Test drive Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) 2001 - 2005 SUV

Indian and pale -faced

In the history of the North American states, the war with the Indians is not the most glorious page. However, today the descendants of the pale -faced reap the glory of those with whom they fought desperately - Cherokee.
The name Cherokee in Russia is associated not only with the books of Fenimor Cooper, but also with the turbulent times of the early 90s, when the country was traded vouchers, created holdings and considered a wide jeep of automobile well-being.
At the end of the period of the initial accumulation of capital, the survivors moved to the lean and wild boars, and the modest hard worker Cherokee finally took a place in the niche, for which it was created. Amazing machine. In her homeland, she did not have a clearly expressed age category or sexual orientation. She was loved by everyone who appreciated the capacity, reliability and ability to move on any surface in their car, with the exception of unsteady sands and swamps. But over time, love rusts: Cherokee began to forget - it looked quite archaic against the background of modern SUVs, which had undergone more than one cosmetic operation during the same time.
And Daimlerchrysler decided. From the rude in the form and content of a real Indian, they created, if not a clamped gentleman, then a completely civilized European.
Wigwam with renovation. The Indian washed off the combat coloring, graduated from a decent university and changed into a civil suit. The influence of the culture of the Old World was stronger than the mentality of the indigenous resident of the new. This is due to the desire of the new owner of the reservation named Chrysler to arrange a small Benz in Europe.

First of all, this affected the appearance of the car. You can no longer call him one hundred percent American: it was enough to smooth out the chopped body contours - and from the rude and weathered son of the Cherokee prairie turned into a good Pokemon. The artists did not dare to change, perhaps, only the design of the front of the car - the classic seven slots in the radiator cladding and round headlights remained. Now Cherokee is more like Wrangler than its predecessor. Yes, during the first examination, the new Cherokee seems shorter than the old one. But this is a trick of vision - in fact, it is 25 cm longer. Optical deception is a consequence of the fact that the new car is also 24 cm higher.
 
CHEROKEE Salon was unequivocally subjected to renovation. Firstly, he acquired a normal deep front panel. Alas, due to this, those same 25 cm were lost, and if for the rear passengers and cut out an extra place, then a little. But the ceiling markedly went up, and the guests are guaranteed not to fight about it with the tops when the driver came to the head of jumping on the bumps.
Secondly, the quality of the interior decoration is now different for the better-like a homespun Indian rug from a manual Persian carpet. The most amazing thing is that even on bumps plastic does not creak and numerous cracks disappeared somewhere-a lack of previous models. Polished metal inserts that are previously not characteristic of the American school of auto design are also very stylish.
Peace tube. On the asphalt, Cherokee moves as the true son of the prairie: easily and swiftly, but at the same time uncertain, as if feeling the unusual of a solid environment underfoot.
The declared engine power is 211 hp. But the Americans measured it according to their method - the readings were removed from the naked engine during bench tests. In real conditions, part of the power is selected by the exhaust system, a drive to the air conditioning, hydraulic power, etc. and falls below the mark of 200 hp. Therefore, a car weighing two tons demonstrates renewal only in low, accelerated gears. The higher the speed, the more difficult it is to spur it, even in Kick-Down mode.
The appearance of springs in the suspension design could not but affect the smoothness of the move, because all the bumps of the Cherokee road swallows easily and elegantly. Add to this the excellent sound insulation of the salon, a good overview and a reactive force on the steering wheel inherent in the previous model - and it will become clear to you that traveling with Cherokee is more pleasant than at the van of the first immigrants.
Combat coloring. Cherokee is in a standard for rubber Goodyear Wrangler S4. According to the tread pattern, it is quite suitable for the off -road Western Europe or for a dry Russian country. When classes, more serious jeeps, of course, should be set up for solid tires. At least from an additional off -road kit provided for by the manufacturer. Nevertheless, we decide to take Cherokee to the will, to the pampas - more precisely, to the dunes of the Jurmala coast.
By the way, Cherokee is packed quite worthy. The version 3.7 with the automatic transmission is installed by the Select-Trac type. It differs from a simpler Command-Trac by the presence of a 4WD Full-Time mode, which allows you to use all-wheel drive on a dry and flat surface. For the climate of Russia, this is good: in the conditions of a semi -polar winter, which stretches from November to April with inevitable frosts, precipitation and other acid rains, you can feel much more confident on the road.
Switching a full -wheel drive transmission is the only thing that reminds the previous Cherokee to pain: the same poker on the tunnel, to the left of the gearbox. The switching algorithm is also saved into inviolability and deprived of now -fashionable electronic lotions. From the 2WD mode (rear-wheel drive) we switch to 4wd Part-Time, then to Full-Time and, finally, through a 4WD Low neutral (lowered with a ratio of 1: 2.72).
In the rear bridge, the engineers placed a self-locking differential Trac-Loc with Wytheft. Thanks to this design, the torque can be redistributed in favor of the wheel that currently has a clutch with the surface.
The path of the war. Dunes are an insidious thing, like any sand. To plant a jeep in them is easier, they will not save a all -wheel drive or a handout, no matter how seriously a SUV is packaged. However, Cherokee turned out to be a very worthy rogue, and the fact that he is sweet in appearance is a continuous Indian camouflage. Thanks to the high road clearance and a long -flowing pendant, the jeep easily crossed through low sandy slopes and playfully climbed steeply - small overhangs affected the front and behind.
In the lowering gear (4WD Low mode), Cherokee opens too powerful craving on the bottom, which can play with a careless driver on the unsteady soil of a cruel joke - the car is quickly buried in wheels. As an antidote in this case, we used a quick cavalry scab-a handout in the 4WD Full-Time mode, automatic transmission to position 2, and-the pedal to the floor. Despite the lack of pronounced soil -spaces, Cherokee easily flies into a steep sandy hill.
On the open sand, Cherokee rushed like a dish. It was enough to simple work by the gas pedal in accordance with how confident the wheels cling to the ground. The main thing is not to slow down and not lose the stock.
How Cherokee will behave on a Russian cross -road off -road - the theme of a separate study. But the first acquaintance showed that Daimlerchrysler turned out to be a very successful car, which is equally good for moving around the city and for active jeeping in the wild. And who equally enjoy the city cowboys and fans of adventure in the fresh air.
Hau, I said everything!
     
