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) | 18 | 80 | 98 |
| Laredo TD (diesel) | 11 | 133 | 144 |
Exact DVLA figures for the pure-name Laredo entries, updated automatically each quarter. 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 |
DVLA filed the volume selling petrol Limited auto under the "Grand Cherokee Limited" and "Grand Cherokee Ltd Auto" entries, which also span the later WJ and WK generations, so no exact per-variant count exists. AutoCensus cohort analysis estimates 749 ZJ era cars still registered across those shared entries ( licensed, SORN at the 2025 snapshot). The 2.5 turbodiesel Limited has its own pure DVLA entry: 4 licensed, 17 SORN as of 2026 Q1. Full methodology on the How Many Left page.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 293 | 358 |
Exact DVLA figures, updated automatically each quarter. 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 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. |
The 5.9 Limited
From 1998, Chrysler also offered a 5.9 litre (360 cubic inch) version of the LA V8, fitted exclusively to the high performance 5.9 Limited. This produced around 245bhp and was the fastest production ZJ built. It was a US only model, produced for one model year only, and there is no confirmed evidence of any reaching the UK. Any UK registered ZJ claiming to be a 5.9 Limited should be treated with considerable scepticism and verified via build sheet.
| Displacement | 5,899cc V8 OHV, Chrysler LA family |
| Power | ~245bhp |
| Availability | US market only, 1998 model year only |
| UK status | None confirmed. Do not buy without factory build sheet. |
UK Survivors
Factory Colours at Launch, January 1996
The original January 1996 brochure lists six body colours and two leather interiors for the range it covers. This is the launch palette rather than a complete list for the whole 1996 to 1998 run, and the Orvis Edition later carried its own colours. It is a useful reference for checking an original combination.
| Body colour, 1996 | Saddle | Agate |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Green Metallic | Yes | Yes |
| Deep Blue Metallic | Yes | Yes |
| Light Iris Metallic | – | Yes |
| Dark Iris Metallic | Yes | Yes |
| Dark Rosewood Metallic | Yes | Yes |
| Black | Yes | Yes |
Colours and leather pairings as printed in the original brochure. Full scan on the Literature page.