Quick Look - 1998 Jeep 5.9 Limited Grand Cherokee
08/17/1997
Greg A. Godsell
Jeep has unveiled a new flagship for their 1998 lineup. Unveiled last spring at the New York auto show, the 5.9 limited serves as a claim to new bragging rights for Jeep.
Regardless of where your loyalties lie, Ford's Explorer has been the vehicle to beat in the segment. After defining the segment, Jeep was left with a dilemma when it introduced the Grand Cherokee. Originally designed to be a replacement to the Cherokee, Jeep was forced to move the Grand Cherokee upscale when large numbers of buyers elected to drive home in the more conservatively styled and less expensive Cherokee.
Jeep solved the identity crisis with the availability of a V8 engine in the Grand Cherokee. Although the V8 carried only slight horsepower and torque improvements, the bragging rights helped solidify the Jeep's stature as the top-end choice. Buyer's lined up to pay the price premium in order to drive a V8 SUV.
The 5.9 limited is one part engine upgrade and one part trim package. Differences can be found on the exterior in the hood, grille, molding, badging, and wheels. While the grille carries forward the usual vertical slat appearance, a mesh insert in the background adds for a distinctive treatment. On the hood stylists have inserted some louvers to tie in to the performance image. New badging on the side of the vehicle reads 5.9 Limited, while the rear of the vehicle brags 5.9 Liter V8. While the trim changes distinguish your Jeep from the other Grand Cherokees you won't be so lucky with other 5.9 Limited owners. Only three colors of paint are available: platinum, white, and a new deep slate color. All 5.9 Limited Jeeps ride on 225/70R16 Wrangler HP tires with 16" aluminum wheels.
The unique styling treatments continue on the inside. The leather interior is extended to the door bolsters, the armrests as well as the parking and transfer case levers. The leather is complemented with a dark Maple woodgrain accent that covers door panels, instrument panels, and transmission bezel. Unique 10-way power seats and a 180 watt, 10 speaker, fingertip-controlled stereo round out the interior treatment.
Although buyers of the 5.9 Limited will be rewarded with an outstanding sport utility vehicle, smart buyers will have to question the value of the upgrades for the inevitable price premium. Similar sport utility offerings such as the Bravada, Explorer Limited, upscale 4Runner, and Infiniti QX4 beg for comparison. While they can't match the off-road capabilities and bragging rights of the V8, they do compare well for price and on-road performance. Newer entries from the top of the market like Lincoln's Navigator offer more room, more power, more towing capabilities and similar economy.
Today's SUV market is quite different. There are vehicles of all sizes, capabilities and prices available. For example, Explorer, which once had notoriously anemic engines, now has a V8 and a solid new SOHC V-6. Once again, Jeep is attempting to hold it's position as the 'Gold Standard' (Jeep's terms) of the SUV market with the introduction of the 5.9 Limited model.
The centerpiece of the new model is the powerplant. Jeep has placed a 5.9-liter V-8 engine that produces 245 horsepower at 4000 RPM and 335 foot-pounds of torque (at 2800 rpm) inside the Grand Cherokee's 4261-pound body. This represents an increase of 25hp and 35lb-ft of torque over today's 5.2-liter V8. While the combination helps Jeep claim a 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds, the 5.9 limited loses ground in the towing department (max. 5000 lbs. vs. 6500lbs for 5.2-liter with towing package) and in fuel economy (13/16 vs. 14/18). Jeep rounds out the powertrain with a new transmission, stronger cooling fan, and more powerful alternator. The existing Quadra-Coil suspension and Quadra-Trac transfer case are carried over.