New Cherokee Sport CRD Review

Cameron McGavin reviews the good and the bad of the new Cherokee Sport CRD.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=53971&vf=7

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Iconic Jeep returns to its roots

Cars Guide review of the new KK Jeep Cherokee. Good to see that the XJ influence is back. Don't get me wrong, I like the rounded look of the KJ, but there's something hot about a boxy 4X4 - just ask Hummer.

Iconic Jeep returns to its roots | carsguide.com.au

Jeep Cherokee updated

Bruce McMahon in the Courier Mail writes about the new Cherokee.

I love to look and shape of the new model and am glad to see it's still a proper 4X4, although I wouldn't imagine Jeep would ever compromise like that anyway.

Jeep Cherokee updated | The Courier-Mail

Jeep Patriot part of non-identical twins - drive.com.au

The Patriot looks a lot like a XJ Cherokee only with the rounded headlights and grille.

Jeep Patriot part of non-identical twins - drive.com.au

What the...?

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen.

A Jeep Cherokee for sale on eBay with a backyard right hand drive conversion. How can this be registered? Why not just get a RHD one shipped in from the UK?

2007 Jeep Patriot Sport 4X4

Cherokee Revival

By Tony Swan
Photos by Morgan Segal

May 2007

2007 Jeep Patriot Sport 4X4

The Highs:

Cherokee revival styling, respectable all-around performance, strong value story.The Lows: Excessive road and wind noise, plastic interior too convincingly plastic.

We know you’re busy, so here’s the Web version: Jeep has reinvented the Cherokee. Yes, the Cherokee (1984–2001) was a rear-wheel-drive design, whereas the Patriot’s bones are front drive. Still, the parallels are compelling. The Patriot is dimensionally similar to the Cherokee, it has off-road capability, and it revives those squarish lines that changed so many suburban driveways across America.

You might argue that Jeep already staged a rectilinear revival with the 2005 launch of the Commander, which is true — with one key asterisk: Patriots require less moola. Commanders start at $28,955. A base front-drive Patriot Sport lists for $14,985, and this Sport example — with four-wheel drive, a 2.4-liter engine, and a few other options — lists for $21,310. Another contrast: That’s $950 less than a base two-wheel-drive Jeep Liberty.

Basics:

The Patriot employs the architecture that made its debut on the Dodge Caliber and also supports the Jeep Compass. At 173.6 inches, it’s 6.1 inches longer than the Cherokee, and its 103.7-inch wheelbase is a 2.3-inch stretch over that of its ancestor. The Cherokee was a smidge wider — 69.4 inches versus 69.1 — but at 65.6 inches, the Patriot is almost two inches taller. That means a roomier interior, particularly in the second row, where the Cherokee was pretty snug (the Patriot has 49 cubic feet of rear room versus 40 in the Cherokee).

There are two so-called world engines. The two-wheel-drive Patriot Sport is available with the 2.0-liter four. Output is adequate at 158 horsepower, but the option comes with a JATCO CVT. We much prefer the crisp shifting of the five-speed manual that’s standard with the 172-hp, 2.4-liter four — the sonorous crescendos of the CVT sound like a vacuum cleaner having a nightmare — and we much prefer the performance that goes with this combo: 8.7 seconds to 60 mph and 16.6 at 83 mph in the quarter, comparable to a six-cylinder Cherokee and quicker than a V-6 Liberty.

Our Patriot’s optional Freedom Drive II system, which includes hill-descent control, is simple, with an electronically controlled clutch, linked to the standard-equipment ABS wheel-speed sensors, sending as much as 60 percent of the power aft when traction is marginal up front. There’s also a four-wheel-drive lock function for off-road use, and even though both diffs are open, the system can apportion power from side to side. Add to that 9.0 inches of ground clearance, plus favorable approach and departure angles, and the Patriot makes a surprisingly capable off-road warrior and earns Jeep’s Trail Rated badge, as distinct from the soft-road Compass.

