set it, then dialed to rock which changed the setting again.
That Trailhawk has quadra drive 2 so here are what those settings actually do.
•Auto - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height is at NRH. The vehicle systems are set to normal performance settings. Combines optimal traction with seamless steering feel. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 38 mm (1.49 in.) above NRH, the transfer case locks, and the transmission shifting adjusts to off road shifting.
•Sport - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height adjusts to 15 mm (0.59 in.) below NRH. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and traction control tuning thresholds are raised, and the Antilock Brake Control (ABS) allows less wheel slip, all to allow more driver control. Also the transmission shifting adjusts to a higher performance shifting. Not available in 4WD Low range.
•Snow - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height is at NRH. Traction control is adjusted to allow less wheel slip, and initial vehicle launch will be in second gear. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 33 mm (1.3 in.) above NRH, the transfer case locks, the transmission shifting and ABS adjusts to off road settings.
•Sand/Mud - When in 4WD High range the vehicle height adjusts to 38 mm (1.49 in.) above NRH. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) tuning threshold is raised, and the ABS allows less wheel slip to allow more driver control. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 38 mm (1.49 in.) above NRH. The transfer case and the Electronic Limited Slip Differential (ELSD) locks, the transmission shifting and ABS adjusts to off road settings.
•Rock - Not available in 4WD High range. When in 4WD Low range the vehicle height adjusts to 65 mm (2.6 in.) above NRH. The transfer case and the ELSD locks, the transmission shifting and ABS adjusts to off road settings, and hill descent control is activated for steep downhill control.
I have a wk2 diesel with QDII, and a 2007 wk diesel with QDII. For off-road the wk with QDII is better because the front axle locks. Unfortunately, Jeep discontinued the locking front axle with the wk2.
Correct...idk why they would do that...
@@hoagieman26 cost, noise complaints, warranty issues.
The “Old and Crotchety” guy is the one who can afford the Grand Cherokee. I was surprised to see the 2022 do better then the 21. Nice job Jeep!
WJ for me. I had one for 8 years. Great vehicle. I'd get another one if I didn't love my JKUR so much.
That '22 GC is pretty sharp too, but not a fan of that price tag.
If you can keep the body intact ish just swap engine and transmission when needed. It'll last forever.
I had a 18 Trailhawk with the 3.6L. Loved it for road trips and was always surprised by the capability. I did have A TON of quality issues that ended up with the car being a Lemon after being in the shop for 5 of the first 11 month of its life. Ultimately, my LR3 was more reliable, more comfortable and more capable.
@@robertyoung8289 it’s not uncommon for the LR3 to go 250-350k miles. They were actually very stout.
I have an LR3 with the rear locker and it is amazing!
@@2403rygar yeah, mine has the HD PACKAGE you
@@BorellaFamilyAdventures Yep.
@CarEnjoyer Yeah in Lalala land. The irony of claiming a POS LR is better quality. Oh and I used to work at the LR dealership fixing those pile of junks.
As a 31 year old "crotchety" person who also has a bad back, that was one of the reasons I didn't get the overland with the air suspension. That and the price tag. It was just a little outside of my budget.
Proof that new and fancy isn't always what certain drivers want. If I wanted a BMW or Land Rover I would've bought one. I wanted a Jeep for a reason. Had a 2004 Grand Cherokee Special Edition. Loved that Truck. It was indestructible. Got a 2015 Limited and was afraid to take it out. Oh and love the tape deck and CD player. LOL
I’m really interested in the 4Xe version. It seems like it’s actually a good system and might just cover my daily driving on just electric. It’s interesting how they’ve made the Overland with Off-road package (which gets you most, but not all, the of the off-road tech and tires of the Trailhawk) more configurable with tech stuff than the Trailhawk. It seems like you have to choose one or the other. Trying to decide if I want to order one now or wait to hear some real reviews and maybe even drive one before having to commit. I will say, the new Overland L (too big for me) really is about as nice as anything I’ve sat in that could actually go (a little bit) off-road without risk.
I know on the gladiator and wrangler it has had some issues but I wouldn't doubt it will be sorted out soon
I'm in the same boat. I'm waiting for pricing to be released by Jeep so I can order my 4xe. Sounds like TFL has some inside info though about delivery dates.
