USED Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 (99 - 05)

My car

I have owned my car from new. For a so-called rugged and reliable vehicle, it has bits falling off or otherwise failing every several thousand miles.

Water leaked through front and rear windows (the 'authorised' repair from the main dealer was nonsense), seat belt couplings failed, the seat heater broke, the entire driver seat collapsed through metal fatigue on a main support, the car alarm kept sounding when parked and could be turned off (this was a serious problem and resulted in a fine from the local authority – ultimately settled by Volvo), the clasp on the box between front seats fell off, it had to be recalled to deal with a brake problem and so on.

Service costs have been very high as well. It cost £450 last time and I am not impressed with the standard of courtesy and service from the main dealer compared with BMW (my last car).

Not a recommended vehicle based on my own experience, although the Mercedes engine and gearbox remain very good and at odds with the general build quality that has consistently failed on my car.

My car

From the outside, the car looks acceptable. It soon becomes unacceptable when you see the interior! Dated, plastic and just poor!

For £32,000 you would expect a very good car! You just don't get one!

Lexus is better!

My car

Truly awful ride quality, pitching and rolling spongy and with scuttle.

It's extremely uncomfortable in the back for adults, as you cannot get your feet under the seats.

It looks the part and is roomy in the front and the loading area.

To top it all, the dealer did not seem interested in my business, so I obliged and moved on!

My car

Externally the Grand Cherokee fits in both around town and in the country with better looks than a Range Rover. Inside, the cabin is very spacious - I am 6ft 6 and versatile - my wife is 5ft tall and we have no problems with seat adjustment.

There is every conceivable extra - PAS/ABS/Traction control/electric windows and sunroof/climate control and a 10disc CD player.

On the road, the Grand Cherokee behaves quite well because of the low centre of gravity.

There is little roll around the corners and the engine is particularly responsive and deceptively quick.

It only suffers on poor surfaces becoming a little jittery. Off road, it is better than a Discovery but then, the majority of Grand Cherokees will rarely venture off tarmac. For a big car, the 4.7 V8's fuel consumption is reasonable.