Jeep "WK" Grand Cherokee

SUV's Begin to Take Over, and the WK Leads the Way

The early-2000s saw the SUV truly take root in North American auto culture. This is when Jeep would transform public perception of the Grand Cherokee, with WK buyers able to purchase their Grand Cherokee in the SRT8 trim. Under the SRT8 guise, the Grand Cherokee was more than an off-roader or luxe people mover; it was transformed into a 420 horsepower tarmac destroyer... and the buying public loved it.

"You Coulda Had an SRT8!"

If you wanted the fastest SUV on the block and you didn't plan on taking yours off-road, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 was the SUV to buy. Equipped with a 6.1L Hemi-V8 that produced 420 hp and 420 ft-lb of torque, the WK SRT8 kicked off the American fascination for obscenely fast SUVs. What the SRT8 lost in off-road ability it gained in bigger brakes and a monstrous powertrain.

New Engines Join the Grand Cherokee's Roster

While it's easy for enthusiasts to go banana's over the totally bananas SRT8, the rest of the WK's engine lineup should not be ignored. The outgoing V6's and V8's from the WJ generation were replaced by new models.

Newly on offer: a 3.7L V6 producing 215 hp, a 5.7L hemi-V8 producing 325 hp, and the 6.12L SRT-8 V8 pumping out 420 hp. The 235 hp 4.7L V8 from the WJ generation carries forward into the WK, giving buyers plenty of powertrain choice.

Handsfree Infotainment via Bluetooth Arrives

The WK Grand Cherokee was treated to the full inside and out upgrade package. Jeep's UConnect infotainment systems provides Bluetooth hands-free calling, a 276-watt six-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system, GPS navigation, screens for the rear passengers, and more.

The WK's interior is a tangible improvement from the WJ's, and a mid-generation refresh in 2007 further enhanced the interior's comfortable and technology integration.

More Than 682,000 WK's Were Sold

More than 213,000 2005 WK's were sold. Public excitement for the new Grand Cherokee was high and it didn't take long before Grand Cherokee's were practically everywhere.

However, like all automotive manufacturers, the 2008 "great recession" took a tremendous toll on the WK's sales figures, with sales slowing to just 50,000 vehicles in 2009.

3.7L PowerTech V6

Available for the 2005 - 2010 model years.

The 3.7L V6 was good for 210 hp and 235 ft-lb of torque, making it a strong base engine to underpin the lineup. While there were undoutedly more exciting engines in the WK's arsenel, the PowerTech V6 was no slouch.

Available for the Laredo and Limited trims.

4.7L PowerTech V8

Available for the 2005 - 2007 model years.

With 235 hp and 290 ft-lb of torque on tap, the aging 4.7L V8 had proven to be a reliable and capable engine for the Grand Cherokee. However, it would be removed from the lineup early into the WK's run as the engine was revised for the 2008 model year.

Available for the Laredo and Limited trims.

4.7L PowerTech HO V8

Available for the 2008 - 2009 model years.

The High Output PowerTech V8 boasted a hefty 305 hp and 334 lb-ft of torque, giving the Grand Cherokee an enviable amount of grunt relative to its peers. Fans of the brand would note that the HO V8 had an on-again off-again appearance on the Grand Cherokee roster. It would be formally retired in 2009.

Available for the Laredo and Limited trims.

5.7L Hemi V8

Available for the 2005 - 2010 model years.

The now-legendary 5.7L hemi V8 marked the return to a much loved part of Chrysler's history. Alongside the Barracuda's and Challengers of the world, with their thunderous hemi-V8's under the hood, stood the WK Grand Cherokee. The 5.7L put out 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque until the '08 model year; '09 and onward it produced 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.

Available in the Laredo, Limited, and Overland trims.

6.1L Hemi SRT-8 V8

Available for the 2006 - 2010 model years.

The SRT-8: the pinnacle of North American high-powered SUV's, and the one that made the Germans have to learn an entirely new game. The 6.1L hemi V8 produced 425 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant was capable of sending the WK through the quarter mile in just 13.2 seconds, and with a 0 - 60 mph time of just 4.7 seconds.

Available in the SRT-8 trim.

3.0L Turbo-Diesel V6

Available for the 2005 - 2010 model years.

North American buyers for the 2007/2008 model years could opt for the 3.0L turbo-diesel V6, while European buyers could grab the diesel from the 2005 model-year and onward.

The diesel made a healthy 215 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, making ithe Grand Cherokee a great off-road and tow vehicle.

Available in the Laredo, Limited, and Overland trims.