A five-passenger midsize SUV, the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in four trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Overland and SRT8. All trims are available with either two- or four-wheel drive except the SRT8, which is all-wheel drive only. Many of the features on the Limited and Overland are available as options on the Laredo and SRT8. Additional options, depending on the trim level, include a rear entertainment system, Sirius Backseat TV and towing preparation.

The Grand Cherokee Laredo comes standard with a 3.7-liter V6 good for 210 hp and 235 pound-feet of torque, and delivers a meager 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Optional on the Laredo and standard on the Limited is a 4.7-liter V8 rated at 305 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque, with 14 city and 19 highway. The 5.7-liter "Hemi" V8 is optional on 4WD Limited models and standard on the Overland. It produces 330 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, and features cylinder-deactivation technology that "improves" fuel economy to 13/18 mpg. Optional on all of these trims is a 3.0-liter common-rail diesel V6 (available in non-California-emissions states) rated at 215 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, with a fuel economy rating of 17/22 mpg. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board.