Friday, July 4, 2014
Richmond Review · Page 13
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Welcome to the driver’s seat
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Radically new Cherokee returns after 20 years Jeep has been one of the that the Dodge Dart strongest brands for the uses, the styling is edgy Chrysler Group, thanks and modern. to the fantastic Grand The sharp nose and Cherokee mid-sized SUV small headlamps, along and the always-popular with the curved Jeep Wrangler. grille make a statement. Building off that success Some Jeep aficionados is the introduction of an might not be intrigued The 2014 all-new Cherokee. It has by this new design but been almost twenty years Cherokee is a newcomers to the brand since we had a Cherokee thoroughly modern might. The starting price in the market and this is $23,495, which is less SUV with goone is radically different than it’s major comfrom anything one might anywhere capability petitors. For this price, remember. Since the you get standard air and around town Chrysler group didn’t have refinement that needs conditioning, Bluetooth a small SUV in its portfolio connectivity, two USB to be experienced. to take on established ports, a 5-inch Uconnect players like the Toyota screen and power winZack Spencer RAV4, Honda CR-V and dows/doors. The AWD Ford Escape, this 2014 Cherokee has a model starts at $25,695, which is also lot riding on its success the lowest price model in this class. The closest competitor, on price, image and Looks capability might be the Subaru Forester Unlike the last 1990s Cherokee, this for $25,995. radically different Jeep is based on a car platform instead of a rugged truck Inside chassis. This approach is lighter, to The interior of the all-new Cherokee is save fuel, and rewards the driver with more upscale than most of the competgood on-road manners. Built off the itors. The doors, armrest and dash are same Alfa Romeo-derived platform covered in soft touch materials. The front
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seats are supportive and comfortable. The rear seats too are comfy and slide for and aft for more cargo storage. When placed in the normal position, the legroom isn’t ample but on par with others in this class. Connecting to the Cherokee is a snap with the optional 8.4-inch Uconnect system that pairs with smartphone in seconds, is very quick between commands, and has nice looking graphics. The base screen is five inches but has many of the same functionality. Behind the steering wheel, inside the instrument cluster, is another programmable screen for all the information the driver needs frequently. Drive The base 2.4L 4-cylinder with 184hp is the base engine on all trim levels. For just $1,300 any Cherokee can be equipped with the optional 3.2L V6 engine – making the walk up to this 271hp engine within reach for many buyers. In addition, this is the very first application of a 9-speed automatic anywhere in the auto industry, providing improved fuel economy and drivability. Having a chance to drive both the 4-cylinder and V6 models with the all-new 9-speed automatic, I’m torn. The V6 is the engine of choice for towing, steep mountain
A good off-roader, comfortable and an easy street performer, the Cherokee does both equally well.
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runs and longer distance driving. The flip side is that the 4-cylinder is a very good in-city commuter and the lighter engine helps this Cherokee to corner, brake and manouevre better. The 9-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly, in fact I forgot it had so many cogs but it does improve fuel economy with a highway rating of 6.4L/100km with the 4-cylinder and 7.0L with the V6. Most Canadians will opt for the AWD versions thanks to our winter conditions, but here too there are more choices. Jeep has included three AWD systems. The first is a called Active Drive 1 with a selectable drive mode called Select-Terrain, for automatic, snow, mud and sand settings. The second is called Active Drive 2 and offers a two-speed mode for low speed crawling. The most aggressive system is Active Drive Lock, which comes in the off-road purpose-built Cherokee called Trailhawk. The Trailhawk is a ‘real’ Jeep; this is thanks to a locking rear differential and a host of electronic aids. The most impressive feature is the low speed crawling mode for both up and down hill tasks. Therefore, Jeep purists, yes there is a Cherokee for you. Verdict This new Cherokee is off to a fantastic start. Sales are strong and the sharp design is bringing in buyers, not shoving them away. The 2014 Cherokee could not be further away from the last model; this is a thoroughly modern SUV with go-anywhere capability and aroundtown refinement that needs to be experienced. The Lowdown Power: 184hp 2.4L 4-cylinder, and 271hp 3.2L V6. Fill-up: 9.9L/7.0L/100km (city/highway AWD) Sticker price: $23,695-$32,195
Question of the Week There is talk in Greater Vancouver of introducing a regional carbon tax to fund transit and highway initiatives. Should such a tax be extended B.C.-wide to help fund much needed transport infrastructure throughout the rest of the province? Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer. QUESTION
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Safety Tip: With summer in full swing, remember that if your activities will involve alcohol, make the smart choice: choose a designated driver before going out and plan to get home safe. Share the responsibility of being a designated driver; have you taken a turn recently?
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