Jeep "WK2" Grand Cherokee

Arguably the Best Grand Cherokee Ever

First shown at the 2009 New York Auto Show, the fourth-generation WK2 Grand Cherokee was built on the overly successful WK Cherokee. Jeep upped the ante with more power, a more refined interior, and a very capable 4x4 system. Customers loved it, too, with more than 1,980,000 WK2's sold from 2010 - 2020.

Drivetrains That Delivered MORE POWER

Engine options ranged from a 3.6L V6 with 290hp, or a 5.7L V8 with 360hp. For the 2012 model year, Jeep introduced the SRT8 6.4L V8 from the Dodge Challenger. The result was a Grand Cherokee with a thunderous 470hp.

For those who needed a cosmic amount of power, the Hellcat's 707hp supercharged V8 was transplanted into the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk - the most powerful Jeep ever produced.

Always Connected, No Matter Where You Are

Jeep's legacy of class-leading technology began with the first-generation ZJ and continues into the fourth-generation WK2. The WK2 Grand Cherokee features the uConnect infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, hands-free accessibility, voice prompts, and more.

With the off-road capable 4X4 systems, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can be a technological oasis no matter where the road took you.

Exceptional 4x4 Systems & Capable Drivetrains

Central to the Jeep brand, the 4x4 systems used in the WK2 Grand Cherokees provided the SUV with excellent on and off-road mobility. These systems were the Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II.

For extra off-road capability, you could option your WK2 to include height-adjustable air suspension to raise/lower the vehicle's ride height. This system was capable of raising the WK2's ride height to 11.1" (282 mm).

More Than 30 Industry Awards & Stunning Sales Figures

The 2011 Jeep Cherokee was lauded as the "Most Awarded SUV Ever" with over 30 awards from Car & Driver, Consumers Digest, Motor Week, and more.

More important than awards are sales, and the Jeep easily trumps its midsize SUV peers. Nearly two million WK2's were sold over its lifespan. No SUV nearly as capable sold in these numbers (a trend that continues today, with more than 55,000 Grand Cherokeese sold in Q1 2021.

3.6L Pentastar V6

Available for the 2011 - 2021 model years.

You could get nearly any trim with a 3.6L V6 - which was good for a potent 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Efficiency was not class-leading, but it was reasonable at 14.7L/100km (16 mpg) in the city and 10.7L/100km (22 mpg) on the highway. Hardly a "base" engine, the Pentastar V6 provided more than enough power for everyday driving and enough grunt for merging and passing.

5.7L Hemi V8

Available for the 2011 - 2021 model years.

The only available V8 at the time of its launch, the 5.7L Hemi V8 had 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. If you were wanting a Cherokee with more grunt and power but didn't want to spend a fortune, this was the one. Surprisingly, these powerful V8's also had decent gas mileage - rated at 16.8L/100km (14 mpg) in the city and 12.4L/100 km (19 mpg) on the highway.

6.4L Hemi V8

Available for the 2012 - 2021 model years.

Buyers that splurged for the SRT/SRT8 Grand Cherokee found the incredible 6.4L Hemi V8 under the hood. With 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 proved to be an instant favorite among North American buyers. Unsurprisingly, fuel economy for these naturally-aspirated V8s was less than stellar - returning 19.6L/100km (12 mpg) in the city and 13.L/100km (18 mpg) on the highway. However, customers didn't buy the Grand Cherokee with the SRT8 engine because of MPG ratings.

6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8

Available for the 2018 - 2021 model years.

The famous Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was no longer a luxury midsize SUV. With a tremendous 707 horsepower and 645 ft-lb of torque, the Trackhawk was now as demonic on the dragstrip as it was on the trail. The fuel economy was marginally worse than the SRT8's 6.4L V8, returning 21.4L/100km (11 mpg) in the city and 13.8L/100km (17 mpg) on the highway.

3.0L Turbo-Diesel V6

Available for the 2011 - 2018 model years.

Available through most of the WK2's lifespan, the North American spec turbo-diesel V6 produced 188 hp and 325 ft-lb of torque. This was a very usable towing engine, had ample torque for off-roading, and yet still offered great gas mileage ( 11.2L/100km (21 mpg) in the city and 8.4L/100km (28 mpg) on the highway).

3.0L Turbo-Diesel V6 (Euro Spec)

Available for the 2014 - 2021 model years.

Grand Cherokee buyers outside of North America were treated to a more potent version of the 3.0L turbo-diesel V6. Instead of 188 hp and 325 ft-lb of torque, the "Euro Spec" turbo-diesel developed 240 hp and 420 ft-lb of torque. The extra power made for a much nicer ride and a more capable diesel-powered Cherokee and yet had the same MPG as the U.S.-spec diesel.