2014 Jeep Cherokee Revealed

[NutBucket]

Its not selling well but at least its hasn't been panned as crap.

 

[destrekor]

Neither have been around long enough to pronounce judgement.

IIRC, the Dart was not selling well last I heard. They are on the same platform.

I guess I wouldn't be terribly surprised, but I swear it seems like I see a lot of Darts out there.


Why is Chrysler so adamant about refusing to dip into the "hot hatch" category?
I don't know if Chrysler has ever actually stated they aren't interested, but dammit, that's all I want.
Well, specifically, an AWD hot hatch. That's the platform to do a hot hatch with.

They should take the Dart and introduce a turbo AWD hatch version (perhaps also offer the dart in AWD Sedan trim?), or, while not my preference, at least offer a turbo FWD hatch model. If not a Dart Sedan and Dart Hatch, then at least utilize that platform for a hatchback ride.

Chrysler has the platform, but they are under-utilizing it, misjudging the American demand for the small car. It's terrific to utilize it in a [small] Crossover like the Cherokee... which I actually do like btw - I've seen a few in person (definitely going to happen since they are made probably 2 or 3 miles from where I grew up on the other side of town).

But overall, while I think the Dart is nifty, it's pretty underwhelming. It doesn't have enough to it. Chrysler need's to sort of take a Subaru approach to this: offer the Dart, ala an Impreza, and utilize that same basic frame for a much, much improved and ready for anything ride. They could also get the SRT name out some more and give the rally-rocket version to that brand. And honestly, I think Chrysler has room in their lineup for a premium small-ride. Think of a Lotus-style car, or in keeping with their style of the luxury approach, like an Audi-, Mercedes-, or Cadillac-inspired compact or economy-size car that has plenty of get-up-and-go alongside premium style. As the Dodge brand would treat such a menacing micro-machine with a more utilitarian interior (I would very much be intrigued to see what they'd come up with for an SRT hot-hatch on that platform), having a sporty almost racetrack-ready but luxury and "executive" car would be hot for Chrysler.
And would do well to slowly improve the sales performance in other world markets.

 

[LTC8K6]

Did they ever put the Hyundai transmission in the Dart?

 

[roguerower]

Walked over to the Jeep dealership while I was waiting for my Honda to get its oil changed and looked at the 3 cherokees on the lot. All high end limited models with FWD. The interior looks nice, and I really dig the exterior. Guess it'll be sometime in the Spring since I want to wait and see some more in-depth reviews.

 

[nerp]

Did they ever put the Hyundai transmission in the Dart?

I don't think so. Rumor is the new refresh will include an 8- or 9-speed and a bit more power under the hood. There is talk they might cram the v6 Pentastar in there, which would be a hoot.

 

[wholesalestunna]

Looks disgusting

 

[destrekor]

I don't think so. Rumor is the new refresh will include an 8- or 9-speed and a bit more power under the hood. There is talk they might cram the v6 Pentastar in there, which would be a hoot.

The V6 would be a good touch for that little car, but I think they really should focus on the other route for power: turbo (or supercharger... turbo better complements a 4cyl, imho)

All I want Chrysler to do is recognize the hot hatch/pocket rocket market, come on! I'd rather buy American whenever I get a new ride in the next few years, but Chrysler has yet to bring enough of that Euro-flair to their rides, Ford refuses to give the Focus or Fiesta an AWD treatment, and I think GM has ignored that market as well.

They'll all give their brawny cars, like the Taurus and related vehicles (Mercury something, some other rides), and the 300 and related vehicles (like the Charger) an AWD option, but don't want to go that route for any smaller, nimble creatures of theirs.
That they've put an AWD/4x4 vehicle on the new platform from Fiat, however, does give some hope.

The SRT4 is the last pocket rocket type of car they made. That they didn't produce is for long suggests it didn't sell well. Hopefully Chrysler doesn't think it's because nobody wants that kind of car from Chrysler, rather... nobody wanted that particular car. It was ugly, and not the correct approach to the market segment.
I tell ya, it really seems the American car companies have been completely unable to figure out the small vehicle category.

 

[Pocatello]

I don't know how popular the Jeep Cherokee will be, but the Dart has been a failure, in term of cars being sold. People still remember the Neons, I had a Neon while in college, it was poorly made.

