Test Drive Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) 2001 - 2005 SUV

All photos Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) 2001 - 2005

Good Indian All-wheel Driving Indian

Choosing a candidate for a used car test, we plunged into the bunch of discussions. Well, that it will be an SUV, there was no doubt; Such is the ideological line of the number of the wheels that you hold in your hands. But which one? On the one hand, it would be necessary to take something cute practical hearts of secured compatriots and among them the same. Ford Explorer and Opel Frontera type. Or maybe even the eightieth Land Cruiser. On the other hand, the soul asked for exotics, at least Land Rover Defender or Isuzu Trooper. Vddol arguing about what will be more interesting to us, and what - to our readers, we seem to come to consensus. As far as he is successful, you already judge you. We ride on this consensus was curious.

So, Jeep Cherokee. The legendary American SUV, one of the few cars, which managed to stand over time. This machine without any special changes is produced for many years and to this day deserves the most flattering reviews from the mouth of the supporters of all-wheel drive technology.

Suffice it to say that the picture depicted in the photos dated 1994 and outside differs from the original 1984 only the lack of chrome decor - all shiny parts are painted in black. Straight and concise design combined with a whole range of stylistic techniques makes Cherokee very similar to the Volvo seventh series wagon, but large and widely spaced wheels give the machine that expressiveness and the assertiveness that the Swedish car is not at all.

Studying the interior of an SUV, we did the amendment to the solid age of the model and its origin (the Americans had problems with ergonomics, however, many owners love them for that), but some solutions serve as a bright example of how to do not. Curious fact - in the base configuration BASE / SE there is no adjustment of the angle of the front seats! With this approach, the SPORT version should be recognized as a rich. But first things first.

Let's start with typically American traits that alone curse, others praise. Soft seats great lacks lateral support. The wardrobe front panel contains in itself a good readable dashboard, if another speedometer was not overloaded with double digitization in miles and kilometers per hour. The secrets of the operation of the ventilation and air conditioning control unit are fastening exclusively. There is plenty of functions, including cruise control, so to get to the truly necessary, for example, to an inclusive ring wipers, it is difficult. Especially at the right moment. A rear window cleaner is generally driven by a separate button. The sound signal button located in the center of a simple steering wheel with three thin knitting needles caused a smile: it hurts it reminds about the trucks of the ages of the fifties. But there are also frank misses that can not be explained by the whims of the mysterious American soul. Why work off-road bright insanity of the cabin? And the design of the glove box? The glove box itself is in the upper part of the front panel, and the cover is folded down, as if there is no obscure access to the content. Landing in the back seat is retained with a low back and lack of head restraints. On the other hand, the coat rear sofa improved the visibility - in Cherokee and so excellent - thanks to a large glazing area. I was pleased with the impressive stroke of the steering wheel adjustment in height, however, the main achievement of part of usability should be recognized door handles - large and durable. Outdoor handles are just perfect: they are not terrible, neither ice, no thick gloves nor the accompanying efforts - sometimes it seems that it is impossible to break them.

The better we learned Cherokee, the more clearly realized that in this car the first role was allocated to the technique, and by no means an exterior or interior. Stuffed everything differently. The machine is available in a variety of modifications. With a three-or-five-door body, three different motors and three gearboxes, with rear, plug-in full or permanent full drives, as well as with several mood-sink pendants. In our hands - a car with a machine gun connected to the front wheels and self-locking differential in the rear axle. And in one condition: on the roads with a solid coating, the use of a full drive is prohibited. In the snow, sand, risky soil - please.

Cherokee speaker is more than impressive. Do not be an automatic gearbox here, with low starts of 190 horsepower, the rear tires on asphalt would be quickly burned. Even with a slightly pressing on the gas pedal, a semi-trial car playing is held in the first rows of transport flow. If the pedal to urge to the floor, the Mitsubishi brand adaptive machine will take the moment of switching the gear from 2900 rpm by 4100 rpm, and it will be completely difficult to keep up with the SUV. And do not forget that the durable suspension allows Cherokee not to react to most road irregularities. With an increase in speed, when the speedometer arrows slips the mark of 100 km / h, the picture changes and the control of the machine requires physical and psychological stress. The steering with the powerful hydraulicer is completely non-informative, besides, it does not differ accuracy, as a result of which you have to go to the touch, constantly adjusting the trajectory and fearing with the adjustment to overdo it. And the conversion of the rear spring suspension with pits and junctions is poured into tangible shoes transmitted to the body. And it is very bad when, at high speed, these shocks begin to rearrange the car from side to the side.

In fast corners, Cherokee delivers a lot of unpleasant sensations: a strong side tire leaders join the empty steering wheel, and the reciprocity of the accelerator pedal drive does not allow you to accurately dose the thrust. True, the cab rolls are not so great as you expect. It remains to trust the brakes - good, you can trust: Despite the absence of ABS, the speed is extended very effectively. On slippery coatings, such as ice or tightly rolled snow riding on the rear drive is not just unreliable, but also frankly dangerous. When entering the gas dumping, massive Cherokee floats outside, sluggishly reacting to steering steering. The addition of gas leads only to a slightly controlled side slip. If before turning in advance to reset the speed - and to work the brakes in such conditions, it is necessary to work with jewelry accuracy - then the gas pedal is better not to disturb without reasons, because the skid occurs almost instantly.

Connecting the front axis as magic relieves many problems. At least some kind of returning effort appears on the steering wheel, in turning the car comes more worst and behaves very obedient. With a full drive, the car retains the rear-drive habits, so the turns can be passed with an easily predicted drift, if desired, changing its depth. Yes, and pay off is not a special difficulty.

Patency - so called the trump card Cherokee. With snow any depth, the car copes like a zhiguli - with asphalt. The transmission to a lowering series of transmissions is required only in cases where you find yourself before the need to storm icy hills. And here the machine is necessary for the way, with a manual transmission, it will not be able to move so smoothly from the place, and after all, in the difficult road conditions, it is already filled with a dead point. Yes, and the powerful motor does not hurt: the car can be stopped by the wheel in the ability to unrest the snow to the soil and find the point of the support. And the hydraulicel, so awkward on the road, will help break the car from captivity.

Cherokee diagonal hanging is also not particularly afraid. If this happens (with sufficiently large strokes of the suspension), the self-locking differential will lead the car from the stupor. Fans of extreme off-Round will advise the bridge crankcasers and do not forget that the rear Sve is present at the car, and not so small. And if you strive to use the capabilities of Cherokee one hundred percent, you will have to convert into professional tires, because the ossellular Bridgestone Dueler for full adventures will not fit.

Forced to admit: a light disappointment from the ergonomics of the car with us quickly changed by delight from its combat qualities. Not the slightest doubts: we are dealing with one of the last real SUVs, an uncompromising machine for movement on any surfaces. But immediately arrange: this conclusion concerns only the car in the described configuration. And that is nice: it is still possible to purchase not only used Cherokee for moderate money, but also to acquire an absolutely new copy.

Text: Leonid Klyuev
Photo: Roman Stunnin