Do you want a Jeep that you can use for everyday needs while also still having the feeling that you love that only a Jeep can offer? Maybe you need more room and some additional power under the hood? You may be thinking of the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. It’s an action-packed vehicle for several reasons.
What does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo offer?
As the base model for the 2004 lineup from Grand Cherokee, it offers solid specs, including a 4.0L, V6 engine with a four-speed automatic transmission. It gets a respectable 195 horsepower. It’s available as both a four-door 4×4 and a 4×2.
There are some good features about the Laredo that you don’t want to miss out on beyond these initial specs. If you are thinking about buying this vehicle, it is worth taking a closer look at all it can do for you. You can also check out the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Vehicle History for more insight.
Let’s See What the 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo Has to Offer
The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is an overall powerful car with a lot of fantastic features. As the trim model, the Laredo has some basic features (and the upgraded trim models are worth taking a look at as well). You will find that it has all-terrain capability even though it is a larger vehicle. It has ample room inside and in the back.
Here’s a video to give you some insight into what you can expect from this vehicle should you choose it over others.
The Laredo did come with some upgrades from the previous model years. The cloth interior is durable and comfortable. It also has a powered driver’s seat, which some previous models did not. It also offers some on-steering wheel features to control the transmission, which is an upgrade from previous years as well.
The Laredo has room for five people, and it comes with ample interior space overall. It has about 39.5 inches of headroom and 57.8 inches of shoulder room up front.
When it comes to the engine, the 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo features a 4.0L V6 engine. It only gets 195 horsepower, but that’s somewhat typical of the Jeeps from that generation. It features a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive as standard.
An optional engine upgrade is available in the Laredo. You can move to the 4.7L V8 engine to get 265 horsepower. This is a sizable increase in price (and it is standard on some of the upper trim options), but for those who want performance, this can be worth it. There’s also an optional five-speed multi-speed automatic transmission with overdrive available.
When it comes to fuel economy, the EPA estimates may leave some drivers a bit leery. It offers 14 city and 19 highway, for a combined 16 miles per gallon on the highway. That’s not impressive for its generation, but again, Jeep wasn’t made to be a super fuel-efficient vehicle.
The suspension system is solid. It also features a rigid axle rear trailing link suspension with an anti-roll bar setup. There’s an optional upgrade to the Vari-Lok limited slip differential.
Keys Inside
When you are looking for interior infotainment, you will find some key options here. There is a six-speaker system in place with remote CD compatibility. A single in-dash CD player, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and radio data system are all available. You may want to go with the entertainment system with a DVD or the six Infinity speakers that are also optional upgrades.
Check out the Exterior
The Laredo offers black door handles, an optional colored front bumper, and an optional Class IV heavy-duty trailering hitch. This vehicle has 5,000 pounds of towing capacity and 1,000 pounds of payload capacity. That’s good for a small boat or trailer.
The vehicle is not set up for off-roading at this trim level. It does offer some upgradable features, such as two front tow hooks and running boards. The trailer hitch is also optional. There’s an optional roof rack that can hold up to 150 pounds as well as an optional Class III trailering with hitch setup.
There is a bit of bad news when it comes to this vehicle’s overall safety and function. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn’t give it good marks for overall frontal protection, and it does not have an overall safety rating. Also concerning are the 14 recalls on this vehicle, as of October 2020. These recalls cover airbags, the electrical system, exterior lighting, fuel system problems, seat problems, and steering concerns.
Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo the Right Option for You?
A lot of factors play into this decision. You’ll want to check out those safety problems and recalls, of course. Yet, what you may find is there are a lot of optional features you’ll get at a more affordable price point when you upgrade beyond the Laredo.
To find out what consumers like you think, go the next step. Check out the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Vehicle History to get more insight.