 

[nerp]

The Dart isn't necessarily a failure considering they've sold about 80,000 so far this year —*nearly 30,000 more than the 300 and about 10,000 under the Charger. I think they're in it for the long haul and the next iteration of it will be a bit more competitive.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think the Cruze sells about 230K a year.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I think the Cruze sells about 230K a year.

2013 through November in the US:

Cruze - 230,062
Dart - 77,939
Focus - 219,001
Elantra - 226,220
Civic - 307,180
Corolla - 279,618
Mazda 3 - 97,044
Sentra - 118,344
Lancer - 18,089
Impreza - 70,196
XV Crosstrek - 48,216


Jeep Cherokee sales to date: 10,748 (10,169 units in November)

 

[Topweasel]

Keep in mind that you are talking about cars from manfacturers that sell in the millions and 10s of millions. Chrysler even at it's high point was making like 2-3 million. At one point around the crash I think they had only sold 800k in the US. 80k isn't anything to sneeze at for them. The Neon after the Plymouth went away was only selling about 110k-130k. Give it a couple year and a true R/T and hopefully an SRT-4 and they will start selling all they can make.

I got a 3 year lease on my latest vehicle specifically in the hopes that when my Fusion's lease is done Dodge will have an SRT-4 Dart ready. If not I'll probably get another Fusion or a Focus ST.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think it's pretty simple. Dart SRT6 with the 3.2 Pentastar.

 

[Topweasel]

I think it's pretty simple. Dart SRT6 with the 3.2 Pentastar.

That would be cool but I want a real SRT-6. Maybe a turbo'd pentistar in the Avenger/200 replacement. SRT is supposedly working on their own self labeled version of that as the Barracuda and if rumors are right they want to go crazy and put in the supercharged Hemi that's coming out in it.

I like the Dart SRT to be like the Neon SRT. Fantastic performance at bargain prices. A six would increase it's weight (and it's heavy for its size) to much for the performance and increase the cost a lot more.

 

[Pocatello]

I actually like the Dodge Dart a lot, much nicer than the best seller Toyota Corolla.

 

[LTC8K6]

That would be cool but I want a real SRT-6. Maybe a turbo'd pentistar in the Avenger/200 replacement. SRT is supposedly working on their own self labeled version of that as the Barracuda and if rumors are right they want to go crazy and put in the supercharged Hemi that's coming out in it.

I like the Dart SRT to be like the Neon SRT. Fantastic performance at bargain prices. A six would increase it's weight (and it's heavy for its size) to much for the performance and increase the cost a lot more.

There's a 3.0L Pentastar as well.

It could also be AWD.

I would bet it would be a turbo 4 though. Look at Ford with the 305hp 2.3L turbo. Something like that would motivate a Dart nicely. They really already had such an engine with the Caliber SRT-4, but a modern version of the 2.4T would certainly crack 300 horses reliably.

 

[destrekor]

That would be cool but I want a real SRT-6. Maybe a turbo'd pentistar in the Avenger/200 replacement. SRT is supposedly working on their own self labeled version of that as the Barracuda and if rumors are right they want to go crazy and put in the supercharged Hemi that's coming out in it.

I like the Dart SRT to be like the Neon SRT. Fantastic performance at bargain prices. A six would increase it's weight (and it's heavy for its size) to much for the performance and increase the cost a lot more.

If done right, such a Dart SRT should easily keep up with - if not trounce - most potential Barracuda models and many other cars, in at least half of the ways a race event can be designed. If they do a Dart SRT or a SRT model on that platform, I'll be let down if it can't compete both dollar and performance with the likes of the STIs and Evo's on all circuit types (including rally performance). This is where I fail to see what is going on with Chrysler. They've routinely had such cars in Rally and Rallycross events, but they modify them to have AWD and engines not available to the consumer. Why not produce a base product that meets the basic criteria from the start, and teams modify that less for racing. That basic "take this car and rip it apart and add a lot" approach is what got Mitsubishi, Subaru, and even Ford to an extent, to produce actual juiced up hot hatch variants of their economy cars for consumer and racing sales combined. The Neon SRT was meant to hit that image, but they misinterpreted it entirely: they saw it for the street-race cred market, targeting the "ricer" market (mixed actual Japanese sports car imports and similar US models (for those that weren't non-existent in the US). In other words, it was not ready for any and all inclement conditions during a race. I'd love for them to have something like that, because I'd buy it. 🙂