That's Not a Cherokee - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,316
edited September 2014 in Jeep
imageThat's Not a Cherokee - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road Test

Stacking up the 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited against its namesake predecessor reveals some stark differences in design and purpose.

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  • grijongrijon Member Posts: 147
    Great post, Dan - full agreement from me!
  • misterfusionmisterfusion Member Posts: 471
    The only reason I'm disappointed in the KL being named "Cherokee" is because I think they could have come up with something more original. Sometimes Mopar likes to play-up heritage, and other times they cast it aside. I'm sure some bean counters figured they would get 5% additional sales just for having the name "Cherokee".

    As for your aesthetic comparison: Just park the XJ next to a Patriot. I think that's the Cherokee you're looking for.
  • quadricyclequadricycle Member Posts: 827
    No offense, but you're holding onto the past with too tight a grip.

    Here's the thing: "Cherokee" is a name. Marketing, branding, and so on... Giving that name to a new model shouldn't be a big deal, manufactures do it all the time. Get over the name, and see that this a decent little softroader for the present. The sport 4X4 is relatively cheap, does decently off-pavement, and will actually make Jeep money. Awesome.

    OR we could make your old Cherokee again. Let's not use a global platform since you have a problem with it. Oh there goes sub-30K. Let's replace the FJ Cruiser, the model that just died because of small sales, that's good business sense. Let's build something that only you and a couple thousand of old school Cherokee loyalists want. Jeep would lose money and start cutting cost, quality, and redesigns until the Cherokee really does become a shadow of its former self. THAT would have actually destroyed the Cherokee's legacy...

    This is just a new model with an old name, let's move on.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    So Dan, after all that... Do you like the new one, or not?
  • the_o_dawgthe_o_dawg Member Posts: 1
    I bought a Trailhawk back in July and to be honest its one of the nicest vehicles I've ever owned. Sure it doesn't have the squared off look that jeep traditionalists love but it doesn't resemble anything else on the road. If people want a "real" jeep they can still purchase a Wrangler or if they value body on frame construction they could go with a Toyota 4runner or even a Nissan Xterra. The new cherokee is not for everyone, but to those like myself who value a nice interior, carlike ride and handling, and yes off road capability the Cherokee hits on those marks. Just my two cents of course
  • s197gts197gt Member Posts: 486
    wife owns a 2000 cherokee classic she bought new that she now lets her dad drive. he just backed their travel trailer into the jeep. hit just above the trailer's bumper and tore a hole into the trailer... jeep had some paint transfer onto the right fender but no real damage. 187k miles. never left anyone stranded.
  • agentorangeagentorange Member Posts: 893
    quadricycle said:

    No offense, but you're holding onto the past with too tight a grip.

    I could not have put it better myself. This sort of thing goes on with all kinds of products. Yes, it often offends those who view the past item through rose tinted glasses. I know some Smith and Wesson traditionalists will never forgive the company for naming their line of polymer semi-automatic handguns the M&P line like the revolvers of the 50s and 60s. Tough. New product, same name, but the connection stops there.
  • legacygtlegacygt Member Posts: 599
    I guess I agree with the post but in terms of the car you're looking for it's pretty much available as the Wrangler Unlimited. Sure, that car isn't perfect either but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Jeep to offer something that's a little more trail rated than the Cherokee but a little more refined than the Wrangler Unlimited. At that point you're really splitting hairs.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    edited September 2014
    legacygt said:

    I guess I agree with the post but in terms of the car you're looking for it's pretty much available as the Wrangler Unlimited. Sure, that car isn't perfect either but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Jeep to offer something that's a little more trail rated than the Cherokee but a little more refined than the Wrangler Unlimited. At that point you're really splitting hairs.

    Not quite yet, that is. Rumors have the next-gen Wrangler going with an independent suspension, and maybe aluminum body. Should be more civilized than current Wrangler, and still be an off-road hero.

  • grocer1grocer1 Member Posts: 1
    The XJ Cherokee debuted in 1978 as a compact, unibody SUV. The vaunted 4.0L is actually a 2.5L four with 2 cylinders tacked on...cooked up after the abysmal 2.8L GM V-6 was replaced by the aging 4.2L from AMC...dating from Rambler, Gremlin, Pacer, et al. It's probably better the new Cherokee isn't the old Cherokee...it would take 8 years to build something worth driving.

    And that baby Grand Cherokee? The ZJ was actually the replacement for the XJ....but Chrysler was making money hand over fist on the late-80s/early-90s SUV craze and decided they were better off just keeping both.

    The SJ (Cherokee nee Wagoneer) only hung around for so long because it found itself in the garage with a luxury car...undoubtedly due to its only competition for luxury SUV being Range Rover.
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