UK Range Overview
Chrysler focused the UK range on the better-equipped end of the ZJ lineup. All UK petrol models use the 4.0-litre AMC inline-six with a four-speed automatic gearbox. There was no manual petrol option.
Original UK Prices with Inflation Adjustment
| Model | UK Launch | Original Price | 2025 Equivalent | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 Laredo | Early 1997 | ~£26,500 est. | ~£49,000 | Estimated from contemporary reports |
| 4.0 Limited | Jan 1996 | £28,995 | ~£56,000 | Chrysler UK launch material |
| Orvis Edition | 1997 | ~£31,500 est. | ~£58,000 | Estimated. No confirmed UK list price found. |
| Sunroof option | +£645 | ~£1,200 | Chrysler UK option list | |
| CD changer option | +£492 | ~£900 | Chrysler UK option list |
Inflation adjustment using Bank of England CPI calculator. Laredo and Orvis prices are estimates where no confirmed UK list price has been found.
Laredo
Added to the UK range in early 1997 as a lower entry point. Cloth interior, manual air conditioning, simpler specification throughout. The only way to buy a manual-gearbox Grand Cherokee in the UK was the diesel Laredo.
| Engine (petrol) | 4.0-litre AMC inline-six, 174bhp |
| Engine (diesel) | VM Motori 2.5 turbodiesel, 115bhp (from Feb 1997) |
| Gearbox | 4-speed automatic (petrol); 5-speed manual (diesel only) |
| 4WD | Selec-Trac NP242 (petrol); part-time (diesel) |
| Interior | Cloth throughout |
| Climate | Manual air conditioning |
| Towing | 2,500kg braked |
Original UK Price
| Launch price (est.) | ~£26,500 |
| 2025 equivalent | ~£49,000 |
| Variant | Licensed | SORN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo A (petrol) | 16 | 77 | 93 |
| Laredo TD (diesel) | 11 | 133 | 144 |
Figures from manufacture year filtering to 1999 and earlier. The diesel Laredo is among the rarest ZJ variants still registered in the UK.
Limited
The main UK model from January 1996. Automatic dual-zone climate control, heated leather seats, driver memory seat, cruise control and ABS all came as standard. By the standards of 1996, it was genuinely well equipped for the money and undercut a comparable Range Rover on price while outspeccing it.
| Engine | 4.0-litre AMC inline-six, 174bhp |
| Gearbox | 42RE 4-speed automatic |
| 4WD | Selec-Trac NP242: 2H, full-time 4H, part-time 4H, 4L |
| Seating | Leather, heated fronts, driver memory |
| Climate | Automatic dual-zone |
| Safety | Dual front airbags from 1997 |
| Towing | 2,500kg braked |
Original UK Price
| Launch price | £28,995 |
| 2025 equivalent | ~£56,000 |
The DVLA "Grand Cherokee Limited" and "Grand Cherokee Ltd Auto" entries span ZJ, WJ and WK generations. Filtering to manufacture years 1999 and earlier gives an estimated 151 ZJ-era cars still registered across both entries (licensed and SORN combined).
For the full breakdown see howmanyleft.co.uk and Ltd Auto entry.
Orvis Edition
A special package above the Limited, named after the Vermont fly-fishing and outdoor equipment company. US market cars came in Moss Green Pearl with green and tan leather. UK cars from 1997 to 1998 were available in a wider colour range — the 1998 example that informs much of this site is Deep Slate Pearl Coat with Agate leather, confirmed by its factory build sheet as Customer Preferred Package 26D.
| Base spec | Full Limited specification plus Orvis package |
| Exterior | Orvis badging. Full UK colour range not confirmed. |
| Interior | Orvis sill plates and floor mats; Orvis headrest embossing |
| Wood trim | Burr walnut effect on dash, centre console and door cards |
| Suspension | UpCountry group: raised ride height, underbody protection |
| Engine | 4.0-litre I6. V8 in RHD not confirmed for UK market. |
| Sunroof | Power sunroof standard |
1997 Orvis in Light Driftwood Satin Glow. Confirms Orvis extended beyond Moss Green.
Original UK Price
| Launch price (est.) | ~£31,500 |
| 2025 equivalent | ~£58,000 |
| Licensed | SORN | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 290 | 356 |
Peak licensed: 1,935 in Q4 1999. 97% of that peak no longer on the road.
V8 and LHD Imports
A 5.2-litre V8 was listed in UK Chrysler literature and available as a special order. Honest John Classics, the most thorough UK-specific contemporary source, states: "First imports were 5.2 litre V8s with 212bhp in LHD and auto only." Whether any factory RHD V8 ZJs were officially delivered to UK customers remains unconfirmed.
LHD US-spec V8s were privately imported throughout the 1990s and remain UK-registered today. A UK number plate proves nothing about steering configuration or build specification.
| Displacement | 5,211cc V8 OHV, Chrysler LA family |
| Power | 208 to 212bhp (ECE) |
| Torque | ~290 lb-ft |
| Gearbox | 44RE 4-speed automatic |
| Economy | 14 to 18mpg real-world |
| UK RHD status | Unconfirmed. Verify build sheet before buying. |
UK Survivors