Essentially, until you beef up the Liberty (or any other for that matter) arent they are all the same (in each class) off the lot more or less? I think that's what they base it on, if you think about it anything can be considered a "serious off roader" with the right mods. You are only limited by the parts that are available for each particular model.

Well, ok maybe not that one or an "AWD" but how about all if not most 4X4's? I mean my Lib is a stock 4X4 and I could take it off road right from the lot but could do anything too advanced with out some major upgrades.

Essentially, until you beef up the Liberty (or any other for that matter) arent they are all the same (in each class) off the lot more or less? I think that's what they base it on, if you think about it anything can be considered a "serious off roader" with the right mods. You are only limited by the parts that are available for each particular model.

In my opinion, even the KJ is geared towards the pavement pounding grocery getting majority. Had we offroaders been the target market, the KJ would have come out with a solid front axle, lower weight, better approach/departure angles, etc. etc. Even the new Grands aren't aimed at us. The Wrangler does a better job of it, but even it has become softer with each passing year. Jeep is selling it's name more than anything else. And without the soccer mom's and their kind, Jeep would have folded years ago.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon comes with solid axles, lockers, mud tires, etc. But what's the first thing people do to them? MOD THEM!

It doesn't matter what it is...people will always mod them to make them even better. The point here is the KJ is much more suited for off-road from the factory than the other small SUVs being sold, and because of that Petersen's magazine should not group them together in the same category.

In my opinion, even the KJ is geared towards the pavement pounding grocery getting majority. Had we offroaders been the target market, the KJ would have come out with a solid front axle, lower weight, better approach/departure angles, etc. etc. Even the new Grands aren't aimed at us. The Wrangler does a better job of it, but even it has become softer with each passing year. Jeep is selling it's name more than anything else. And without the soccer mom's and their kind, Jeep would have folded years ago.

Don't get me wrong, I love Jeeps. I look at the KJ and WK as vehicles that just add a challenge to make them unstopable and offroad capable. Nothing wrong with that... makes things more interesting and tends to make each offroader's vehicle a bit unique from the next. And one can't overlook that all these "babied" Jeeps provide a source of decent second-hand rigs just waiting to be loved and used.

In my opinion, even the KJ is geared towards the pavement pounding grocery getting majority. Had we offroaders been the target market, the KJ would have come out with a solid front axle, lower weight, better approach/departure angles, etc. etc. Even the new Grands aren't aimed at us. The Wrangler does a better job of it, but even it has become softer with each passing year. Jeep is selling it's name more than anything else. And without the soccer mom's and their kind, Jeep would have folded years ago.

Don't get me wrong, I love Jeeps. I look at the KJ and WK as vehicles that just add a challenge to make them unstopable and offroad capable. Nothing wrong with that... makes things more interesting and tends to make each offroader's vehicle a bit unique from the next. And one can't overlook that all these "babied" Jeeps provide a source of decent second-hand rigs just waiting to be loved and used.