I saw the 7 minute video and noticed that there was no trail rated badges on it yet, is this how jeep determines they get the trail rated badge? If so I could get that badge for my lowered Z.

 

There ain't much that that thing did in those videos that my mom's minivan couldn't do! That thing is so quiet! This is more of a personal preference thing, but you shouldn't be able to here the crackle of the rocks its driving over, over the noise of the vehicle. There where times I didn't even think it was on.

 

Made me think it might have been one of those import electric silent vehicles. Especially I am sure with 99.9% all electronic controls now a days. The driver, if the driver was real, was probably electronically controlled also.

 

i read all the posts first and was expecting a lot worse, but i think the links must have been to the short trailer for the atual 7 minute video. it didn't do all that bad to be honest. it was better than i thought it would be, but as was said before, it's completely stock plus you have to keep in mind it's not built for trails, it's an on road grocery getter. i still think it looks horid though.
i could see people doing a few inces of lift, some bigger tires, sliders, and off road lights, but thanks to the design of the vehicle, off road bumpers look like a no go. i'm sure there will eventually be a few people that make a bad *** little vehicle out of these.

here's a link to the media center, just find the 7 minute video for cherokee off road.....
http://www.media.chrysler.com/mediac...3db92&mid=255#

 

It would be interesting to watch the 2014 try to follow even a bone-stock XJ around on a trail. Skip to 5:20 in the following video and see if you can even picture the 2014 following suit:

 

Yeah I would love to see that but due to the approach angle being about 7 in chest worse on the new one I doubt it could even dream of that kind or capability. Either good video.

 

First it is 7 degrees. Second, I think with a little front end modification, the '14 Cherokee Trailhawk could have done everything in the video posted by skorpion. I doubt my open/open stock XJ could have tackled all those grades. The above XJ has limited slip, so depending on where this 3.2 develops it torque, with the high crawl ratio, dare I say it, the '14 Cherokee might do it easier...awkward.

The '14 Cherokee offroad video is to entice young moderately adventurous buyers. The kind who have loads of expensive gear they don't need and never go out with out getting their Starbucks skinny latte. I am no Jeep marketing person, but I am positive Jeep is not shooting for the hardcore offroaders like you gentlemen.

Exhibit A of the Jeep caters to its buyers when making commercials...

 

Yes, your stock xj can do all that the new cherokee did and more. There's a guy on Naxja who's been wheeling a stock xj for two years now, open/open. If more people tried wheelin their Cherokees stock, they'd be surprised at how capable the xj is in that form.

 

I realize it could do everything the new Cherokee did, I am talking about what the other XJ did. I wheel my stock Cherokee as much as I can, but its also a dd so I am always concerned about breaking things. My intent is not to bash the XJ, my intent is to encourage people to look at the '14 Cherokee in a little different light then the "its independent suspension and weird headlights will make it terrible offroad." Just feel like someone needs to represent a different opinion.

 

You said you doubted your xj could do the obstacles that the new cherokee did. Just pointed out that it can and more. This is just more watering down of the jeep brand, hoping the name means more than the actual product. I know a Chrysler designer on the dodge end. He said when they showed this vehicle to them, people did not like it and we're like wtf. It's not a jeep other than the name on the front.

 

I edited my comment for clarification. My comment was in reference to skorpion's video. And maybe my open/open XJ could make it over those, I don't know I haven't tried. My real beef I guess is the insane bashing without experience. I understand we can make conclusions based on prior experiences, but there is no identical comparison. Until we can compare the two side by side, mitigating variables, there is no real way to tell. Jeep will have to price this well and it be reliable for me to gain respect for it, but I don't think its waterdown necessarily. Just because its ugly doesn't mean it isn't capable. Your designer buddy said its ugly, but did he drive it?

 

I never asked him. I texted him when the photos leaked and made sure he had nothing to do with it... Bc friendships can only take so much. Lol.

I can tell you by looking at the videos, where the new cherokee lifts wheels, a stock xj would not. There are many limiting factors for anyone interested in building one up, now or 20 years down the road. I know it's hard for people to imagine, but one day the majority of us will be out priced of the xj market. If you can afford one, you most likely will not be wheeling it. What current model vehicle, besides the wrangler is going to step up and fill the niche? What's it going to be like working on all these whiz bang technological advances in 10, 15, 20 years?

I don't need to experience it to tell you it's not for me. Other people don't need to experience it to come to the same conclusion. I can see with my own two eyes what I take issue with. Jeep has gone soft, there I said it.

 

Nice. Driver even avoided the water-filled ruts. DIRT ROAD! SO HARDCORE!

On a serious note - everything in that video I did in my Toyota Tercel FWD with half-bald P155/80R13 street tires. Was that an official Jeep ad???

Wow even that was a better display of capability lol

lmfao

 

it's posted on chrysler's media site so i would guess it is.

 

Sad