2014 Jeep Cherokee - Ciao Bella

  

It would appear that Chrysler, now a subsidiary of Italian car builder Fiat, has a hit with their new Cherokee having sold more than 10,000 of them since they debuted it little more than a month ago.

 

  

This new Cherokee, which replaces the Liberty, is built off a Fiat car platform and is as different from the Liberty as the Liberty was different from that boxy but good Cherokee it replaced back in 2001.  Once again what's old is new again. At least, in this case, as far as names are concerned.
 

 

Prices for the Cherokee start at $23,990 for a front-wheel drive "Sport" with a Fiat built, turbocharged, 184 horsepower, four cylinder engine and a nine-speed automatic. (Nine speeds? That's a lotta gears. My first car had two.) Ponying up for four-wheel drive will run $2,000 more but you keep the four-cylinder engine. A 271 horsepower, V-6 front wheel driver will ring in at $26,985. I suggest you go for the six. The little pain in the pump you'll feel is worth the extra boot scoot.

 

 

Our range-topping Cherokee Trailhawk comes standard with four-wheel drive and numerous upgrades to earn Jeep's "Trail Rated" fender badge. An off-road suspension with taller ride height gives Cherokee more aggressive approach and departure angles. Underbody skid plates, distinguishing exterior design elements and a seven-inch, reconfigurable instrument gauge cluster round out the package.

Cherokee "Trailhawk" comes in at $29,495 but that doesn't include this leather trimmed interior with baseball (like) stitching on the seats. It's really sharp. Figure another $1,500 or so for the hides. Along with the V-6, I'd get this interior too. All in for around $31,000 for all the bells and whistles, the new Cherokee appears to be quite the (relative) bargain.
 

 

The new Cherokee is a design, much like the new Chevrolet Impala, that's looks better in person than it does in photographs. It's difficult to appreciate all the of the Cherokee's nooks, bulges and crannies in two dimensions. Draw your own conclusions but I recommend you do so in three.  By the way, my wife loves it. Buongiorno Principessa.

The new Cherokee brings to light how far Jeep design has come in just over ten years. Duct tape and all.

 

Ciao Bella.