True but, entirely intentional. That is how cars are made now. They absorb the impact. Pretty much any car your can name will crumple far easier than one of the same name 20 years older.

 

Interesting stuff! I'm impressed by the KK Liberty's angles actually.

Also VERY interesting - this alleged 56:1 crawl ratio is with the 4 cylinder and towing package! (4.7:1 first gear of the 948TE, 2.92:1 low range, 4.048:1 axles)

This isn't 2014 Cherokee-specific, but what's with all of these idiot-friendly features? They have a picture of Parking For Retards with some sensor that helps you find a parking spot when you can't look because you're too busy talking on your cell phone and running over pedestrians. Also an image of the rear of the vehicle - just in case you don't know where the liftgate is (pro tip - give your keys back to the dealer). And front end collision? The hell? How do you need a sensor for an impeding front end collision? If the driver isn't looking forward, all hope's lost, man.

 

Crumple zones are highly effective. They're a good choice for today's drivers that think "safe following distance" is 10' and 70 MPH in freezing rain is okay.

 

From Jeep:

"The All-New Cherokee Trailhawk® is a gritty off-road-ready model for those who desire the added capability of a Trail Rated® 4x4."

AND

"The All-New Cherokee features leading capability with three innovative 4x4 systems. Get Best-in-Class capability+ with Cherokee Trailhawk® and its standard Trail Rated® Jeep® Active Drive Lock 4x4 system with 4-Low and rear locker. The Jeep® Active Drive II 4x4 system with low-range is great for rock crawling and has a neutral mode for flat towing behind an RV. The single speed Jeep® Active Drive I 4x4 system with brake traction control is ideal for those who want something easy-to-use with all-weather capability. The industry-first rear axle disconnect+ feature only engages 4x4 when necessary for greatly improved fuel efficiency+."

http://www.jeep.com/en/2014/cherokee...eep_cherry_red

 

"Gritty" "Great for rock crawling" As though the only thing required to make a great rock crawler is low gears and a rear locker.

 

Industry first? Honda has had the rear axle disconnect feature for years on their CRV's, Pilots and Ridgelines...........and even as far back as the old AWD civic wagons.
I must say however, that it's not a very impressive feature IMO. Not being able to select 4x4 when YOU want it, can get you stuck in some nasty places.

If I were to decide to jump off the deep end and buy one (I'm still wondering how much they will cost), I'd have to go for broke and get the "Trail Hawk" version. Might as well get the best they have to offer right out of the box.

 

Why would the disconnect feature prevent you from engaging 4x4? There are hundreds of thousands of XJs and YJs with the same feature on their passenger side axle shaft.

 

Look for them this fall, I believe August/September are the roll out dates. They are still building test vehicles and getting the plant up to speed in Toledo. They (Chrysler+Fiat+Jeep) have practically rebuilt the interior of the plant when they switched from the Liberty back to the Cherokee, so they have been working their butts off to get everything launched and making a quality truck......solid axles or not......

 

They don't care.

 

Platform Name:
Old Cherokee......"XJ" Which was replaced by the First Edition Liberty......."KJ" and then later with the Second Edition Liberty..........."KK" Which shared a platform with the Dodge Nitro........."KA" Which both went out of production last year and have since been replaced by the New Cherokee........"KL"

Some where in the last eleven pages, it was lamented that you had to remove part of the lower Fascia for off-roading. That's not uncommon amongst modern Jeeps. The Grand Cherokee, The Commander, Even The Liberty I believe all recommended; and therefore designed in; removable portions of the lower Fascia to achieve better approach angles. It's not easy meeting customer demands, international restrictions, EPA requirements and hitting a cost target while pleasing everyone. While the Jeeps of today may not be the rock crawling off the dealerships floor like 'we' would like. JEEP continues doing their homework to work within the millions of restrictions to make them trail ready by a certain standard. Part of that means occasionally removing the low hanging fruit so you don't rip your fascia off when driving over a curb.

I am willing to bet if the styling wasn't such a radical departure you would be more willing to embrace the nameplate's resurrection.

 

Well put. Some people don't realize how hard jeep is actually working..

 

Here is an interesting article on Jeep on CEO Mike Manley's outlook for the future.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewd...eep-to-change/

There is still hope for Jeep I think. This 2014 Cherokee is definitely more soft roader then hardcore wheeler, but I am still confident that the leadership understands it needs to remain somewhat grounded in capability. What they need is a true Jeep fan with a solid head his on shoulders, who understands the market, but knows Jeep. This CEO thinks because it has a better crawl ratio and breakover and departure angle its "arguably more capable then the previous Cherokee." He says because it has a seven slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, that it has Jeep design cues. I hate that the upper management considers that enough to make this a Jeep. Granted the market is changing to more and more soft roader vehicles. But maybe instead of just giving us, essentially more of the same, maybe we need something truly revolutionary, like the XJ Cherokee was in its day.

Don't get me wrong I think they were shooting for that with the KL Cherokee but I do believe it fell short. Its release may prove me wrong. I think an awesome press play by Jeep would be to take this out and really thrash it offroad, get it stuck, scratch the paint, dent the fenders. Technology is an amazing thing and I know Jeep still knows how to build an offroad besst (ie all of their concepts). This ain't no XJ, but I still hope it comes off the assembly line a better vehicle then it seems sometimes.

 

That was a good and interesting read to posted.

 

Regarding the overall future of the Jeep brand, I found this interesting thread on another forum

The OP also put up a picture of his Jeep with some mud splashed up over the hood. He never sank it.

And this is for the Jeep Wrangler - THE flagship off road product! I guess you can't actually drive through puddles like in all the Jeep ads. I realize this is anecdotal, but the point is that garbage like this doesn't inspire any confidence in the brand at all. If the "classic" Jeep can't go puddle bashing, what reason to believe that a crossover with a grocery bag holder in the back will be able to do any better?

 

I thought I'd add something of interest to those saying the new cherokee is aimed towards a younger audience. My sister-in-laws niece, who is 19, mentioned she wanted a Jeep. She asked her what new one she wanted to get and her reply was that she wanted a REAL Jeep, not the junk they sell now. I think I like this girl.