Should You Take the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Off Road?
The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee may actually drive better off-road than it does on solid pavement. Here’s why.
Written by Shannon Fitzgerald
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
may actually be more capable off-road than it is on solid pavement. Thanks to a hefty off-road purposed frame, drivetrain, and powertrain, this beast of an SUV should have no trouble handling the road less traveled. Jeeps
are widely known for their off-road stamina. But not all Jeeps are created equal! Depending on key specs like ground clearance, torque, and approach and departure angles, some Jeeps have more off-road prowess than others. So is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee reallyany good off-road? Here to break it down is
Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison super app and expert vehicle resource
. From off-road features to alternative off-road SUVs, let’s take a look at how the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee stacks up. 
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now
Can the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee go off road?
Yes. There is no doubt that the 2004 Grand Cherokee is one mean off-roading machine. In fact, since it’s built more like a truck than most modern SUVs, the 2004 Grand Cherokee is widely noted to perform better as an off-roader than as a daily commuter.
With an original starting MSRP of $27,765, the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee was priced to compete with similar SUVs like the
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer
(at $32,270). Combining a luxury interior with an off-road equipped exterior, the Jeep Grand Cherokee was engineered with both passenger comfort and tough terrain in mind. By 2004, the Jeep Grand Cherokee had actually received such renown for its exceptional off-road handling that it was easily America’s top-selling and most recognizable adventure SUV.
Today, you can find a used 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee for between $3,630 and $5,431 depending on your location and the vehicle’s condition. To give you a taste of what’s out there, here’s a look at some of the 2004 Grand Cherokee’s off-road specs.
Ground clearance
A vehicle’s ground clearance measures the distance between the lowest point of its chassis and the ground. While the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 8.7-inch ground clearance is certainly adequate for off-roading, this may actually be one of the 2004 model’s weaker points.
Ideally, experts recommend between 8.8 and 10.8 inches as safe off-roading ground clearance measurements. These higher elevations help prevent damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage while navigating uneven terrain. Therefore, the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee can still handle itself off-road with an 8.7-inch height, but compared to the
2022 Jeep Wrangler
’s 9.7 inches it’s not quite as capable. To be fair: the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 8.7-inch ground clearance in 2004 was actually better than the 2004 Wrangler’s 8.2 inches and the 2004 Chevy Trailblazer’s 8 inches. It was on par with the
2004 Dodge Durango
’s ground clearance, while the 2004 Ford Expedition
had only a minimal edge with 8.9 inches of ground clearance. Torque
Off-road vehicles perform best with a low-end torque—meaning higher turning power at lower speeds. This is because turning power, rather than acceleration and high speeds, is more at play when tearing through dirt or gravel.
When equipped with the
Overland
trim’s 4.7L V8 engine, the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a maximum torque of 325 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm. This is an insane amount of turning power accessible at very low speeds—making for some solid off-roading even in more intense conditions like heavy snow and mud. Tires
The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with 235/65R17 all-season tires standard on the
Limited
and Overland trims. So what does that mean? Essentially, the first three digits of a
tire size code
indicate tire width in millimeters while the two digits after the dash encode the aspect ratio of the tire’s sidewall in comparison to its width. In this case, the 2004 Grand Cherokee’s sidewall is 65% as high as its 235mm width. The “R” signifies the tire’s radial build—offering better road grip and durability—and the final digit indicates the wheel’s diameter in inches. While 235mm wide, 17-inch radial tires are certainly suitable for off-roading conditions,
all-terrain tires
rather than all-season tires generally support aggressive off-roading more. The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t come with all-terrain tires equipped, but this is an easy upgrade to make on your own, though it might not come cheap.Drivetrain
Each trim of the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is eligible for a 4WD upgrade from the standard rear-wheel drive, allowing for the most ideal drivetrain for hefty off-roading. While the standard RWD is perfectly capable of handling light off-road adventures like dirt and gravel, 4WD systems provide torque to all four wheels—increasing traction so that plowing through rugged terrain is a breeze.
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now Angles
A good off-road vehicle has solid angles—approach and departure angles, that is.
Here’s what that means:
- Approach angle—the maximum angle a vehicle can ascend without hitting the front bumper
- Departure angle—the maximum angle a vehicle can descend without hitting the rear bumper
With approach and departure angles of 36.7 and 22.6 degrees respectively, the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee has the approach angle for heavy-duty off-roading but may struggle a bit on extra steep declines.
Off-road rating: Rough and ready junior trail boss
According to
Jerry
’s very own, high-tech DIRT rating scale, we’ve given the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee an R/T off-road rating. Here’s how that breaks down: Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Better to keep this vehicle on pavement |
I | In a Pinch | In limited situations, this vehicle could be an extra light off-roader |
R | Rough and Ready | You’ve got a casual off-roader on your hands |
T | Trail Boss | This true off-roader is well-suited for tough terrain |
The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s powerful torque, drivetrain, and ample approach angle equip it for some serious, trail boss off-roading. However, its smaller departure angle and ground clearance compared to heftier off-roaders like its 2022 Wrangler cousin, or
2022 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
descendent, the 2004 model isn’t quite as off-road ready. The best off-road alternatives to the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s heft and drivetrain help it easily tackle off-road conditions. But this same heft and drivetrain have also led to criticisms of the 2004 Grand Cherokee’s sluggish and clumsy highway handling. If you’re looking for a more versatile off-road SUV, you may want to consider a newer model.
Here are the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s best alternatives depending on your priorities:
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best versatile alternative | 2022 Ford Explorer | $33,745 | The 2022 Ford Explorer features a better driving experience than most of its competitors while the off-road equipped Timberline trim allows for some casual family off-roading. |
Best hauling alternative | 2021 Dodge Durango | $33,877 | While the 2021 Dodge Durango may not be as capable off-road as the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, its 6.4L HEMI V8 engine can tow up to 8,700 lbs—that’s about 2,000 lbs more than the 2004 Cherokee’s limit. |
Best modern alternative | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK | $34,900 | Why look for an alternate Grand Cherokee when you can get the updated model? The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK improves on its predecessor with a 290-hp 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, an integrated navigation system, and 18-inch alloy wheels. |
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”
Patricia W.
Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
While owning an off-road SUV comes with the thrill of adventure, it can also come with an expensive car insurance premium. Because off-roading risks damages to your vehicle, most insurers charge higher rates for any off-road capable SUV or truck.
Fortunately, you don’t need to calculate ground clearance or angles to navigate cheaper insurance policies—just download
Jerry
. The app is free to use and instantly pulls up the lowest rates available to you from over 55 top insurers’ quotes. See a plan you like? Just select it through the app and Jerry’s
expert brokers
will help handle all the transitional heavy lifting—think of them like the broker equivalent of your Grand Cherokee’s 4WD. The average Jerry user ends up saving more than $800 a year on car insurance, so it’s definitely worth a look to keep that Jeep protected off-road (and on-road) for less.
“My policy of 2.5 years lapsed, and I needed to look for something cheaper.Jerryswitched me to a better policy with Progressive in 30 minutes––and I didn’t have to talk to anyone on the phone. Amazing!” —Jacques S.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
4.7
