Well, not all of them have. The updated, outside the box 2015 Jeep Cherokee brings that whole standard back to the table, delivering not only an on-the-road performance to rival many other manufacturer’s rides, but also has the ability to take on the off road segment with ease, comfort, and in a strange way, luxury.

Now I am not a fan of this vehicle’s looks on the outside, feeling they are too much of a departure from the ‘Jeep’ look that has been so long established and ingrained, but I can see why they did it. You will never mistake this SUV for another on the road, and Jeep has now developed a second look to add to its future development and design of rides. And while this look is a bit alien with the squinted headlights and rounded body, the look still maintains the vertical bar grill that is common on other Jeep rides. And, again, you will not be mistaking this ride for another on the road.

Inside, the Cherokee is clean with a well appointed dash and technology all around. Packed with the latest and greatest from Chrysler’s tech side, the huge MMI screen is easy to read while driving, and even quicker than previous versions to update and make changes when needed. The steering wheel has one of my favorite new features, the rear mounted volume/channel controls, built in, as well as the standard buttons for driving comforts at easy reach.

Wrapping around this technology is the somewhat, almost too much, luxurious interior, appointed in soft leather and solid dash. I say almost too much as it’s one of the best interiors I have seen on the market for a smaller SUV, and this is one designed to take off road and get dirty. Granted, I know it can handle it, but I personally would still have second thoughts. And the overall comfort of the ride inside was top notch with higher priced SUVs, with great driver’ positions and smoothness on the full variety of terrain tested.

You might say if I just stayed inside the ride, I would be sold, and while that is where I would spend most my time as the driver, the outside still has me questioning if it would be the car for me. Yes, it is a vanity aspect, and the design doesn’t take away from the capability of this ride, but overall it just doesn’t look like the Jeep I would take on the trail. And while most drivers sadly wont be barging through deep mud pits or climbing rocky paths, the vehicle surely sets itself apart on all areas of design and functionality.

The post Rebirth of the Offroad SUV: 2015 Jeep Cherokee appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Considering Jeep’s gradual departure from an off-roading focus toward expanding growth in city worthy vehicles, it felt like a good time to see how the brand was adapting courtesy of the newly released Cherokee. The most notable and immediately apparent change is the radical shark nose slotted grille design, which hasn’t been so apparent on a vehicle since mid-’80s BMWs. It’s proving to be a love or hate style generating mixed reviews, though I’m finding it to be different enough that it exudes a sliver of charm. As defining characteristics are proving a vague challenge when comparing segment competitors, I was drawn toward the masculine yet quirky design cues of this Jeep.

The pull to the FIAT based crossover grew ever stronger when testing the “trail rated” Trailhawk model. In all honesty, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect before driving a car-based platform engineered to tackle moderate off-road obstacles. The visual cues all pointed to a rough and tough SUV: skid plates, red tow hooks, aggressive all-terrain tires and a higher ground clearance. However, driving around town proved to be just as civilized as anything else in the segment, if not more so. At no point did I find complaint with road comfort or steering feel during my routine trips. As an added bonus, the engine delivered plenty of punch when merging onto highways. Unfortunately, the complete drivetrain experience wasn’t as sweet. The new 9-speed transmission seemed to occasionally shuffle between gears when navigating busier and varying levels of traffic. Despite early growing pains, this new, little Jeep adapted to the city lifestyle without fuss. But how did its temperament change when met with snow covered dirt trails?

It’s reassuring to announce that the Cherokee wasn’t fazed by the Michigan back trails found nearby. Admittedly, I didn’t and couldn’t push it through Moab levels of difficulty but I tried my best to roll through the biggest challenges scattered along the trails. Unsurprisingly, dedicated A/T tires helped to crawl over most muddy hills but the adaption of the four wheel drive worked as expected. Without upgrading to the Wrangler, the level of off-road capabilities offered by this Jeep will prove more than capable for those owners that seek mild weekend backwoods adventures. It’s certainly more trail worthy than its predecessors, the Patriot or Liberty. The farther I drove the Cherokee the more its inherent character shown through the mud covered exterior.

