I. Overview: As a seasoned driver who has owned seven cars in my household (Jiangling Baodian, JAC Refine, Fiat Viaggio, Volkswagen Sharan, Jeep Cherokee, Honda Odyssey, Jeep Grand Commander) and as a nationally certified mechanical maintenance engineer (not in the automotive industry), I believe I have some understanding of cars. Here are my impressions of this car for your reference.
II. Features of the Car:
1. Engine: There is plenty of specific information about this engine online, so I won't go into much detail. What is certain is that this engine has been FCA's main engine in recent years, performing well overall, with strong horsepower, numerous new technologies, and few issues. The only problem it shares is the common disadvantage of turbocharged engines – higher temperature compared to naturally aspirated engines.
2. Transmission: The ZF 9-speed automatic transmission is really durable and tough. Even with heavy use, my previous car never had any problems with this transmission. It far surpasses most models in the same price range. As for the online rumors about this transmission having issues, there's no need to worry. The criticisms are mostly due to people with hidden agendas and listeners pretending to understand. Let me explain, and you'll understand! This transmission is an upgrade from ZF's 6-speed AT. Its main difference is the inclusion of a dog clutch, which requires very high gear-shifting logic (imagine two people running and shaking hands simultaneously — merely shaking hands is easy, but achieving precise interlocking of fingers requires more synchronization). Thus, when this transmission was released, it was still new. Aside from the manufacturer's default transmission program, car makers had no mature software adapted for different models, resulting in many initial issues. I remember the technician admitting when I bought the Cherokee that no one in China could write software for this transmission at that time. Thus, the exposed problems were not due to the transmission itself but the car manufacturers' own software programming issues. It’s like you have a computer with an I9 and a 3090, and any issues are not because of the hardware but because the hardware is new, and the corresponding motherboard BIOS and various drivers haven't caught up yet! Now that this transmission has been in use for years, the supporting logic software is very mature, and there are basically no similar issues.
3. Chassis: Not much to say here; this Jeep chassis can also outperform many cars in its price range. Numerous online videos of flat-bed disassembly prove this point. What I'd like to mention is how comfortable it is to drive on highways. I drive 1000 kilometers home alone every year and have tried many cars. Jeep is the most comfortable for highway driving, unlike other cars where after 200/300 kilometers, I must stop to rest because of back pain. When driving home in a Jeep, I barely feel fatigued, only stopping for restroom breaks or when out of fuel. My longest continuous drive was 600 kilometers before stopping at a service area and then still having energy to explore the night market after reaching home.
4. Four-wheel drive: The powerful Active Drive I four-wheel drive system has saved my life more than once on highways and elevated roads, and it never leaves me stranded during off-road trips. It's considered one of the best among models in the same class.
5. Other Features: I won't go into detail here; most people understand them. I'll highlight two functions: first, the active braking system. On the day I got the car, I looked down at the dashboard (the speedometer on this car is inconvenient to view) for just 1-2 seconds, almost causing a collision with the abruptly stopping car in front. Fortunately, the active braking intervened, turning danger into safety. This incident convinced me to get a HUD installed, which turned out well, and I'll share more later. The second feature is the intelligent connected services. It's practical but inconvenient to use, as it acts as an extra phone key regardless of distance. However, it operates slowly, taking about 1 minute, so it can't be relied upon as the main key. It's suitable for emergencies (never worry about locking your keys in the car again).
6. Comfort: The car inherits the Cherokee's FSD adaptive chassis, providing excellent comfort, and the higher body offers better visibility, making driving more relaxed.
7. Handling: Thanks to the steering compensation system, the car's cornering performance is enhanced, and the low-speed steering is more precise.
8. Fuel Consumption: I primarily use it for city commutes and weekend outings. With over 5000 kilometers on it, the combined fuel consumption is around 8.5 liters — impressive for a 2100-kilogram four-wheel-drive vehicle.
9. Noise Reduction: A lot of effort has gone into noise reduction, from sealing strips on the door accessories to foam filling in the frames. The overall driving experience is quiet, even at 110 km/h with closed windows. However, tire noise transmitted through the chassis structure is unavoidable.
10. Interior Smell: Very satisfied. I applied film and underbody armor on the day of pickup, unable to open windows, resulting in a strong smell. I expected it to take at least half a month to lessen. Without using charcoal bags, I just placed a few grapefruit peels inside, and after three days, the car already smelled less during outings. Opening the windows eliminated any odor. By the fourth day when driving on the highway, even with closed windows, there was no noticeable odor. I observed while modifying the car that the floor was lined with integrated sponge-like material instead of the recycled cotton materials used in other cars, which was reassuring.
11. Space: Among cars of the same length, it's considered mid-to-upper level, but definitely sufficient. This is a Jeep characteristic, as the engine compartment and safety configurations take up a lot of space.
12. Power: This might be the most contentious area! With 265 hp and 400 Nm, it ranks ahead in the 2.0T series, yet many owners feel the car doesn't start very quickly and consider the power insufficient. This is a misconception. Try the sports mode or pressing the accelerator harder! The transmission and engine tuning are very comfort-oriented, which is why you barely feel turbo lag, but this doesn’t mean the horsepower is lacking! With enough acceleration, you can fully experience the engine's power!
III. Dissatisfaction:
1. The vehicle's speedometer scale on the dashboard is difficult to read, which I resolved by adding a HUD.
2. The inner lining of the wheels uses a fleece material that effectively enhances noise reduction but is difficult to clean.
