Jeep Grand Cherokee 1998–2005 car dimensions: 4610 mm long, 1836 mm wide and 1763 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,812 kg. Braked towing is 2,948 kg.
Cabin has standard air conditioning with manual controls on base grades and infrared dual-zone automatic climate on Limited and Overland. Cruise control sits on the steering wheel as standard. An optional navigation radio adds a small screen late in the run. Reverse parking sensors came as a Mopar accessory kit from 2003 that fits the whole generation. No factory reversing camera, blind-spot alerts, lane keep or automatic emergency braking appear in the equipment lists. Live with power windows, keyless entry, optional leather and Infinity audio, plus a clear overhead info display on most years.
Boot holds 1104 litres with the rear seats up and opens to 2047 litres when the 60/40 split bench folds flat. Spare sits under the floor so the load space stays clear and usable for daily gear or longer trips.
Properly equipped V8 models tow up to 2948 kg braked. the inline-six is rated lower at around 2268 kg. Unbraked limit sits near 750 kg. Payload is listed at 454 kg including occupants and cargo. Trailer-tow groups add the axle ratio, transmission cooler, power-steering cooler on V8s, wiring and hitch receiver for Class III/IV work.
The solid-axle setup and available Quadra-Drive or Quadra-Trac systems suit light work and occasional trailering. Heavy-duty cooling arrives with the tow packages rather than as base kit.
The cabin offers more rear space than the prior generation with 39.7/39.5 inches front/rear headroom and 41.4/35.3 inches legroom. Higher grades use leather or suede-leather seats with dual power front adjustment including lumbar and memory for two drivers. Heated front seats are available. A power sunroof with express-open is offered. Infinity Gold audio and dual-zone climate control appear on Limited and above. The feel is upright and roomy for five with a 60/40 split rear bench.
20.5-gallon fuel tank. regular unleaded for 4.0L and 4.7L, premium recommended for 4.7L HO maximum performance
Engine oil and filter: 6,000 miles/6 months normal or 3,000 miles severe
Dual front airbags and four-wheel ABS standard
Side-curtain airbags optional from 2002 (standard on Overland)
IIHS moderate-overlap frontal: Marginal. NHTSA frontal 3 stars, side 4-5 stars
Fuel tank holds 20.5 gallons. Use regular unleaded on the 4.0L I6 and base 4.7L V8. The high-output 4.7L runs on regular but prefers premium for full power. EPA figures fall in the mid-teens city and around 20 highway depending on engine and 2WD/4WD.
Follow the factory schedule: oil and filter every 6,000 miles or 6 months under normal use, sooner under severe conditions such as towing or dusty roads. Coolant service is at 50,000-75,000 miles. Transmission fluid lasts to 100,000 miles normal. transfer case and axle fluids need checks at 12,000-30,000 miles. Cabin filter every 12-24 months.
Standard safety includes dual front airbags, ABS with four-wheel discs, and child-protection rear locks. Side-curtain airbags arrived as an option in 2002 and were standard on Overland. Seat-belt pretensioners became standard later. NHTSA rated frontal crashes at 3 stars and side impacts higher. IIHS scored the moderate-overlap frontal test Marginal due to footwell intrusion.
Keep the unibody clean of rust, especially rocker panels and undercarriage after off-road use. Stick to ATF+4 in the automatic and the specified gear lubes in axles and transfer case. Regular chassis lubrication of ball joints and inspection of the solid axles and coil suspension help longevity. Parts remain widely available.
Length 4610 mm, Width 1836 mm, Height 1763 mm, Wheelbase 2690 mm (Grand Cherokee 1998–2005)
Sources: manufacturer data, Wikipedia Jeep Grand Cherokee, brochure snippets confirm.