WK, Redux: Current Jeep Grand Cherokee to Live Another Year

Awhile back, Jeep unveiled the all-new, fifth-generation 2022 Grand Cherokee, known as the "WL", and it's a big deal: finally shedding what remains of a Mercedes-Benz derived platform, the all-new Grand Cherokee is built on Alfa Romeo's new "Giorgio" Platform, which allow's Jeep's popular midsize SUV to grow in size, as well as adopt a sportier profile. However, there's just one problem with the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WL: its cost of entry. Starting at just under $38k for a base "Laredo" 4X2 trim, the newest version of Jeep's popular midsize SUV is certainly more expensive than the model it replaces. For 2022, Jeep will continue to manufacture the old "WK2" Grand Cherokee, which first made its debut for the 2011 model year (and was last fully refreshed in 2014), alongside its successor. However, trim levels and options will be significantly reduced, as Jeep is marketing the 2022 Grand Cherokee "WK" as the less-expensive alternative for those buyers who don't need something "all-new". Read on to find out more about the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK. NOTE: Any and all pricing discussed in this article includes a mandatory destination fee, but does NOT include any applicable taxes, or other fees.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK will be available in four models, down from the twelve that it once offered. Those models include the base Laredo, the sporty Laredo X, the well-equipped Limited, and the SRT-inspired Limited X. Starting at $35,610 for a 4X2 model, or $39,485 for a 4X4 model, the base Laredo trim still comes well-equipped for its price point. Standard equipment on the Laredo trim includes a body-colored front fascia, front grille, and rear liftgate spoiler, automatic delay on/off front headlamps, quad-halogen front headlamps, front daytime running lamps (DRL's), premium front fog lamps, bright roof rack side rails, body-colored power-adjustable and heated exterior side mirrors and exterior front and rear door handles, P265/60R18 low rolling resistance (LRR) blackwall (BSW) all-season tires and 18"x8.5" Fine Silver-finished aluminum-alloy wheels, a compact spare tire and wheel, intermittent front windshield wipers, a seven-inch (7.0") color Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) LCD reconfigurable instrument cluster display screen, a dual-zone automatic climate control system with air conditioning and an air filtration system, a carpeted rear cargo area with cargo tie-downs and a removable LED flashlight, a front center floor console with an armrest, an overhead (roof) console with reading lamps, cloth seating surfaces, a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, a manual day/night inside rearview mirror (ISRV) with a microphone, a folding-flat front passenger bucket seat, an eight-way, power-adjustable front driver's bucket seat with power lumbar support and a manually-adjustable front passenger bucket seat, a manually tilting-and-telescoping leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, multiple USB ports, a 12V DC power outlet, the U Connect 4C touchscreen infotainment system with GPS navigation, SiriusXM Guardian Services (including a one-year paid trial subscription), SiriusXM Travel Link Services (including a five-year paid trial subscription), SiriusXM Satellite Radio (including a one-year paid trial subscription), a rear view backup camera system, HD Radio, wired (ONLY) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and full Bluetooth connectivity, a six-speaker audio system, multiple airbags, a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-path detection, an electronic stability and traction control system, hill start assist, rear parking assist sensors, rain brake support, ready-alert braking, the Keyless Enter-'n'-Go keyless access and entry system with a push-button starter, the Sentry-Key engine immobilizer system, and a trailer sway control system. The ProTech II Group ($875) adds features such as advanced brake assist, automatic front high-beam headlamp control, forward collision warning plus (+), and lane departure warning plus (+), while the Security and Convenience Group ($2,000) adds a rear cargo compartment area tonneau cover, a remote vehicle starter system, a security alarm system, a 115V AC household-style power outlet, a universal garage door opener system, dual heated front bucket seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power rear liftgate. The Trailer Tow Group IV ($995) adds a full-size spare tire and wheel, a Class IV trailer tow receiver hitch, 7-and-4-pin trailer tow wiring harnesses, a 180-amp alternator, heavier-duty engine cooling, and the deletion of rear-mounted tow hooks. The Mopar Interior Bright Accents Group adds front and rear door entry guards and a bright pedal kit for $325, while the Mopar Exterior Bright Accents Group (also $325) adds chrome exterior side mirror caps and a chrome exhaust system tip. Standalone options include a single-pane power moonroof ($1,295), black OR chrome tubular side assist steps ($700 for black or $800 for chrome), and an engine block heater ($95).

