R.I.P The Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 Is Officially Dead
After eleven model years, the 4th generation Jeep Cherokee, known as the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2, is officially dead. The WK2, named after the chassis code of the 4th generation Cherokee, was discontinued when the new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with chassis code WL, went into production this past year.
As we turn the page on the 4th generation Jeep Cherokee, there is still some news surrounding this previous generation Jeep. Here is everything you need to know about the newly discontinued Jeep Grand Cherokee and how it fared throughout its tenure as Jeep’s midsize SUV.
Discontinued but still available
While the 4th generation Jeep Grand Cherokee has been discontinued, you can still get one new today. According to MotorTrend, when you visit Jeep’s website, you can still buy a previous generation Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2. However, you can’t order one from the factory, as there is no way to build your own model, you are only able to search dealer inventories for any remaining 4th generation Jeep Grand Cherokees.
There was some hope throughout the automotive industry that it would continue production alongside the newer model, just like the Ram 1500 Classic continued production alongside the Ram 1500, but this is not the case for the Grand Cherokee lineup. The WK2 is also condensing its trim level options, with only the Laredo E, Laredo X, and Limited trims available, all of which only offer a base V6 engine.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 specs
The Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 had plenty of great publicity when it was unveiled for the 2011 model year. The WK2 received praise from many publications for pushing the Jeep brand into the new decade with impressive technologies and old-time-tested building techniques. For example, this Jeep Grand Cherokee featured a unibody construction, just like its predecessors, but offered four-wheel independent suspension, giving it a rugged build quality but better ride on the road.
It came with two engine options, a 3.6 L Pentastar V6 and the classic Mopar 5.7 L Hemi V8. The V8 option also came with a feature called the Multiple Displacement System, or MDS, which shuts off four cylinders of the engine under cruising conditions to save fuel. While the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 was built for comfortable road cruising, it had impressive towing capacity, with the base V6 engine capable of 6,800 lbs and the V8 capable of a very impressive 7,400 lbs.
Should you buy a Grand Cherokee WK2?
Due to the ongoing supply shortage found on dealer lots across the country, now is not the time to buy a new Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2. Even if the WK2 is the perfect Jeep Grand Cherokee for you, you are not saving very much money by looking at this dated option. According to MotorTrend, the price savings between the WK2 and the new WL is only $1,345. With an SUV that already starts around $40,000, it is tough to see a $1,345 savings as worth it.
For right now, the smart option is to skip the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2, but as dealer inventory continues to improve, you may find a discounted WK2 on a dealer lot near you in the future!
