Test drive Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) 2005 - 2007 SUV

Cherokee, conqueror of Don

2100 km for an updated jeep with a diesel engine - not a distance
 
There was a need to visit Rostov-on-Don. And there was a brand new, from a needle, Jeep Cherokee, which should have skipped. Such a combination of circumstances was a sin not to take advantage of. On the other hand, a trip by car promised to become a very economical event. Judge for yourself: the four were to go, and if we used the plane, about 11,000 rubles for each would have come out, and this, if I am not mistaken, only one way! The train is long, 22 hours, and not comfortable. They figured: the distance from Moscow to Rostov-on-Don is 1050 km, that is, for an inexpensive diesel fuel in one direction we will spend a maximum of 2000 rubles (as a result, it turned out to be even less). We lay another thousand on fines: one of us in the late 90s traveled on the M4 route dozens of times, and is well acquainted with morals reigning on this road (as a result, it turned out more expensive, back - cheaper). In general, profitable, and besides, it is convenient.
 
The mistake came out
 
And this mistake was that it was still necessary to go at night. Therefore, in particular, that leaving the capital is not easy in the morning - continuous traffic jams. At first, at about 9 in the morning, the nursery found us on the Moscow Ring Road. Well, we turn it on to the Domodedovo road, and almost immediately - to the Staro -Kashirskoye Shosse. Two minutes of normal driving, and again resting on the tail of traffic.
 
The one who knows the way, like his five fingers, could not resist the statement of the fact: in my usual eleven and a half hours - if you go during the day - we will not lay down. And at night, by the way, the road takes an hour less time. Relax! You are in the best company, beautifully around, drink a coffee and listen to music. Well, the time we spotted: there is a special display over the rear view mirror in Cherokee, which displays a lot of useful information - about pressure in each of the wheels, air temperature overboard, average fuel consumption, or about hours and minutes spent on the way. By the way, on the fuel: on the highway, the consumption was about 10 liters per 100 km of run. In traffic jams reached 12.9 liters. As evidenced by the on -board computer. But the car was zero, so the average consumption after running in, most likely, will be lower.
 
Eight years ago, in a good car, the M4 highway made it possible to maintain an average speed of kilometers per hundred hundred. Now - let's say, running ahead - does not allow. But while we finally got out of the operational scope. The Moscow - Voronezh highway is quite wide, at this time it was not at all overloaded, so Jeep Cherokee supported the cruising speed in the range of 140 - 160 km/h without slightly.
 
But here we went outside the Moscow region. Ahead is an almost empty road, with a more less decent coating, it is visible perfectly (the advantage of driving in the daytime), why not save time? 180! According to the speedometer, of course, which can exaggerate.
 
Ahead of the traffic cop! - shouts the one on the right. But - late! They managed to slow down, but excess is evident: we raced much faster than allowed 110 km/h. Yes, and the fighter for safety on the roads competently was disguised, sticking out of the column on the dividing strip only a muzzle of a speedomer. There is nothing to do: we stop, politely apologize, we pay a completely moderate fine - we are in the budget. And under a kind parting word we go further.
 
Confident run
 
During our short, fortunately, dialogue with the inspector, he managed to ask: new? Exactly. So the chrome grate in front, which was not there before, shines under the autumn sun, as if we were rubbing it every fifteen minutes. However, Jeep Cherokee is well familiar to the Russian buyer. And if these pretty cars on the roads are few, then for obvious reasons, the main of which is the small number of wealthy Russians who can accept the Spartan style and use its off -road potential.
 
With regard to this potential, since one of us tested Cherokee in South Africa five years ago, nothing has changed. It seems that there is no hole through which the Indian is not able to drive. The frame design, high clearance, short overhangs, a full off -road arsenal - a handout, a system of blocking the center and rear differentials - all this is available. And on the asphalt, the car behaves quite worthy, which, in theory, makes it attractive for lovers of outdoor activities and long trips. After all, there is not a close salon at all, in which the four were comfortable, and a fairly roomy luggage compartment.
 
In the driver's place, it is also not bad, although we did not like the seat profile - it is not too successful, and the body gets tired on the long journey. And for some reason, there is no site under the left leg, it has to be pulled out, then squeezing it is not too convenient. The driver and front passenger shares a massive tunnel, and it feels that he, good -, along with the pedal knot, is shifted a little to the left. Although this does not create difficulties with visibility or management, the seat itself is equipped with a complete set of adjustments. Only the steering wheel, according to American tradition, moves only up and down. However, taking the right position at the wheel is not difficult.
 
