New Jeep Cherokee: The off-road legend returns

Jeep, which we all know as a synonym for "off-road vehicles", will try to redefine the category of sports off-road vehicles with the new generation. In doing so, it relies on its rich heritage, which it tries to preserve through design features, as well as innovations in four-wheel drive and technology.

At the Fiat group, they are aware that they have a big trump card in their pocket with the Jeep brand and that it is time to successfully market it economically. Namely, the segment in which it is Jeep domestically, year after year it grows successfully and acquires new customers. Thus, the development work in recent years has also paid off for Jeep, as it records a nice growth in sales figures on a global level. The brand has recorded 117% sales growth from 2009 to date. With the new range of Jeep brand vehicles from the importer, they rightly hope for a similar increase in sales in our market as well.

Cherokee is not only for "lipstick", but also for off-road

While cars in the same segment, as a rule, bet on their appearance, Jeep tries to process this story in many layers. They are betting on buyers who would like more off-road capability and not just "lipstick", but who also need a vehicle for everyday use.

That's how new it is Jeep Cherokee has taken its legendary four-wheel drive even higher, offering three four-wheel drive systems for best-in-class four-wheel performance in all driving conditions: single-speed and fully electronically controlled Jeep Active Drive I, two-stage Jeep Active Drive II with torque vectoring and reducer and Jeep Active Drive Lock with all drive functions Jeep Active Drive II, to which the rear differential lock and control system were added Selec-Terrain. We were not able to test all the systems and options in a short test, but the first impressions after driving off-road are positive. Such a colorful selection of drives is primarily intended to satisfy both those who only occasionally drive out of town with their SUV, as well as those who would like more off-road capability than the class average with the new Cherokee. For the most "gentle", there is also a version with front-wheel drive.

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Power units with innovations

The developers borrowed the diesel from the Giulietta and it comes in two versions 140 and 170 of horses. The top of the range represents 272 horse 3.2 V6 gasoline engine, which is intended for the most "furious" version of the cherokee trailhawk.

That it's not just about copy/paste aggregates are evidenced by many improvements to the engines, with which the engineers achieved greater economy, cleaner exhausts and quieter and smoother operation. Engines can work with a manual transmission or a modern one in combinations of engine selection and equipment 9 automatic gearbox. The latter is automatically available in a more powerful engine as part of the standard equipment.

Technologically completely in touch with the best and the biggest

Cherokee is technologically completely in step with the competition and even surpasses it in some areas. It brings many assistance systems to driving, which we know from the premium class of vehicles. So it is available radar cruise control with a stop & go system that follows the vehicle in front of you even when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and then continues driving. The system should work without problems even in bad weather conditions, which we can only praise.

Also Cherokee has a low speed collision avoidance sensor (LSCM), which means that it automatically brakes and prevents accidents at speeds up to 30 km/h. At the same time, it controls the lane and the system LaneSense, which warns and mechanically reacts with slight direction corrections when it detects a sudden lane change. Having said that, it seems completely self-evident that it also has a system for independent parking, which works both when parking sideways and when reversing into a parking box. The fun electronics in the vehicle, which he prepared for the Fiat concern, are not far behind Harman and brings a good amount of connectivity and great sound features, which buyers can optionally upgrade with a premium sound system Alpine.

In order to be something special, it is the first in the industry to present a system for wireless mobile phone charging via the charging plate. This is only possible with all phones whose battery supports the technology and standard Qi.

The safest among SUVs

Since safety is extremely important to buyers, it is a gratifying fact that it is compared to 33 vehicles from the SUV class, right chreokee ranked in the highest place and thus in the test EuroNCAP 2013 decisively swept away the competition.

Credit goes mainly to the engineers who added more than 70 active and passive elements and also innovations.

More accessible than in the past

Cherokee in the basic version, you will be able to drive into your garage for 29.990 euros. Jump into the class of vehicles with 4-wheel drive - AWD it will cost you good 7,000 thousand. Medium equipped chrerokee with the Limited equipment, it will be yours for the good ones 40.000 euros. It is worth noting that the basic model is equipped with many standard equipment and jumping up the model range is only a matter of prestige. In any case, the importer's desire to achieve better business results and sales figures can also contribute to a better price through promotions. That, in turn, could put it high on the list of potential buyers for anyone looking to the SUV segment.

Jeep has taken a big step forward, also with innovations in the model range such as the model renegades, which will go on sale next month. We are already talking about him wrote upon presentation of the importer. With a model Cherokee is returning with great strides to where it once belonged. When, someday, somewhere, someone asks you what you drive, you will be able to answer that you drive a Jeep. And the logical question will follow... whose?