For those looking for a sportier exterior appearance for their 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, there's the sporty Laredo X trim, which starts at just over $40,000 for a 4X2 model (exact pricing information wasn't available as of this writing), or $42,985 for a 4X4 model. The Laredo X trim adds features onto the base Laredo trim, such as luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces with perforated sueded inserts, 18"x8.5" polished aluminum-alloy wheels with Tech Gray-painted accents, a remote vehicle starter system, an electrochromic inside rearview mirror (ISRV), a power rear liftgate, a 115V AC household-style power outlet, a universal garage door opener system, and dual heated front bucket seats. The Tech Group ($795) adds Bi-Xenon front High Intensity Discharge (HID) front headlamps, the Alpine premium amplified surround-sound audio system with a 506-watt amplifier and a subwoofer, an active interior noise control system, LED front daytime running lamps (DRL's), and LED front fog lamps, while the Altitude Appearance Package ($1,845) adds sportier exterior styling elements with black-painted accents and P265/50R20 blackwall (BSW) all-season tires and 20"x8.5" Gloss Black-finished aluminum-alloy wheels. Additionally, all other options and packages from the base Laredo trim remain available on the sporty Laredo X trim for the same costs.

The well-equipped 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK Limited is expected to remain the volume-selling model in the lineup, and starts at $43,535 for a 4X2 model, or $45,555 for a 4X4 model. The Limited trim adds even more luxury amenities onto the sporty Laredo X trim, including the Selec-Terrain 4X4 terrain management system (for 4X4 models ONLY), a Quadra-Trac II full-time 4X4 system (for 4X4 models ONLY), front fog lamps, chrome exterior side mirror caps, Capri luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces, woodgrain interior trim, a security alarm system, a remote vehicle starter system, a single-pane power moonroof, a driver's memory system, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable front passenger bucket seat with power lumbar support (this deletes the folding-flat front passenger bucket seat functionality). All options and packages from the base Laredo and sporty Laredo X trims remain available on the well-equipped Limited trim at the same costs (except for the Altitude Appearance Package), although the ProTech II Group adds automatic parallel and perpendicular parking assist functionality.

For buyers who prefer an SRT-inspired design, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK Limited X trim sits at the top of the Grand Cherokee WK lineup this year. While pricing isn't yet available for the Limited X trim (for either 4X2 or 4X4 models), its added features on top of the already well-equipped Limited trim include SRT-inspired exterior styling, P265/50R20 blackwall (BSW) all-season tires, and 20"x8.5" aluminum-alloy wheels. Options and packages from all other Grand Cherokee WK trims should also remain available on the sporty Limited X trim.

All 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK models will remain powered by the venerable naturally-aspirated 3.6L Pentastar V6 gasoline engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) functionality, producing a modest 290 horsepower and 262 lb. ft. of torque, mated to the ZF-derived (but Stellantis-built) "850RE" eight-speed automatic transmission, with a choice of either two-wheel-drive (4X2) or four-wheel-drive (4X4). There will be a reduced exterior paint color lineup this year, with only three options being available: Bright White Clear Coat (Gloss White), Velvet Red Crystal Pearlcoat Metallic (Metallic Red), or Diamond Black Crystal Pearlcoat Metallic (Metallic Black) for all four trim levels. While all models offer a monotone Black (Black/Black) interior color scheme, the well-equipped Limited model also offers a two-tone Black/Light Frost Beige (Black/Light Beige) option. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK will be built alongside its successor, the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WL (as well as the mechanically-related Dodge Durango), at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant ("JNAP") in Detroit, Michigan, where the Grand Cherokee has been produced since its introduction in 1992 for the 1993 model year. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK will reach Jeep dealerships nationwide by the end of 2021. What do you think of Jeep's decision to continue manufacturing the fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee WK(2) for 2022? Let us know in the comments down below, and stay tuned right here to DriveTribe for more information as it becomes available!