@@Nanaki1422 - March/April is what I was told by the dealer here in UT. Who knows with chips, etc, but I’m guessing certainly by the summer. I heard somewhere that the air suspension is the are where chip shortages have created a delivery issue.
@@anthonymrskipt9252 I saw the same thing about the air suspension waiting on new chips. Personally I just want a limited without the full air suspension.
I read the entry level limited starts at around 50K (before the federal and state tax credits).
Im the stereotypical chick who only needs it to go to Costco LOL so the limited is fine for me
Would still love to see the WK 1 on the channel haven't seen that one yet it's really great ours walks up anything we throw at it
My 99’ stock I6 WJ is a beauty, has been for the last 2 and a half years! Just hit 130,000 on it, still not a speck of rust inside or out!
Yours a Quadra Trac like my 99 WJ 4.0?
Wow! I learned so much from this video, thanks. I’ve had air suspension on Land Rovers previously and had some issues. I’d definitely go springs after watching this.
I actually liked the 2004 model vs the overly expensive newer ones. 200k+ on a Jeep and most people think Toyotas/Hondas are the only models to reach that many miles.
I bought a 98 ZJ in 2011 for $4k. I put $3k into a long arm suspension lift and 33in MT tires. You would be absolutely shocked at the places I've taken it. Even without lockers or limited slip.
I'll take my 2002 Overland over the new ones anyday... 3" lift and 31" Duratracs and it goes anywhere. My Varilocks still work too, although I'm (slowly) building a pair of axles with 4.56's and real lockers that will eventually get swapped in along with a long-arm lift. And when I'm ready for more power, I'll drop in an LS instead of a camshaft-eating HEMI.
I'll take my WK2 that doesn't need any mods to go anywhere
@@tylerfoster828 Hahahah okay if that video didn't make it apparent that the WK2 isn't half the Jeep the WJ is, I dunno what will.
@@tylerfoster828 sorry but the WK2 will get you stuck in real trails-mud-rocks long before my WJ now yes my particular WJ does have upgrades like real lockers & new carriers with higher gear ratios swapped in place of my 20yr old worn out factory ones a fresh suspension lift to accommodate obstacles in the trails we have a XK with QD2 a JK that replaced out WK2 because of the soccer mom feel this video is showing Jeeps in very light duty trails where the more car like Jeeps are already struggling not trying to take anything away from the comfort of a WK2 but they’re definitely not world renowned for hardcore off road capability
Ls motors just drop transmissions no big deal
@waterloo123100 you're really gonna talk about dropping transmissions on a WJ video LMAO they shoulda never left the AW4, my xjs hit reverse doing 60 and locked the tires, and never skipped a beat, trans is in the garage for a spare currently.
my 99 4.7 WJ with 230k still gets me to work every day. great rig.
Honestly, I think the WJ is the best looking of the 3
As an 04 owner, I agree.
What Tommy said about "ground clearance" in the ancient Cherokee is very true. Despite having the least "ground clearance" it performed very well. I wish you guys wouldn't just repeat the factory ground clearance numbers when talking about review vehicles. In trucks this is often measured from the lowest point which is usually the rear axle center. Instead belly height might be a better metric for off roading. When I have gotten hung up off road due to insufficient "ground clearance" it is almost always in the middle of the vehicles, never on the rear axle center. The breakover angle is a way to quantify the ration of the belly height to the wheelbase, but not many people look at an obstacle and think " I need 20 or more degrees of break over angle for that". Just a simple measuring tape from the lowest point of the belly to the ground is much more intuitive. Maybe mention the wheelbase and the breakover angle at the same time, but the factory stated "ground clearance" number is often misleading.
To be far with the air suspension I am sure both of the newer Jeeps had greater belly height then the ancient one, but again Tommy was right to point out that is only one way to judge a vehicle's off road capability.
