Jeep Reviews

Today's Jeep Wrangler can trace its ancestry directly back to the famed World War II Jeep, "the car that won a war". Obviously there have been improvements and refinements over the years, but these have been done with an eye on the heritage. Wrangler is a real off-road vehicle, a vanishing commodity in these days of

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Platinum with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The introduction of the all-new Jeep Cherokee KL Series in July 2014 has resulted in quite a few people upgrading from their old Cherokees, resulting in many trade ins waiting to be shifted from used-car yards. There might be some good prices on offer as dealers try to clear their stocks. No promises, but why not see for yourself?Official imports of Jeeps to Australia didn't begin 1994 but many were brought in privately for years before that. These older models are probably best left to Jeep enthusiasts (of which there are plenty) as spares and repairs can be a hassle. Also, Cherokees prior to September 2001 are positively antique by today's standards, dating back to the early 1980s.Jeep Cherokee is a station wagon with very good off-road ability. It's not quite in the class of Jeep Wrangler in ultra-tough off-road situations, but does much more than most owners ask, and is significantly more comfortable than the Wrangler.Though the new Jeep KK Series, launched in March 2008 retained its off-road ability, it was more sophisticated than the KJ Series it replaced and it's certainly more than a soft-roader. The KK has the spare wheel under the rear of the vehicle, not on the back door. It's significantly longer in the wheelbase and the cabin. The boot is also longer, though it is relatively high off the ground, so loading isn't all that easy and the overall interior height has been compromised.Petrol engines are straight sixes and V6s. Both powerplants are pleasant to sit behind, with good low end grunt. The V6 has been improved substantially over the years and is more economical than the old straight unit. Turbodiesels first arrived back in 1997 and have become increasing common over the years. Some of the turbodiesels share components with Mercedes, as Chrysler and Mercedes were in partnership at one time.These are relatively easy vehicles to work onDrive is normally taken to the rear wheels only but four-wheel drive can be used on bitumen as well as off-road. That gives the added safety of extra grip if used on wet roads. Numerous electronic aids are used in the later models making off-road driving available to the relatively inexperienced. But we suggest you play it safe and have at lease one expert along before you get too bold.These are relatively easy vehicles to work on, with good underbonnet space and a relatively simple mechanical makeup. Spare parts prices are about average for a 4WD in this class and the dealer network works efficiently.Insurance is seldom over-expensive, and we know of no real differences from one major insurer to another as far as premiums are concerned. As always when shopping around for insurance, it's important to know what you are getting, and not getting, for your money.Check under a Jeep Cherokee for signs of damage caused by off-road driving.Check for salty-tasting sand, the latter indicates beach use and may mean heavy rust is on the way.Look out for poorly fitted componentsBe sure that the engine starts quickly even when cold. Idle should be smooth virtually from the instant of start up. The engines should pull without hesitation at all times. None are all that smooth at the top end of the rev range, but if it appears too bad there may be troubles. Listen for a rumbling sound from the lower end of a petrol six. Check there are no oil fumes from the exhaust or the oil filler cap.Make sure the transfer-case lever isn't too heavy and that the transmission works relatively smoothly and quietly at all times.Look out for poorly fitted components as build quality is nothing special, the interior is generally the worst.Check everything is working properly, even the minor items. Going through these one at a time using the owners' handbook is the best method.

The all-new Jeep Cherokee has styling that's out of the ordinary for the iconic marque, but it still has plenty of cues to follow the design brief that 'Jeeps must look like Jeeps'. The designers have done a very good job in adding aerodynamic sleekness to the new body, but have held onto enough of the shape of the

Small SUVs can be at home in the dirt or cruising on bitumen. Craig Duff checks two able examples.

