Originally Posted by Cherokeekid4x4

How do you know? I didn't know you've driven one. Or even seen one in person. You guys are going off looks. If I was going off looks I (probably) wouldn't have kept my xj. Honestly I hate them stock, okay well don't hate em stock but they aren't very pretty.. Just like stock jk's. what the Jeep can be and what it is far beats any looks.

Originally Posted by EagleXJ

I hear where your coming from with some stats. True it will have some advantages over the 13 year old XJ, but its still got all the characteristics of a cross-over. I understand that they got to tailor for the market, but that's what the Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Compass, Liberty were for. The Wrangler is the only surviving modern Jeep that's even feasibly capable. The new Cherokee would be plenty capable on relativity level surfaces, but its independent suspension kills it. You neglected to mention that it has independent in the rear as well as the front. This is also the only reason it has more ground clearance than the XJ did stock: they're measuring from the ground to the center of the vehicle, where, on a XJ, you'd run into its solid axle. A little more ground clearance, but not near worth the loss. It just ain't the off-road vehicle that jeep is trying to make it seem.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion and I respect that (I enjoy the debate :P).

Originally Posted by MatteBlack

Keep in mind when the XJ came on the scene, there wasn't the proliferation of ATVs that their are now. Golf carts were the closest thing so a side by side ATV and Jeep CJs were smaller and more sparse than Wranglers and Unlimiteds are today. Alot of the stuff being done in the smaller bare bones Jeeps then gets done in ATVs, and larger more plush Wranglers handle alot of the need the XJ covered. Jeeps really doesn't need a 2nd rock crawler. They need the all-terrain all-purpose vehicle that handles alot of things well that the market and buyers want. A live axle may be better for some tougher trails but, for as many people buying NEW vehicles for that, the Wrangler pretty well covers the numbers wanting that. Anything more serious gets into custom-built stuff with more and more mods. Maybe the new Cherokee is not what the XJ was but, that niche is covered. I have no problem with them naming this new vehicle which should be very capable and popular in it's class after the old model I love. Realistically, this is the new liberty more than the new Cherokee but, I am glad to see the nameplate kept in circulation on a well-designed model.

I dig the new TrailHawk but, it's a different sort of vehicle than my cherokee started out as or has become.

Originally Posted by beatricethexj

Since the first spy shots came out of the 2014 Cherokee, I have been upset that Jeep chose to bring the Cherokee nameplate back on it. The more I have read and stared at the new Cherokee, the more it grows on me. Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of the headlights. I also understand the frustration of it having IFS and FWD/AWD vs a true 4WD, but have you checked the Jeep website since it was unveiled? I know the "offroad" video released a few days ago is underwhelming to say the least, but check the specs on the Trailhawk version. 48:1 Crawl ratio (twice the XJ's), same torque w/ higher horsepower, 29 mpg hwy (untouchable by an XJ), and rear locker. According to the press release it has better break over and departure angles then the XJ. It also has 8.7" of ground clearance stock and the XJ had 7.3" stock.

Originally Posted by 98socalxj

If you look closely at the brochure on the jeep site, all those numbers were achieved with the lower front facia removed.

Originally Posted by beatricethexj

Only the approach angle was increased by removing the front fascia and is still 7 degrees less then the XJ.

Originally Posted by beatricethexj

You are correct, it does have both front and rear independent suspensions. I apologize for the error. Not entirely sure where I read it, may have even been in this thread, but the XJ was revolutionary at its onset. Coil springs and unibody? Now the XJ started production before I was born, but I am sure both of those things caused some waves.

My stock XJ has solid axle and no traction add-ons (lockers, lsd, etc) so I have two wheels at most with power. The '14 Cherokee will have atleast 3 wheels with power, potentially 4 depending on how its AWD operates. Now I don't do extreme offroading, and I would imagine the solid axles make an extreme difference at greater difficulties, however; 97% of the people that buy this will never take it where it will need solid axles. I realize that is a bold statement, but its grocery getter looks and the immediate backlash from the offroad community lend to the statement being highly likely.

Again, I am not saying that the '14 Cherokee will ever replace the XJ, but I do believe it is revolutionary for the mid-size market (locker, 4L, 9 speed). Bottom line, I think it will make a great Jeep for the wife.

Originally Posted by Cherokeekid4x4

How do you know? I didn't know you've driven one. Or even seen one in person. You guys are going off looks. If I was going off looks I (probably) wouldn't have kept my xj. Honestly I hate them stock, okay well don't hate em stock but they aren't very pretty.. Just like stock jk's. what the Jeep can be and what it is far beats any looks.

Originally Posted by EagleXJ

I don't have to drive it to comment on the known limitations of the components its made of based on the evaluation of them on other vehicles.

Originally Posted by xman2yman

I want to see a magazine or online blog do a comparo of the XJ vs the new one in trailhawk form. Where they test out which gets through a real trail the best. Including forging through water since apparently the new one can go up to 20" in water.