Refreshed Cherokee for young, civilised urbanites
With its rich heritage and military vehicle origins, the USA’s Jeep brand has long been associated with freedom, capability and adventure. In the production line-up available in Nigerian showrooms, the Jeep spirit is best epitomised in the rugged Wrangler, while the Grand Cherokee offers a perfect balance between off-road prowess and luxury.
Recall that the 2002 Cherokee, code-named the KJ, polarised the Jeep brand. Unlike many lightweight SUVs at the time, it was designed to actually venture off-road. The 2008 model that followed was somewhat boxy and not as popular as its predecessor, despite the bold and rugged design.
But presently, Cherokee is a whole new deal and has nothing whatsoever to do with the outgoing, rectangular, no-nonsense 4×4 of yesteryear. Instead, it sports an aggressive front end that looks like a Rottweiler gnashing its molars, though the rear end is unassuming and could easily be mistaken for an Asian brand when viewed from a distance.
Yet despite its squinting-eyebrow LEDs with the headlights lying lower in the front bumper, its real identity is evident in the seven-bar vertical grille layout. The question is: Will this Cherokee appeal to those who appreciated the brand’s traditional, muscular charm? Maybe not.
The radical design suggests it’s a Jeep for the future and is more likely to attract young urbanites that occasionally drive on pavements and gravel roads. But can it take a real African terrain? Before we get to that, let’s look at the vehicles interior.
For the cabin layout, the designers took inspiration from the brand’s heritage. The signature trapezoidal plan view located in the dashboard area is class Jeep, reminiscent of the trapezoidal wheel arches on the exterior. The centre stack is inspired by the outline of the front grille of the 1940s Willys Jeep and continues the design language of its bigger sibling, the Grand Cherokee.
However, it’s the interior’s functionality that scores high point. There are plenty of concealed storage compartments in unimaginable places, including the front passenger seat. But a word of caution: if you hire this for a few days, you are going to leave something behind.
On the road, once you have moved past the radical design, you discover a lot of good stuff going on here. The Cherokee feels safely planted on the road and it is as reliable around bends as any good Sport Utility Vehicle in its segment. It’s also pretty comfortable from the driver’s seat, offering good all-round visibility and on any type of road, it feels truly at home. On both tarmac and gravel, the cabin yields no wind noise, rattles or creaks.
All told, the manufacturer’s assertion is spot on:”The new Cherokee takes on legendary Jeep 4×4 capability to the next level and offers the advantages of all-weather, all-terrain vehicle. It provides a choice of two innovative 4×4 systems for best-in-class capability in all driving conditions- such as the single-speed, fully automatic Active Drive-I and the Active Drive Lock, including all features of the Jeep Active Drive II, as well as locking rear differential and Select-Speed Control.
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is civilised, comfortable and capable, and can be driven to work as easily as through the bush. Indeed, it is worth considering if you are shopping for a small SUV. It is still a sturdy-looking, dependable 4×4 with a futuristic aura.
MIKE OCHONMA