[3] Three outside (non-AMC) designers—Larry Shinoda, Alain Clenet, and Giorgetto Giugiaro—were also under contract with AMC to create and build a clay model of the Cherokee XJ replacement, then known as the "XJC" project.

Meanwhile, new communication systems allowed potential conflicts to be resolved faster, thus reducing costly engineering changes, because all drawings and documents were in a central database.

The vehicle that was driven was a Poppy Red Clear Coat 1993 Grand Cherokee ZJ Laredo with a quartz cloth interior and high-back bucket seats.

[12] The Grand Cherokee "played a significant part in reviving Chrysler's fortunes by moving it into the then-nascent market for high-margin sports utility vehicles.

The Limited also boasted standard features such as leather seating, heated mirrors, front power seats, a keyless entry system, woodgrain interior appliqué, lace-style alloy wheels, a driver information center with a compass, digitized climate control, an electrochromic rearview mirror, and Jensen brand stereo with a multiband equalizer.

When it was first introduced in April 1992 as an early 1993 model year vehicle, the Grand Cherokee only had one powertrain choice: the 4.0 L AMC-derived straight-six engine that made 190 horsepower (193 PS; 142 kW).

Low demand for the manual transmission resulted in its discontinuation after 1994, but European-market ZJs retained it when coupled to the diesel engine (which was unavailable in North America).

The primary improvements in the 5.9 Limited version included a 245-horsepower (248 PS; 183 kW) 5.9 L OHV V8 engine, heavy-duty 46RE automatic transmission, functional heat-extracting hood louvers, unique wide-slot body-colored grille with mesh inserts, special rocker moldings, low-restriction exhaust with three-inch chrome tip, a low-profile roof rack, and special 16-inch Ultra-Star wheels.

A notable feature available in this generation was the automatic four-wheel drive option called Quadra-Drive, which employed the New Venture Gear NV247 transfer case.

The major advantage of Quadra-Drive was that the combined transfer case and progressive locking differentials in each axle could automatically control traction between all four wheels.

By adding stiffness and rigidity to the structure, they enhanced the ride and strengthened the network of steel beams, rails and pillars (or "safety cage") that surround and protect occupants.

The Grand Cherokee received a minor facelift for 2004 including round fog lamps, a lower front fascia, and a new body color-matched inset grille design.

The WK Grand Cherokee debuted in 2004 for the 2005 model year at the 2004 New York International Auto Show with available Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive, rear-seat DVD player and optional 5.7 L Hemi V8.

Jeep replaced the XJ-era leading-arms live-axle front suspension (found in the ZJ and WJ) with an independent double-wishbone setup like that which debuted in the 2002 Liberty.

The Grand Cherokee received a minor facelift for 2008 with revised headlights and available High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps with auto-leveling.

The Chrysler-designed platform was part of the DaimlerChrysler engineering projects that were to launch the WK2 Grand Cherokee with the Mercedes-Benz ML to follow.

[19] A 3.0 L turbocharged diesel V6 developed and built by Fiat Powertrain Technologies and VM Motori (with Multijet II injection[20]) rated at 177 kW (241 PS; 237 hp) and 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft; 56 kg⋅m) of torque offered in export markets from mid-2011.

The 2021 Grand Cherokee is the third Fiat Chrysler Automobiles product to offer the new UConnect 5 infotainment suite, which will offer either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch high-resolution touchscreen display, SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 360L, SiriusXM Travel Link services, UConnect Guardian (powered by SiriusXM), a 4G LTE wireless Internet hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and an integrated virtual assistant that can be activated by the phrase, "Hey UConnect", or "Hey Jeep", and can control multiple features of the vehicle, as well as provide other pertinent information.

While all models include a 3.6 L Pentastar V6 gasoline engine producing 290 hp (294 PS; 216 kW) and 257 lb⋅ft (348 N⋅m; 36 kg⋅m) (now assisted by the eTorque Mild Hybrid system), Overland and Summit models will also offer the 5.7 L Hemi V8 gasoline engine with Multi Displacement System (MDS) rated at 357 hp (362 PS; 266 kW) and 390 lb⋅ft (529 N⋅m; 54 kg⋅m) of torque.

Integrated into the woodgrain trim on the passenger side of the dashboard, the widescreen display with HDMI interface allows the passenger to stream music wirelessly via Bluetooth to the vehicle's audio system, view the GPS navigation map, and send destinations directly to the central touchscreen display's navigation system.

Originally scheduled to be released for the 2021 model year, but delayed until 2022, The two-row Grand Cherokee is available in seven trim levels: Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Trailhawk, Summit, and Summit Reserve (the off-road-oriented Trailhawk trim will not be available on the long wheelbase Grand Cherokee L model).

[35] Engine choices are carried over from the previous generation Grand Cherokee (WK2), with two naturally-aspirated units, but also added a turbocharged gasoline/electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

When equipped with the 5.7 L HEMI V8 gasoline engine, the all-new Grand Cherokee has a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds (3,300 kg).

At the 2022 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), Jeep introduced the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe High Altitude Edition Package.

In 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 1993–2004 model year Jeep Grand Cherokees which involves the fuel tanks of these SUVs.

Chrysler has also claimed that only a small fraction of cars have issues following the recall;[87] but most users never have occasion to use the low ratio and may never discover the fault.

In April 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered a recall of 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees and other cars that use an electronic gear shifter because it sometimes does not go into (or does not remain in) the park position, despite the operator's best intentions.

An investigation by FCA US and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found some drivers have exited their vehicles without first selecting "PARK."

The vehicles also deliver warning chimes and alert messages if their driver-side doors are opened while their engines are still running and "PARK" is not engaged.

The enhancements will combine warnings with a transmission-shift strategy to automatically prevent a vehicle from moving, under certain circumstances, even if the driver fails to select "PARK.