Grand & Boxy Cherokees; realistic mpg?

[UncleS2]

While the Neon's done well for almost 7 yrs now, ~fall '04 may be time for another vehicle-something used. Resale value on the boxy Cherokees seems to be fairly low, what was the last model year for those? A nice early 00's Grand Cherokee might even be doable.

What are realistic real-world MPG figures for the boxy late-build Cherokees, 4.0 L Six, ATX, 2wd? What about 4wd?

Grand Cherokees- same question for them, all w/ATX but for 6-cyl, 5.2 L V-8, & 4.7 L V-8, 2wd vs 4wd? My aunt had a ~94-95 model 5.2 V-8 ATX w/"smart" 4wd, in summer 95 driving the interstates from Penn to Ark said it got ~23-24 mpg- realistic or not?

I really don't need 4wd. Any big trouble spots to watch for other than the transmissions?

All experienced advice, info, comments, etc appreciated.

 

[ALS]

A friend of mine had a 93 Grand Cherokee with the 6 cylinder she got 12 mpg city and at normal highway speeds 16 mpg.

 

[Slick 55]

My parents just purchased a Grand Cherokee Special Edition about a month ago. It has AWD with the 4.7l V8, 5sp auto trans. They have been getting around 19 mpg highway. It is quite a vehicle, that 4.7l has some stuff!

[ May 08, 2004, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: Brett Miller ]

 

[JeepZJ4.0]

On a 93-98 model Grand Cherokee (called the ZJ):
on the 4.0L, expect 25 to 27 on the highway and 13-15 in the city. I get 25-27 MPG on straight highway. Mixed, I'm getting 15.
On the 5.2L or 5.9L V8s, expect MPG lower than that by 2-3mpg. A V8 equipped ZJ can tow 6500lbs and a 4.0L with tow prep can tow 5K.

On the 99-2004 Grand Cherokee (called the WJ):
Realistically, the 4.0L and 4.7L V8 get about the same gas mileage. The 4.7L V8 doesn't weigh much more than the 4.0L but it puts out 40 more hp and 60 more ft. lbs of torque.

The 4.7L HO V8 (different than the 4.7L V8) model is the only exception since it runs on either premium or regular. On premium, it will go farther since you will have 30 more Hp than the standard 4.7L or in "regular mode" on the the HO engine. That is.. if you don't drive it super super hard.

These numbers are with smart driving. Nothing unusual like racing. If you get the 4WD, it depends on the system but count on a 1 mpg penalty for the weight that you have to carry. Most V8 models (at least on ZJs) have 4WD so only figure that penalty on the 4.0L and 4.7L (non-HO or HO) engines. Good luck. PM me for any more info.

 

[SteveD2]

I would strongly suggest the "boxy" Cherokee over the grand. You can get a much better one (newer, lower mileage) for the money. They stopped making them in '01. The "boxy" Cherokees are well known to be one of the most reliable vehicles ever made. The Grands are not. They're not bad trucks, but there's nothing especially good about them either. In '97 is when they changed to the newer, slightly different body. in '00 they changed to a distributorless ignition system. You should get about 15-22mpg with one of those.

quote:

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Originally posted by JeepZJ4.0:
On a 93-98 model Grand Cherokee (called the ZJ):
on the 4.0L, expect 25 to 27 on the highway and 13-15 in the city. I get 25-27 MPG on straight highway.

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I'm sorry, but no you're not. My '96 XJ gets about 20mpg city/25 highway. Something is seriously weird there, because it is NOT supposed to get that much mileage. I can't explain it, but I'm not complainging.

Given that, you're NOT going to get 27mpg in a Jeep that weighs about 1000lbs more. It's just not possible...99% of them don't get more than 22mpg highway. The 4.0 is a very old an inefficient engine. (although it will last longer than many diesels!)

[ May 09, 2004, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: ZmOz ]

 

[KW]

My fuel logbook tells me that my '98 Cherokee Sport gets 20 to 24 on the HWY and 18 or so running around town. Worst it has gotten on the HWY was one tank at 18 and it was loaded like a pack mule towing a loaded trailer.

This one has a 4.0 and a 4 speed automatic transmission. And it needs a minimum of 89 octane or it will ping.

 

[Gary Allan]

With a fresh tune up, my son's 00 XJ will get 16 mpg on the suburban drive cycle to work. He's never driven it enough on a highway to ever see anything near 20 mpg or above.

No...check that! We did a 235/75 tire upgrade and he hasn't changed the speedo gear ..but at the most it would bring him up to 18-19 ...so I imagine 23-24 is possible ...but at the typical warp speeds that you see on the highway (75) ??? not likely.

Great motor the 4.0 ...but as others have said, it just ain't a fuel squeezer in any stretch of the imagination.

 

[cousincletus]

Wife had a '99 Cherokee SE (the regular boxy Cherokee). It got an avg. of 18 mpg. On a trip it got 22. Had the 4.0 I-6, 4 speed auto and 4X4. Very reliable car. We would have kept it but the new Durango has lots more room inside. If you're a tall person forget the regular Cherokee and get a Grand, but be prepared for less mpg and more repairs. If you don't need 4X4 you should be able to get a real good deal on a 2WD.

 

[JeepZJ4.0]

quote:

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Originally posted by ZmOz:
I'm sorry, but no you're not. My '96 XJ gets about 20mpg city/25 highway. Something is seriously weird there, because it is NOT supposed to get that much mileage. I can't explain it, but I'm not complainging.

Given that, you're NOT going to get 27mpg in a Jeep that weighs about 1000lbs more. It's just not possible...99% of them don't get more than 22mpg highway. The 4.0 is a very old an inefficient engine. (although it will last longer than many diesels!)

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When I set the cruise control when I'm going out to Sealy, Texas, I look at the MPG computer and it hovers around 25-27. My old ZJ pulled off 25mpg on trips. So it is realistic. The 4.0L is inefficient stock but with a little help, it won't be. The "boxy" Cherokee is reliable. The older (93-95) Grand Cherokee ZJ style had a lot more problems.... In 96, the introduced OBDII, a newer style 4.0L with max torque at the lower end, better NVH control and better electronics. This model probably gets better mileage.... in ZJ Grand Cherokee version, get a 97-98. In a WJ style... 01 and above... The "boxy" Cherokee never changed much.... in 97, they changed the interior completely and gave the exterior freshening. I like the XJs but my grand rides better. The XJ is faster and gets better gas mileage and will probably ride as good as the grand with new shocks.

 

[SteveD2]

The MPG computer isn't very accurate. The only way to know is to fill up and set your odometer. There is just absolutely no way a 4000lb brick with an engine designed in the 60s can get 27mpg. Maybe going down a mountain with a tailwind. 23-24 maybe.

 

[andyfish]

Our company vehicle is about 16 mpg average, late model Cherokee. If you are concerned about mileage move on.

 

[JeepZJ4.0]

quote:

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Originally posted by andyfish:
Our company vehicle is about 16 mpg average, late model Cherokee. If you are concerned about mileage move on.

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x2... if you need utility with good gas mileage.... then look at a Subaru Outback or form of station wagon by Subaru.

 

[Sparkman]

I just bought an '01 Cherokee Sport, and I have measured 19.6 MPG twice now in mixed driving. My wife's '99 Outback with the POS Phase I 2.5 gets about 25 MPG with the same driving.