New KL Body and performance (2014 Jeep Cherokee)

mawlkrawler · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:14 pm

I just saw this article over in the KL section. http://www.autoblog.com/2013/12/29/jeep-cherokee-sales-rival-wrangler-after-two-months/

I for one am not a fan of the new styles that Jeep has started producing since Fiat took over. Not sure what the newer Jeeps will look like over the next few years since now Chrysler is fully owned by Fiat as of January 1, 2014. ( http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/01/news/companies/fiat-chrysler/ )

Fiat has definitely had some good input and changes made to some of the body styles, options, looks, and even performance. Like I'm defined glad to see the increased performance of the newer Wranglers which have slightly better gas mileage and more HP/Tq than the old 4.0l of the TJ's.

I guess I'm just sad to see the last remnants of the XJ body style fade away. Honestly, the boxy look and door handle style are what made me want to even buy a KK. When I first even saw it I thought it was the new XJ (Although I was not as read up on Jeeps as I am now).

Anyway, after my long rant, (and I know the body style thing has come up numerous times already) what do you guys think of the new off road performance of the new KL's? They don't exactly look "rugged" to me, but then again I don't know much about their performance or mechanics/parts.

carlosburitica · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:07 pm **Posts:** 309

wrangler and Cherokee two completely different breeds of animals.

the Cherokee may put more units on the street but ww will see how the model with get discontinued in 4 years.
no serious off-road company will sell aftermarket parts for it like they do with the wrangler
the Cherokee is a great off road capable vehicle but it is not and offroad machine

the wrangler is an icon itself and has no other mass produced competitor.

one of the sales person on the dealer and some other here in the forum mentioned that jeep may do with the wranler what dodge did with the ram, making it a brand of it's own.

LKWJeeper · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:39 pm

The majority of Jeep buyers are not offroad enthusiasts or even go offroad at all. A lot of the Jeeps today are 4x2 as well. I don't see the Cherokee bodystyle disappearing after only 4 years. The Patriot and Compass have made it now six years and are to be discontinued at the end of 2014 from what i've heard. To be replaced in possibly 2016 by a smaller Jeep, supposedly smaller than the Renegade.

I can see that the Wrangler become it's own brand just like the Ram. Jeep seems to be headed toward a road friendly semi capable offroad platform. More creature comforts than river crossing. The Grand Cherokee in my opinion is more of a luxury vehicle than an offroad vehicle.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:01 pm

Wrangler could never stand on its own or not at this time. Lots of difference between Ram and Wrangler. They need to keep all of the other models in the Jeep lineup to continue producing Wranglers, sure there a lot sold but not as many as there are Ram trucks in all of the various combinations. Rams are well over 430,000 compared to Wranglers at I think 210,000 or so

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:18 pm

They sell a lot of Wranglers around here - because they're sporty convertibles

they're competition to Miatas.

as a result you can buy a 5 year old Wrangler that's never been put in 4wd.......

but both Ram, Jeep have hardcore followers - people who would never consider another brand.

DREDnot · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:19 pm

Jeep universals would have been gone years ago if it weren't for the fact that they sold many more family trucksters and 2WDs to stray in business.

Things haven't changed.

New KL Body and performance (2014 Jeep Cherokee)

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