However, we will not be too picky and we will note convenient cup holders who were used for any small things, and a rather decent audio system with a compact disk player, which can be controlled by buttons on the back of the steering wheel. By the way, the steering was pleased with its transparency - a very valuable quality that you do not often find on SUVs. On the steering wheel, there is always a fairly clear feedback, which, in fact, made it possible to fearlessly maintain high speed on the highways.
 
Despite the 4-cylinder turbodiesel (once the Mercedes cars were equipped with the same) and a 5-speed automatic transmission, Cherokee is quite cut. In the city, he quickly starts from traffic lights, and behaves on the highway well. The engine, however, is noisy, but perhaps after several thousand it will become quieter. The only thing that grieved us a little is the selection of gear rates in the machine. The car willingly accelerate, but it is practically unable to provide a good pickup at speeds above 90 - 100 km/h. Thanks to the stretched fifth gear - it is certainly more economical, but for the track, when it is required to overtake the wagons now and then, it looks not the best solution.
 
But, having accelerated, the car holds the road perfectly. At least with almost complete loading. The rolls of the body in the turns do not scare at all, and on the straight lines it is able to knock down only a strong side wind from the course. And the brakes were pleased. You can rely on them in any situation.
 
The feeder
 
The federal highway M4 (as, obviously, all other Russian roads) - this is the feeder. Everyone understands for whom. An additional source of income for people with striped sticks is repairs. On a shameful two -lane highway, this is a real disaster, and there are a great many such areas on the M4.
 
Once again we get into slow traffic, cars move in jerks. And under the overturning mark, speed is prohibited as if it is deliberately dropped to 20 km/h. Ahead is Fupa, which seems to still slow down! Emergency lights do not blink, and on the left is continuous. But the clearly viewed bend of the road, there are no counterclaims, and by the time the maneuver is completed, an intermittent line begins - we quickly ahead and directly into the hands of the traffic police. A year ago, it was a completely legitimate maneuver, because the coming car moved ahead at a speed of less than 30 km/h. Now - illegal, because there is a new edition of traffic rules, and to overtake through the continuous is prohibited under any circumstances, even if the car is in front at a speed of 1 km/h. That one of us with undisguised pleasure was explained by the traffic police inspector. Calls for common sense in such cases rarely work, and turn out, as this time, additional costs. Otherwise, imagine, red tape and possible deprivation of rights. Hmm, a traffic cop chose a bread place, enough for a three-deck yacht
 
By the way, experienced people, a driver, in the tavern nearby claimed that local traffic cops specially agree with truck drivers, provoking drivers to violations. Very similar to that. Here you have safety on the roads. One way or another, but to Rostov we eventually exceeded the limit by 500 rubles.
 
But what about the famous paid road to M4? She is! And the trip to this site is fifty kilometers long cost only 20 rubles. Its main advantage, however, is the absence of traffic police inspectors. And without them, an accident is less here than in other areas. True, the coating is also not bad, and the width is just right for the federal highway, and there are few cars. But this is only 50 km of 1050 km!
 
In general, with stops at the ambush, the traffic police, for snack and coffee, we spent on the path to Rostov for 13 hours with a minute.
 
The night Watch
 
But on the way back, when we hit the road after lunch, on the night, it took us less than 12 hours. It was, of course, it was more difficult to go, but the police ambushes in the dark could not be afraid: a rare driver would risk stopping, unknown on whose wave a wand. Of course, pickets in illuminated areas and at stationary posts have not disappeared, but they can be seen from afar, so only 200 rubles took the fines. We were stopped only once, taking off their speed by 23 km/h. Oh country! Oh morals!
 
Instead of a resume, let's say that 60% of the highway to Rostov-on-Don is quite acceptable roads, although in some places disgustingly narrow, two-lane. But the remaining 40% are exhausted so that it is unpleasant to remember this. Not all sections of the highway have marking, which is especially dangerous when driving in the dark. Imagine: rain, in some places a strong fog, and suddenly the marking - the only landmark - disappears. Only the good light of Cherokee and the maximum concentration of attention saved. What safety can we talk about, having such roads, and such traffic police inspectors!?
 
Well, the drivers, of course, are good. Not all, of course, but very many. Mad people with suicidal inclinations, the substrates, however, is another topic.
 
Text: Andrey Osipov, Oleg Osipov
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 20 (109), 2006]