THROWBACK: MotorWeek Retro-Reviews First Grand Cherokee

A quarter-century later, this Retro Review of the ’93 Grand Cherokee stands the test of time.

For the upcoming Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Chrysler is rebuilding a worn-out 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee into the Grand One. In honor of that, we thought we’d take a look back with MotorWeek at the original 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. We’re now 25 years removed from the release of Chrysler’s redesigned big-ticket entry into the SUV battles. As things turned out, the Grand Cherokee was a harbinger of auto design to come. While Ford’s Explorer initially dominated the sales figures, the Grand Cherokee has maintained a more loyal following. As such, you’ll likely still see these ZJs on the road in many parts of the United States.

As you can see above, MotorWeek presenter John H. Davis was on top of his game then. As he revealed the first-year Laredo’s details, he knew that the enlarged XJ Cherokee was going to be serious competition for the Explorer and Chevy Blazer. When MotorWeek introduced the Grand Cherokee with a banner reading “The New Standard,” they meant it.

Their test Jeep had the ubiquitous 4.0-liter straight-6, which made 190 horsepower and 220 lbs-ft of torque with modern fuel injection. It also packed a five-speed manual, which would prove a relatively rare find in later years. That was all pretty standard Jeep fare back then, though, as was the Chrysler LA-based 5.2-liter V8 that would later become an option. But it was the ZJ’s other features that set it apart from the SUV crowd.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About MotorWeek’s Analysis

MotorWeek raved about the Cherokee’s handling characteristics, which were more like those of a contemporary sedan than the truck-based Explorer. Combined with a comfortable interior upgraded from the XJ, this made the Grand Cherokee the spiritual successor to the Grand Wagoneer, which occupied a strange niche with well-to-do families in its 1980s’ heyday. If that weren’t enough, the Grand Cherokee still retained the off-road readiness that you’d expect from a Jeep.

In his final accounting, Davis called the Grand Cherokee “Jeep’s best vehicle ever.” And while we’re not sure we’ll find much agreement here on JK Forum, few will doubt that it broke new ground in the SUV market. It did so for at least 10-percent less on the sticker price than what Ford was building, too.

Do yourself a favor and check out the restored-and-upgraded Grand One. It’s really the ultimate iteration of the ‘93 Grand Cherokee.