Good point on the ground clearance. And on a solid-axle vehicle it's never less than that number. Even when the suspension compresses fully, you still have say 9" of clearance under the pumpkin, never less. On an IFS vehicle, as the suspension compresses the structure of the vehicle gets closer to the ground. Independent vehicles seem to have greater static ground clearance, but real-world ground clearance advantage goes to the solid-axle. Think about if you drive one wheel up on a 3" tall rock with a solid-axle. You'll get 3in of extra clearance on that side of the vehicle. If you drive an independent suspension vehicle up on a 3in tall rock, the suspension will compress 3in on that side and you have the same if not less ground clearance.
Also in some of these ifs vehicles, everything hangs so low you don't even have a ground clearance advantage. My 4Runner is rated at 9.6 inch of ground clearance with almost 32-inch tires. (The front skid plate was missing when I bought it, so I added an after-market one.) I measured 7.5 in under the skid plate, the same as my Volvo wagon with 27 inch tall tires. Now I could lift it 3in to get more ground clearance, however that's basically like with these air suspension vehicles, now I'm riding around with pretty much no down travel, because I've used most of my down travel in lifting the vehicle.
you guys need to get a WK and test that generation too, that is the best generation in my opinion, It has a lot of the tech of the newer grand Cherokees while still having a solid rear axle.
I like the old one the best. Reminds me of my younger years :) - Perfect size and practical design.
I drove a Grand Cherokee in high school driver's ed so when I found an 04 in my price range, I went for it, no regrets.
Proud 1999 wj owner has the Quadra drive and the 4.7 l and 216 k mikes running string well taken care of so far so good
On my WK2 I use off-road #2 very rarely. I find that off-road #1 is good for most stuff. It’s nice to have #2 tho, when you need it.
Love my wj with Quadra drive vari-lockers, super comfy and with a mild lift and larger tires it defiantly can keep up with most vehicles out there
I drove a 95 limited GC 320k+ miles and a 99 limited 431k. Now I have 2012 Overland.
For offroad, I'd take the 95 any day easily, that thing was like a tractor in 4low, and you could beat on the 99 but it still drove like a caddy.
The 2012 looks real nice and has lot of hemi power, but a speed bump beats the heck out of you!
Darn, why did they have to mess with a really good thing???
The wj is a solid ass car. It’s comfy, good vision, ride is smooth, straights 6 a beast bulletproof, sunroof. I’ve had 4 used em and still sold them good
I have had both v8 and v6 trailhawks and for the 4mpg penalty the V8 is my preference. I am not happy about the known issues with their stupid MDS system on these HEMI engines. I am getting my oil analysis by black stone labs at every oil change which is already seeing an increase in iron which could be lifter issues already at 10k miles. Glad it’s a lease so if it does go bad I can give it back… I will continue to monitor my oil just for my own education.
@Jan Cordero Its the oil Analysis that will make my final decision. But with the way its looking I will be turning in the jeep at the end of the lease. I am also using the oil analysis to see if there is any difference between what the dealer uses for oil and going with Penzoil Ultra Platinum 5W20. I will get a couple of baseline dealer oil changes and then use the "good stuff" and see if there is any benefit. I may even post the results to show the wear from the MDS issue, and the difference between dealer bulk oil and spending the extra bucks on good oil (which may have no benefit? )
@@itgoesfast2722 the higher iron number, how does it compare to other similar engines with similar miles in blackstone database?
@@jackprick9797 so that sample with the higher number must have been contaminated or taken very sloppy. I had another oil Change since then and the numbers are well within spec. I will continue taking samples and keeping an eye on it
@@itgoesfast2722 thanks for your reply! Yeah, i was a bit surprised at your initial finding. From what I have read, the hemi engines, although not necessarily a leader anymore in terms of power density, have at least shown to be very reliable in comercial truck service (2500 and 3500). To me, robustness and reliability are more important than fuel economy and outright power and performance.
Nice comparison, some more extreme tests should have revealed even more disparity of how much better a solid axle is.
09:36 w8 rly? Ecopia?
it's kinda towards fuel saving tires for cheap small displacement car here in tropical climate
idk if they change tire composition for sub tropic market or it is exactly the same thing that we use here
20:12 Overland is the Higher trim than the Trial hawk you just don't have the off-road package on it.
You can get the off road package on the Overland as well.
My 2001 4.7 WJ limited still running strong! Great offroad and snow.
