This Jeep won me over with a simple little trick. Someone has cut out the vast majority of the roof and fitted a cloth cover that rolls back seats at the touch of a button to let sunlight pour in over both the front and back seats.
I know that many are put off cabriolets because they worry about protection in the event of an accident. The Jeep’s cage-like solution gives you a tremendously secure feeling but also gives passengers front and back all the benefits of an entirely open top. You also get hardly any wind chill, unlike other cabriolets.
In black, with chrome trim and big shiny wheels the Cherokee looks twice as expensive as it is on the used market. Inside the leather-trimmed seats feel basic in form, but ever so soft and expensive to touch. There is a long equipment list, including air con, electric windows, air bags and a full entertainment and navigation system. It is the same system is the same as the one found in the Luxury Chrysler 300C. The touch screen controls are intuitive to use and had it not insisted on re-tuning the radio stations when I played CDs I would have given it 5 stars.
Initially, the driving position feels anachronistic. There is a very flat dash, a short steering column reach and a chair with just basic adjustment. Compared to most cars under 4 or 5 years old that offer a variety of seat angle and lumber adjustments, and a cocoon you into a driving position of your choosing, this felt old-school. But, I got used to it and in the end found it added to the car’s charm.
There is a sense with the Cherokee that you are driving one of the last great adventurer’s cars. It doesn’t have a complicated, over-technical way of trying to take the driving experience away from you. There is a large lump of engine, a steering wheel and pedal that squirts the power out. You feel you could just turn off any road, leap a ditch and successfully burst through hedge after hedge.
I genuinely believe the Jeep could handle that kind of action, although based on my experience with London’s traffic calming, I don’t suppose it would feel very dignified. Mount a speed hump too quickly, or even just slightly quickly and you get about 6 bounces as you come off the other side. It is a little like a ship in a storm. But, it’s hard to care, because the sun is pouring in and if you hit the throttle again, it pulls seamlessly away with a soothing, rich sound of surging revs.
Equally, roundabouts and B-roads required patience and forethought or else the car has a predisposition to run very wide no matter what you do with the wheel between your hands. But on the motorway, I slipped the roof closed and was delighted to be rewarded with a very quiet, wind-noise-free drive. You can cruise quickly and quietly for very long stretches in this motor without tiring.
Who is buying them?
The Jeep appeals to the outwardly bound, the eccentric and those that like a lot for their money. Old Jeeps were petrol-guzzlers and still suffer from that reputation. But the 28 litre diesel offers respectable 33 mpg, gadgets and now, a chunkier, more expensive look. Anyone who can’t afford a BMW X5 will be pleasantly surprised by the Jeep’s package.
What’s the market like?
Depreciation is hard on the Jeep Cherokee, which is good news for buyers of all ages: There is a condition and price to suit your budget. Nearly new cars are £18,000, saving you a cool £6,000 over new. 2007 cars are just under £11,000.Then the depreciation curve flattens out, bringing 2006 year cars in at around £10,000. After that, prices stay flat for some time.
What else can this budget buy?
At a push you can get a Honda CR-V of comparable age, a Hyundai Sante Fe, Mitsubishi Outlander or one of the many Nissan 4x4s. But none of them feel like they are nearly a BMW X5 as the Jeep does.
Summary
Not the best handling 4x4 but it offers economy, style and an impressive kit list at great used prices. Reliability on nearly new and warranted cars is not a concern, so why would you spend thousands more on one of the competitors?
By: Matthew Tumbridge