On-road, the Patriot is gratifyingly nimble, agility that’s amplified by light but accurate steering. The downside is noise — wind and road, as well as a tympanic floorpan resonance on washboard dirt surfaces like a trio of snare drummers beating three different cadences. There’s a distinctly plastic look to some of the plastic interior trim, and the center armrest seems to have a grudge against elbows.

But like the Cherokee, the Patriot’s dynamic virtues, all-around usefulness, and solid value make it hard to ignore.

Download the test sheet.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED: US$21,310 (base price: US$16,735)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection Displacement: 144 cu in, 2360cc Power (SAE net): 172 bhp @ 6000 rpm Torque (SAE net): 165 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 103.7 in Length: 173.6 in Width: 69.1 inHeight: 65.6 in Curb weight: 3340 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS: Zero to 60 mph: 8.7 sec Street start, 5–60 mph: 9.6 secStanding ¼-mile: 16.6 sec @ 83 mph Top speed (governor limited): 112 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 187ft Roadholding, 200-ft-dia skidpad: 0.76 g
FUEL ECONOMY:EPA city driving: 25 mpg C/D-observed: 19 mpg

Video: 2008 Cherokee/Liberty Launch at NYAS

Here are 3 videos of the 2008 Jeep Liberty / Cherokee being launched at the New York Auto Show.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid717113447

New 2008 Jeep Cherokee / Liberty review and pictures

It's a case of back to the future in terms of the design of the new Jeep Cherokee / Liberty.

The new-look Cherokee looks a lot like a smaller version of the Commander with it's squared edges and boxier design than the current, more stylised model. I like it. It's also reminiscent of the earlier XJ, with the squared off wheel arches and high shoulder.

The new Cherokee has had a major re-engineering. Corporate synergy is created by sharing its platform with the Dodge Nitro. Jeep claims it is all new from the ground up, with new Command Trac and Select Trac four-wheel-drive systems on offer and independent multi-link suspension, which should improve on and off-road handling.

On the safety side, there's traction control, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and Electronic Roll Mitigation side curtain airbags and tyre pressure monitoring.

Accessories inside like the MyGIG multimedia system which has a 20GB hard drive for music and pictures, sat-nav. Other than that, there's a full-length canvas sunroof, remote starting, rain-sensing wipers, and electrically-adjustable seats and mirrors with memory settings, and there is an uprated stereo/communications system with Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

Sporting a 3.7 litre single cam V6, producing 156kW (210bhp) and 318nm (235lb ft) of torque at 4000rpm. As always, expect a shock at the bowser - fuel usage is a typically high 10 litres/100km (23mpg) highway cycle and 13 litres/100km (18mpg) in town.

The Cherokee is scheduled in the UK for early 2008 - TBA for Australia and although prices are yet to be confirmed, expect it to be in the same range as the current model.

Jeep Cherokee XJ - Still made in China

After being discontinued and replaced in 2001 by the Cherokee KJ/Liberty, the Jeep Cherokee XJ is still being produced in China as the jeep2500. It has the familiar XJ shape sheet metal and looks like a real XJ from behind the headlights back.



The front looks more modern, a cross between a Nissan X-Trail and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's obvious though, when looking from above, behind, or down the side, that this is still an XJ.








The interior is also updated with a modern brushed aluminium look.



This is a modern XJ and comes with dual front airbags, ABS and EBD in a 2.4 litre and a 4 litre engine. I don't know what the 2.4 does to the performance. I would imagine that it's a lot less powerful than a real 4 litre XJ, unless it's a diesel. It's comes in 4x4 and 4x2 flavours.

It's only made in left-hand drive, but having grown to love the shape and style of the XJ, if these were sold in Australia I'd buy one in preference to the KJ Cherokee/Liberty. Umm, who am I kidding? No I wouldn't.

It does seem odd though to be producing a car in the 21st century that's so like the original from the 1980's. It's almost VW Beetle-esque in that way.