[Hawkman]

With the new styling that the Cherokee has received, it is looking more mainstream, like a family vehicle now. Off-road enthusiasts, I would imagine, would go for a vehicle that has less cross-over potential if they actually plan to take it off-roading.

Basically, I think that the Jeep Cherokee will have a similar fate to the Pathfinder. What was once an off-road vehicle, will become a family vehicle. Though both are capable of off-roading, most will never touch anything other than pavement.

Do people agree with this assessment?

 

[Hudsonhawk]

You can make the same arguement for the Wrangler JK and JKU. Most off-road vehicles never see dirt. How many of the old style Cherokees never saw dirt?

 

[brianch]

agreed. i bet most Wranglers have never been off-roading.

 

[checkers]

With the new styling that the Cherokee has received, it is looking more mainstream, like a family vehicle now.

You're very possibly the only person in the auto sphere who feels the Cherokee is styled mainstream. It's anything but, look at the endless sea of silver RAV4s and CRVS if you want mainstream styling. Its no wonder middle america goes for the RAV and CRV, they are both conservative and sexless like the majority of their drivers. And i dont mean conservative politically, I mean conservative as in risk averse. These are people who buy ripped jeans so they dont stick out....

It wont be going to route of the PF, at least not yet. The PF was severely neutered by Nissan where the Cherokee has been given the full Jeep treatment, barring RWD and removable doors.

I'm not sure if the Cherokee will be able to keep up with sales of the CRV and RAV but thats fine by me, I dont want those rubbish fools to have the privilege of Cherokee-ing

 

[Jeepers]

The styling has definitely become more modern. It is pushing the envelope is the styling department. It could have been far more mainstream.

Sure, it won't see dirt very often (or at all) but nowadays people are buying a brand and an idea, not just a product. The Cherokee is for outdoorsy people. People who are active. Even if they don't go off-roading, the car says something about them and who they are.

 

[dan_public]

Cherokee is a Sport/Utility Vehicle

IMO...

Cars like the Wrangler are Sport Vehicles. I don't see much "utility" in them.

Cars like the CRM, Rav4, and Ford Edge are Utility Vehicles. I don't seem much "sport" in them.

The 2014 Cherokee is a Sport/Utility Vehicle. You can run down to Home Depot and lug home lots of stuff either inside or strapped to the roof rack. Or take the grandkids out golfing with the golf "accoutrements". Or drive to work like a normal car. Or...

You can hit some decent off-roading trails. Will they work better than a Wrangler? Probably not, but you should be able to handle some fairly rough terrain.

My Audi A4 and my wife's Turbo Beetle convertible are very "sporty". On the road, of course. Utility value? Minimal. I want more than that - a Sport/Utility Vehicle like the Cherokee that can deal with the day to day hassles, AND have some fun with it.

Dan.

 

[Bronco B.]

So I guess most of these cars are just posers right? lol

Well just thinking of it in consumers point of view really how many out there is buying the car to go out off roading majority of the time. Isn't there other cars that are deicated for that kind of driving. I would say that the jeep is and in between giving you the option if you ever want to give it a try on the dirt.

 

[Fat Tony]

Even if it is an off roader it will be a while till I'll get to have any fun in it. We have a baby on the way so my driving will almost be like transporting around a bomb.

 

[barnettd]

Sport and Utility?

"Cars like the Wrangler are Sport Vehicles. I don't see much "utility" in them. (and the rest)"


HUM... Not sure I agree with that stuff.

My JKU falls short in the comfort/convenience stuff and MPGs.

- My JK Unlimited Wrangler has more cargo volume in than a Cherokee, I do use it as the DD and it has made many Home Depot runs in its "Utility" missions.
- I've taken kids and friends golfing and I can "sport" all the aforementioned SUVs into a mud pit and leave them there. (it does see dirt but I agree most never do).

But where my JKU completely outclasses everything else is...

Chicks dig topless Jeeps!

 

[dan_public]

...
Chicks dig topless Jeeps!

Hmm... I think my chick would frown on that!

OTOH, the Cherokee a big sunroof. Does that count? And can your Wrangler park itself?

Dan.

 

[barnettd]

All innocent enough...

I left it out of gear one time and found out it can park anywhere it wants to...

Big sunroof in the wife's GC... it is a must have IMHO.

 

[dan_public]

All innocent enough...

I left it out of gear one time and found out it can park anywhere it wants to...

Big sunroof in the wife's GC... it is a must have IMHO.

Ah, but the Cherokee will park itself where you want it to go.
http://jeepcherokeeclub.com/65-electronics-audio-lighting/1641-parking-assist-video.html

 

[Jeepers]

If you want to go off-roading, buy a UTV or a Wrangler. If you want to go camping sometimes then the Cherokee will be fine. I think that nowadays people just don't go and do those off-roading activities much any more.

Do you go off-roading ever?

 

[develmann]

If you want to go off-roading, buy a UTV or a Wrangler. If you want to go camping sometimes then the Cherokee will be fine. I think that nowadays people just don't go and do those off-roading activities much any more.