Overall, the Cherokee proved to be a surprisingly capable and enjoyable SUV. I chose to label it as such because the crossover descriptor didn’t seem to capture the true off-road nature of this vehicle. When pairing the driving impressions with the interior comforts and infotainment system quality we’ve come to expect in Chrysler products, it’s easier to see how the Cherokee is out-classing its competitors in most every category. Despite the largest departure from the iconic Jeep grille, I’ve grown to admire the Cherokee design and its bold approach at redefining the theme of crossovers and small-scale SUVs. It’s certainly a vehicle that deserves consideration by any individual interested in city and off-road driving.

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The good folks over at American Motors Corporation (AMC) first got to SUVs as they would come to be known. Sure, SUV-like things had been around for a while. The Suburban name has been in GM’s catalog since the 1930’s. Two-door runabouts had flourished at the fringes of the market too – think Ford Bronco, Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep CJ, etc. But in the early 1980’s, AMC had something different up their sleeves. It had four doors like a Suburban, but in a more wieldy size. An innovative unitized frame lowered the height and weight of the vehicle, negating the need for a gas-guzzling V8. Then there was the styling. In place of the aggressive machismo of a Ford Bronco or Jeep Wagoneer you had simple clean lines that met at slightly boxy angles (it was the early 1980s, after all. Aerodynamic bubble-cars were still a few years over the horizon). AMC called it the Cherokee – or XJ, if you’re really geeky about Jeeps.

When the Cherokee debuted, it was not quite the sales phenomenon Ford would later have with the Explorer. Like many good things in life, the Cherokee was an acquired taste for the market. To be fair, the Cherokee wasn’t really like any previous Jeep, or any other passenger-carrying truck that came before it. Mud-bogging enthusiasts viewed it as tiny, and since it lacked a V8 – a bit wimpy. It was the original Mall Finder. There may be some truth to that. The Cherokee definitely makes a better on-road companion than a K5 Blazer or full-size Bronco.

However, the Cherokee had a few things going for it in terms of back-country antics. It was more maneuverable than the full-size rigs of the time (handy when you’re squeezing down narrow trails). While the unitized frame might not have the boulder-bashing tenacity of a truck’s separate frame, it’s a lot lighter. Cherokees don’t get swallowed by the Earth nearly as easily as a lot of larger trucks. When Chrysler bought out AMC in the late ‘80s, the Cherokee got a much-needed infusion of muscle courtesy of a 4.0L straight-six engine also included in the AMC deal. Sophisticated that six-cylinder was not, but it had torque in spades, and a decent rush of power too. While not fast in a world of the BMW X5 M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo, by the early 1990s, the Cherokee could move. Add to that a pair of sturdy and articulate solid axles and Mom’s Mall-Finder could also get you pretty much anywhere you would want to go by vehicle.

Finally, there was the styling. Ignore the presence of fake wood on the sides of some early Cherokees. What you’re left with actually rather handsome. The look is clean and honest. The greenhouse is airy, and well proportioned. It was such a nice shape that Chrysler/AMC were able to justify keeping it around all the way to 2001. Not bad for a vehicle that was introduced in 1984. I think it rightfully qualifies as an icon.

The post How The Jeep Cherokee Changed SUVs appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually mean that as a compliment. This is the most comfortable and stylish Jeep I’ve been in, and I’ve been in them all. The new Cherokee seems to bring the storied American brand kicking and screaming into the 21^st century, and they did it with more than a little help from their new Italian family. This thing rides with a comfort and smoothness of a German sedan, and the interior is blessedly devoid of D-grade plastics or excessively chunky switches. The Cherokee is plush.

On the road, you still get the unflappable confidence that the Jeep brand has been built on, but with a refinement that makes this vehicle feel closer to a Land Rover than to the rock-crunching Wrangler. I can honestly say that this is the best vehicle Jeep has built in decades, and finally puts the brand on par with any other soft-roader currently out there.

Many people are held up by the looks of the new Cherokee, but I’ll say this: reserve judgment until you’ve seen it up close in person. It is much less “challenging” when you are standing next to it. Just as the Nissan Juke seemed crazy at first but now looks normal and commonplace, I think this new Cherokee will age very well.

The days of prioritizing ruggedness over livability are finally gone with Jeep. The king is dead, long live the king.

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