Test drive Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) 2001 - 2005 SUV

Cheroki for the Amazon

Jeep Cherokee, popularly called a brick, has already become a classic Off-Road. He is loved for discreet, emphasized strict appearance, remarkable off -road qualities and indestructibility. But the years take their own - the time has come to give way to the heir. In January 2001, the premiere of the new generation model took place at the Detroit car dealership. In the United States, it is called Liberty, while export is supplied under the former name - Cherokee.

 

The new Cherokee looks like a kind of good strong. Behind and from the side, everything is still quite ordinary, the designers did not make anything radically new, only twisted the contours. It is quite possible to confuse with another machine. Another thing is in front: classic round flash -fara with absolutely transparent disperseers, giving the face a naive -deep expression, and a grate with seven slots are unambiguously family traits. In general, a hybrid of the two recent concepts of Jeep - Dakar and Jeepster turned out.

 

The path to the driver’s place is opened by a wide door, and the handle located on the front rack will help to overcome the high threshold. The seat has electrical adjustments (with the exception of the angle of inclination of the back), which allow you to quickly take a convenient position. It would seem quite developed, it would seem, the lateral support actually does not cope with its functions, so if you are going to lay cool turns or move off on the road, it is better to fasten in advance - passengers are also concerned.

 

The steering wheel has a wide range of adjustments and a well -selected diameter, but the cross section could be larger. I really liked the audio control button located on the back of the knitting needle. They allow, without taking their hands away from the steering wheel, but a look from the road, set the volume, change the station (track) or the source of the sound signal. Everything is done so logical and convenient that in five minutes the desire to reach for the radio disappears. On the outside of the needles, on silver, under aluminum, overlays, there are a cruise control control buttons.

 

The steering wheel switches are clearly overloaded, for example, they are responsible for the fog -tanks and the brightness of the backlight - in addition to performing standard tasks. It would be better to take out all this poorly control somewhere else.

 

The instrument shield is designed concisely and without excesses, just like on sports cars. Round white scales, at the head - large speedometer and tachometer, on the sides of them are temperature indicators and fuel level. However, the sports accent is traced in the design of the entire salon. So, the central console and tunnel have silver inserts for polished aluminum, semicircular door handles (look unusual, but turned out to be very comfortable) are also made of winged metal. Another sports moment is round deflectors of the ventilation system. In general, I must say, the salon is equipped with a large number of radius elements - they echo with round headlights, so that the unity of the style is evident.

 

Under deflectors - music with slots for the cassette and CD. Even lower - the air conditioner control unit and ventilation with three rotating handles, climate control can be installed for a fee.

 

On a very wide central tunnel, the automatic transmission selector and lever, the head of the transmission operating modes are parallel. For some reason, preference was given to the latter, placing him closer to the driver. You want, for example, just go to Drive mode - and you have to stretch. Of course, this is not a mechanic, and you do not use the selector constantly, but still uncomfortable.

 

To change the transmission mode, you need to pull the lever up - it looks like a handbrake. Positions four: 2WD - a drive only on the rear wheels; 4WD Part Time - all -wheel drive, but the front bridge is connected only when the rear is slipping; 4WD Full Time - permanent all -wheel drive and 4WD Low - constant all -wheel drive with a lowering gear.

 

Between the seats there is a small armrest with a folding cover, inside which there is a place for storing CDs. However, most likely it will be used as a glove compartment, since the one in front of the front passenger is clearly small (a pillow ate part of its volume).

 

It’s quite easy to get into the rear seats, and three people may well sit there. But if the place is more than enough in the shoulders and above the head, then the central tunnel will interfere with the average passenger at the feet, and a person with a height of about 190 cm will rush his knees into the back of the front chair. Leaving the second row is not so simple - you have to pull the leg, and if the car is dirty, there is a risk of smearing ...

 

Conveniently organized access to the trunk. The back door consists of two sections - the upper, glass, rises, the lower opens to the side. The pen, meanwhile, pulled it slightly - only the upper part opened, pulled it stronger - everything opened. The trunk itself is small, but has an even floor, and if you need to transport a large thing, the rear seat can be folded in parts or completely - a fairly large cargo platform is obtained.

 

The engine is new-214-horsepower V-shaped six 3.7 liters. I turn the motor - almost inaudible, but light vibration rolls on the body with waves that intensifies when translating the box selector to the Drive position. I give gas - Cherokee, without hesitation, breaks away. The programs quickly, without delay, intercept the baton from each other, providing decent dynamics. The reaction to pressing the gas pedal at any speed is immediate - a fact unusual for an American car. Perhaps the alliance with Daimler-Benz went for the future.

 

The suspension pleased with the energy intensity, it almost imperceptibly swallows even serious potholes, but at high speed at the irregularities the back of the car begins to rearrange - apparently a dependent rear suspension. In steep turns, Cherokee is greatly cracked, so it even becomes scary, moreover, the reactive effect is almost absent on the steering wheel. The situation is saved by severe insufficient rotation and high rubber - thanks to them, the demolition of the front axis begins very early.

 

But what is bad on a decent road is good on off -road. Large road clearance, short overhangs, long -term (230 mm) suspension, lowering the transmission, allow you to climb on Cherokee to where the infantry does not pass. For experiments, we chose a motocross route, and the car overcame it all without any problems, never giving a reason to doubt its off -road opportunities. By the way, the company claims that Cherokee is able to overcome fords half a meter deep at a speed of 15 km/h ...

 

Compact sports and utilitarian vehicles are now full on the market. Models such as Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute or Toyota Rav4 provide excellent comfort and easy controllability, but are not endowed with the cross-country for this SUV. Small Chevrolet Tracker, Suzuki Vitara, Kia Sportage, and even more so Jeep Wrangler climb perfectly in a buuse, but their frame design leaves its mark on handling and comfort. It seems that the new Jeep Cherokee with its enhanced bearing body is a completely successful compromise.

 

It remains to understand who this machine is addressed. Having an impressive set of indisputable virtues, she will most likely embarrass seriously tuned men with her not too serious appearance, and for young people $ 41,000 is a little expensive. The car dealership believes that the new Cherokee is quite suitable for a business woman amazon, who prefers to cope with all the difficulties on her own and is not devoid of a certain share of sentimentality.

 

Text: Alexander Nadens
 
 

 

Source: Magazine Motor