While the GC's are unibody construction, they have body stiffeners to make them more rigid than a regular unibody.
Also, you may want to do some research on the WJ transmissions. While the 4 speed behind the I6 is known for problems, the 5-speed behind the 4.7 V8 is reliable. I have an '03 Overland with the original transmission at over 215K and it still operates like new. Proper maintenance goes a long way. Same goes for the VariLock axles. They still give me amazing traction.
Love my WJ, it goes wherever I point it, 4" longarm lift and a 4.0 liter
I loved watching the WJ doing what they do.
Nice comparison! However, for the sake of truth, would be nice to also see a WK with newer Quadra Drive II. While it works it works very efficiently.
I love my old school 03 jeep grand Cherokee Larado 4.0. Wouldn't change for newer model! 👍🏼☺️💕
Tires are so important...if you slap those beefy off road tires on any of those models it will greatly improve the off road capability. The only way to accurately compare them is to put the same rims/tires on each. That being said it was a great video...nice to see the old model showing it's stuff. So affordable and yet capable, great to see that!
Hello, i need some help, so im planing on buying jeep grand cherokee 2001-2003, got 2 options 2.7crd and 4.0i wich shouldni pick and why
Wife has had multiple versions of the Grand Cherokee through the years. So far all have been great vehicles. There are not a lot of options out there for this size vehicle (not compact, not a full size) that has "real 4 wheel drive". Jeep and Land Rover, most of the stuff we looked at before going back to a Grand Cherokee were all wheel drive car base SUV's.
The Grand Cherokee is also a car based SUV, ie Crossover.
@@user-tb7rn1il3q So what "Car" is it based on?
If your stating that it is car based due to fact it does have unibody construction as opposed to full frame then that I agree. But "Cross over" ..no it still has a transfer case with four wheel drive including 4L which all cross overs do not
@@Grodd70 SUVs have a full frame (Wrangler, 4Runner, Bronco, etc.). CUVs have a reinforced unibody (Escape, Explorer, Highlander, Bronco Sport, Grand Cherokee, etc.). The transfer case and suspension setup are irrelevant.
@@user-tb7rn1il3q That I can get due to it no being body on frame construction. So with that criteria I will say that it is one of the more capable CUV's due to suspension and transfer case set up. Since the majority of those mentioned are a slightly lifted car with all wheel drive. Rav4 = Corolla Highlander = Camery Ford Explorer (new) = taurus (old) was a truck based off Ranger. I am at least grateful that 4 Runner as stayed true to its roots. That was a debate I had with a person on the Ridgeline its NOT a truck, not saying bad car but not a truck.
This videos was awesome! I've had a 93 laredo, 02 and 14 limited, now have a summit L 21....my fave and most capable for sure was the 02....the new one is the nicest/most luxurious though for sure
So true about the seats also the 02 had the most comfortable...the others are just too stiff
13:40. My brother in law has rolled twice at high speeds. Once after being t-boned by a diesel. My dad rolled his up the side of a canyon and off it. Both walked away. I still drive that one. 310k 4.0.
Tommy I was very surprised at how the 2001 does in a roll over, one of my daughters was on a road that the edge gave way and her 2001 rolled over twice on the side and hit a tree to stop. The windshield cracked up and the front pillar gave way very little. It still runs and drives we use it on the farm and for pushing snow. I did not expect it to be as safe as it was and we replaced it with another 2001 Limited which she loves. I may be interested in yours when you want to sell it. Nice review and be nicer to Roman, like I tell my kids they are not to big for a spanking if they mouth off.
I imagine the A pillars are thinner because there aren’t airbags in there. Not necessarily weaker.
@@kc510 exactly! I was just thinking this while watching the video, and you beat me to this reply.
Wish you had did a WK with hemi and Elsd rear and front preferably 09 or 10 version. Mine with superlift and 34s tear up everything when i needed it to. More so than my 87 wrangler on 35s fully locked did
Was thinking about changing my 04 WJ today to a pickup or a WK2 Limited. Nah… will spend some money on some KO2s, maybe a RC lift and will continue to rock on happily with no car payments.
It would be interesting to see a WK2 on coil springs, to see that how compares to the older solid axle vs the newer air suspensions.