Do you go off-roading ever?

Many of the people in my family do, but most of them go with ATV's. I think ATV's have hurt off-roading cars lately. More people go this route than with anything else as far as I have seen. Around here (Georgia) most of the trails are now ATV only.

 

[checkers]

Many of the people in my family do, but most of them go with ATV's. I think ATV's have hurt off-roading cars lately. More people go this route than with anything else as far as I have seen. Around here (Georgia) most of the trails are now ATV only.

Yea thats a good point, SxS' really provide a similar experience to off roading in a jeep just in a smaller whippable package, no a SxS cant do any serious rock crawling but then again neither can most jeeps.

SUVs are the norm now just like V8s were the norm in the 60s, and the more the Cherokee becomes mainstream the less hardcore niche off road features it will see. Unfortunately thats how people are, just look at the recent clothing trend towards mountaineering gear, i doubt 95% of the people I see walking around downtown with a big mountain bag complete with sippy straw or $300 leather mountaineering boots will EVER climb the side of a hill....

the majority prefers form over function...

 

[CherokeeFanatic]

If you want to go off-roading, buy a UTV or a Wrangler. If you want to go camping sometimes then the Cherokee will be fine. I think that nowadays people just don't go and do those off-roading activities much any more.

Do you go off-roading ever?

Exactly, it's best to buy a vehicle built for that purpose if it's what someone really wants. Fortunately the Cherokee is an SUV built sort of like the Jeep Liberty in ways, but is a Jeep at heart, and with that comes some off-roading capabilities, milds ones.

It's probably going to be fun on those mild off-road cottage trails.

 

[dan_public]

Exactly, it's best to buy a vehicle built for that purpose if it's what someone really wants. Fortunately the Cherokee is an SUV built sort of like the Jeep Liberty in ways, but is a Jeep at heart, and with that comes some off-roading capabilities, milds ones.

It's probably going to be fun on those mild off-road cottage trails.

Quite right. It looks like a good mix of off-road and on-road - extension of fun. I don't want to climb vertical rock walls, but a medium rough trail would be nice

OTOH, checkers wrote...

the majority prefers form over function...

So a lot of Trailhawks will be purchased because the look "manly" and "tough", but will never see any rocks more rough than a crushed rock driveway. Of course, the same can be said of a lot of Wranglers too!

Dan.

Check out the Wranglers around you, but don't look at the winches and black, extra wide fenders. Look at the tires. Off road tires or just nice, smooth riding street tires?

 

[checkers]

Quite right. It looks like a good mix of off-road and on-road - extension of fun. I don't want to climb vertical rock walls, but a medium rough trail would be nice

OTOH, checkers wrote...
So a lot of Trailhawks will be purchased because the look "manly" and "tough", but will never see any rocks more rough than a crushed rock driveway. Of course, the same can be said of a lot of Wranglers too!

Dan.

Check out the Wranglers around you, but don't look at the winches and black, extra wide fenders. Look at the tires. Off road tires or just nice, smooth riding street tires?

LOL most of the Wranglers i see around here are bone stock, aside from the Famous or Monster stickers plastered across the rear windows. I expect most Cherokees to have baby on board stickers, or those stick figure ones showing mommy, daddy, doggie and the devils..

I agree with you completely about the Wrangler and the Trailhawk for that matter. Its the same situation that comes up when talking about Stick vs DCT gearboxes. The DCT crowd like to scream how they can shift .00045 seconds quicker than a stick, but you tell me how effective a .00045 second shift advantage is stuck in traffic or rolling through the starbucks drive through? HA most DCTs will never see a track, and most Cherokees will never see dirt..

 

[Jeepers]

It's less about going off-roading and more out being able to go off-roading if you wanted to. I totally agree with dan_public that the Cherokee has a "manly" and "tough" image that is supported by the off-roading ability of the vehicle.

I see the Cherokee more as a family vehicle. A lot of soccer moms will be driving it. It just doesn't seem to make sense to buy this car if you live alone or have no kids.

 

[dan_public]

It's less about going off-roading and more out being able to go off-roading if you wanted to. I totally agree with dan_public that the Cherokee has a "manly" and "tough" image that is supported by the off-roading ability of the vehicle.

I see the Cherokee more as a family vehicle. A lot of soccer moms will be driving it. It just doesn't seem to make sense to buy this car if you live alone or have no kids.

For max family utility, a "mommy-van" is a better approach. For max off-road fun, the Wrangler would be my choice. But there are lots of folks who have multiple, disparate needs.

My wife's kids are grown and we now have grand kids. At the same time, I'll be retiring next year. After decades of 50-80 weeks, I'd like to go have some fun. Visit places that are more difficult to get to. At the same time, we do spend time hauling the grand kids around - golf, soccer, etc. IMO, the Cherokee fills a bunch of roles pretty well - a good balance of utility and fun. It's the "middle-sized bear".

Regards,

Dan.