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Jeep Cherokee: Test Drive (continued)
Date: 15 August 2008 | Author: David Motton
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Clever stuff, but most drivers will be more concerned with how the Cherokee handles on the road.
The ride is comfortable on smooth, straight roads, but throw in a few bumps and bends and the Jeep isn't so happy. There's an old-fashioned solid axle at the rear, and it shows with a bouncy ride on roughly surfaced country roads. Vague steering doesn't help, either.
A Land Rover Freelander copes better with bumps, and a Volkswagen Tiguan is far more nimble.
Wind and road noise are well suppressed, but the 2.8-litre engine is clattery at low revs and grumbles when worked hard. Performance is strong, though. A beefy 339lb/ft of torque hauls the two-tonne Cherokee with surprising vigour.
Inside, the new Cherokee is much bigger than the old, with plenty of head and legroom front and rear. The cabin isn't as well finished as a BMW X3's, however, and the absence of telescopic adjustment for the steering is surprising on a £25,000 car.
Otherwise the Cherokee is well equipped for the money. Certainly, you'd need to tick boxes for lots of extras on most rivals to match the Jeep's list of toys. But there's no getting away from the top-rate tax banding or the lacklustre ride and handling.