Renegades are always a problem, as the fast-growing micro-SUV segment is about to discover.Jeep's take on the baby crossover adopts the same high-riding hatch formula as its rivals but then ups the ante with a Trailhawk version that combines compact dimensions with serious off-road prowess.Jeep acknowledges that most cars in this class are front-drive, which is why it has 2WD versions to help cut the price, along with all-wheel drive variants for those who want to step up in performance and ride height.Being Jeep, it also has a true four-wheel drive that will clamber up steep slopes, ford streams and rock-hop with the best of them.The squared-off two-box body has the head and legroom to take four adults in comfort, backed by a decent 351-litre cargo area and an exuberant two-toned interior with metal bezels on most of the dash controls and a seven-inch digital driver's display. No surprise that Jeep is chasing "youthful and adventurous" customers with this vehicle.The Renegade is going to be a problem child for Jeep Australia in terms of pricing, for a couple of reasons.The Aussie dollar's decline against the greenback and euro (the American brand's newest car is made in Italy alongside the Fiat 500X) won't do it any favours when it comes time to set prices before the October launch.The Renegade is a demonstrably better car than the Patriot in every areaJust as troublesome is the stablemate Patriot, now $25,500 drive-away.The Renegade is a demonstrably better car than the Patriot in every area, from driving dynamics to interior design, so it is hard to see this light SUV being priced below the larger Patriot.That will give the impression that the Patriot and similarly-sized Compass are beyond their use-by date, even though a replacement for the pair isn't due until 2017.In the US the base Renegade Sport front-driver sells for $US18,990, climbing to $US26,990 for the top-spec Trailhawk 4WD. A straight currency conversion equates to $24,400-$34,700.Rivals such as the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008 start at about $22,000, while the Skoda Yeti is $23,490 and the Holden Trax costs from $23,990.The Jeep has a higher quality interior with smart use of an airiness the competition can't match, another spanner in the pricing works.A front-drive Renegade Sport with 1.4-litre turbo engine and six-speed manual was the appetiser in the models rolled out for media testing in the hills around San Jose. Not many people will buy it, but those who do will have the performance pick of the litter.The engine wants to rev and does its best work from above 2500rpm. As the torque champion of the petrol engines, it easily overcomes the base Renegade's relatively hefty weight of 1381kg and doesn't need as many gear shifts, even on decent inclines with tight turns.The ride is sportier than regular light SUVsThe Australian line-up is expected to start with a manual 1.6-litre, largely to keep a lid on costs. The US doesn't get this variant, so we've yet to drive it. The outputs won't challenge the turbo sibling for acceleration times.The Limited and Trailhawk use a 2.4-litre four-cylinder matched to the best example of Jeep's nine-speed we've driven yet. Good thing, too, as the engine itself doesn't feel like a headline act.Much improved on upshifts, the auto can still hesitate before deciding how many ratios to kick down in response to right-foot pressure.The ride is sportier than regular light SUVs, to the point where it can be tiresome on badly broken or ridged surfaces. The upside is that body roll and floatiness are all but eliminated.Grip is noticeably absent, though, so most owners aren't likely to push the Renegade too hard. Given how well the suspension works and the solidity of the body — this vehicle uses the greatest proportion of high-tensile steel of any Jeep — the tyres are the obvious culprit and I'd be trying better aftermarket hoops to improve its contact on bitumen.The electric steering is direct and has decent heft but is largely lifeless. An electric park brake is more user-friendly and has freed up space in the centre console for a pair of full-sized cupholders.The MySky removable roof panels, a nod to the Wrangler's top-down ability, stow in a bag beneath the boot floor.It eats gravel roads and mud with easeOff the beaten track, the regular all-wheel drive models enjoy 200mm of ground clearance, backed by Jeep's Selec-Terrain drive mode setup that optimises steering, shift points, throttle mapping and stability control intervention for various surfaces.It eats gravel roads and mud with ease. The plastic cladding around the lower body and wheel arches is there for practical rather than decorative purposes.The Trailhawk takes off-roading to the next level, with a low-speed crawl ability, an extra off-road mode, hill descent control and 220mm of clearance backed by 205mm of wheel articulation and decent approach/departure angles.

Alistair Kennedy road tests and reviews the Jeep Cherokee with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Jeep Grand Cherokee is a large 4WD that nowadays is aimed more at buyers of luxury station wagons rather than full-on off-road enthusiasts. However the Grand Jeep is true to its roots and is a genuine 4WD that can tackle rugged off-road work that would stop most of the crossover wagons sold by its competitors. On

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Jeep Cherokee Limited Diesel with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Two years ago, Queenslanders Rex and Faye Chick downsized from a Ford Territory to a Jeep Compass Sport 2.4 4WD auto.