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Igor Timofeev

The car was provided for the test by TC Motors (10-371) 781-2312.
        
Springy gait. Together with the appearance, the suspension of the new Cherokee has radically changed. Ahead is a classic independent scheme - two levers (cast -iron lower and steel upper) and springs.
The back remained dependent, but instead of springs, springs are also installed. The classic traction of Panar, which extinguishes the transverse movements of the body, was replaced by a V-shaped lever attached to the rear bridge over the ball support in the area of \u200b\u200bthe main gear crankcase.
        
Hard protection. Fans of heavy SUV blames Cherokee designers of the absence of a supporting frame. In fact, the carrier body of the new jeep is in no way inferior in terms of strength by frame brothers. Firstly, most of the floor details in the new Jeep Cherokee are made of high-strength steel (marked in red and green in the diagram). Secondly, the additional stiffness of the entire structure give enhanced spar (marked in yellow in the diagram). Engineers say that in terms of hardness of the body, simple Cherokee is one and a half times higher and is considered the most durable car in the history of Jeep.
        
       
Model/Modification Jeep Cherokee 3.7 Limited
The manufacturer Daimlerchrysler Co./sha
BODY
Type station wagon
Number of doors/places 5/5
ENGINE
Type gasoline, multi -point injection
Front location, longitudinally
Working volume (cubic cub) 3701
Number/location of cylinders 6/V-shaped
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 155 (211) at 5200
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 312 at 3800
TRANSMISSION
The rear drive is connected by a full, blocked interdosseous differential, demultiplier
Gearbox automatic, 4-speed
SUSPENSION
Front independent, spring, on double transverse levers, with a reptile stabilizer
The rear dependent, spring, on two longitudinal and one V-shaped lever, the reptile stabilizer
STEERING
Type gear rack with a hydraulic booster
Min. Diameter of the turn (m) 12.0
Brakes
Front/rear circular ventilated/drum
ABS 3-channel with the EBD system
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4496/1819/1866
Entrance/Congress angles (degrees) 38.0/32.3
Wheel base (mm) 2649
Equipped mass (kg) 1867
Tires 235/70 R16
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 180
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 10.8
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km, city/highway) 19.5/11.8
The price in Moscow from $ 37.5 thousand.
 
List of additional options
Luggage compartment curtain + alarm $ 220
Premium alarm $ 130
Off -road package: - protection of the gas tank - Protection of the distribution - wheels P235/70 R16 (All Terran) $ 90
Leather interior + front seats electric drive $ 1100
Front seats electric drive $ 550
Heating seats (only on a leather salon) $ 230
ABS + Traction Control $ 540
Side airbags $ 350
Selecttrac $ 360 all -wheel drive system
Electrolyuk $ 630
CD changer (6 disks) $ 360
Coating metallic $ 230
 

Source: "Autopilot"