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What do you guys think about the new 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee?  I'm still not kind of torn, but I don't think I like the hard lines and boxed look on the new model.

The inside looks really cool, and the Hemi gives it some serious power.
 

Don’t really, Don’t like the hard lines like you mentioned and I don’t like the IFS. I like jeeps solid axle and think they should stay that way. I guess it makes sense though since most jeep owners ( especially grand cherokee owners ) rarely go off road, other than maybe the occasional dirt road. You cant go wrong with a  Hemi though and the interior does look nice. It’s a nice SUV but I think now it is more urban that off-road.

Seems like you might be able to get a good deal on a new Grand Cherokee.  The invoice price for the Laredo model is between $24-25,000, and then Jeep is also offering $1,000 cash rebates for the Grand Cherokee.  When all is said and done you could get this SUV for a decent price.
 

My opinion on the 2005 Jeep GC...

- Hard Lines: I didn't like the hard lines at first, but am starting to be okay with them. 

- Headlights: I DO NOT like the rounded lights.  Mercedes style is definitely showing through there.

- Leather seats: I prefer the previous models' leather style.  The 2005's have harder leather, with the holes in it.  They don't feel as comfortable to me.

- Seats: Too low.  They seem lower than the older models.

- Windows: Too high. It's nice to be able to sit in my seat, driving with my elbow out the window.  In the 2005's the window is higher relative to the seat.  If I wanted a sore arm when driving, I'd go back to the sports cars I used to have.

- Dash board: Another influence by Mercedes, IMHO.  The dash top is all rounded.  Earlier models had good flat space, where you can put stuff if you wanted to.

- Spare tire: It's on the outside.  I prefer it being accessed on the inside.  If I'm dealing with a flat, the last thing I want to have to do is deal with getting the spare out from under the car, all dirty and disgusting.  It's nicer to have a clean tire, minimizing the annoyance of fixing a flat tire.

Now, not everything was bad, but those were the key negative points I had... on the positive side...

- Parallel parking sensors: Nice feature.  In larger vehicles, it's nice to have something making it just a tad easier to park them.

- Hard plastic tray for rear: Just flip the floor board over, and you have a nice hard plastic tray for putting dirty/wet/damaging stuff.

- More cubby holes: While they took the useful dash away, they did add some key spaces for sun glasses, and a couple more smaller cubby spaces.

- Bigger engine:  Tough call... even worse gas milage, but good power.

- Better stereo: MP3 CD support, and I think it had satelite too (compared Limited model to my Limited model).

- Had DVD player/screen: still not sure if I would use this, but sounds like a neat option.


It was a couple months back that I took it for a spin, so I don't recall everything I had thought of at the time, but these are some of the main points I can remember.

Overall... I don't like it as much.  I like some of the bells and whistles, and wouldn't mind having them in my 2004, however, I would not trade up for those at the sacrifice of putting up with all the negative points.

-Alex