| When it comes to building stuff, the Americans | | | | assume everyone is going to drive off-road all the |
| don't do things by halves. Whether it's adding to a | | | | time. We all know the school run will far outweigh |
| cityscape with a moon-prodding skyscraper, | | | | the amount of times the Jeep will contend with |
| jetting off to said moon, building the SR-71 | | | | anything taller than a blade of grass. It is however |
| 'Blackbird' - the fastest plane ever (2,193.167 | | | | the combination of having the ability to tackle |
| MPH!), or constructing a colossal super-sized meal, | | | | tough terrain and driving something that is built to |
| the US rules supreme. But before we get carried | | | | withstand it that is key. The Jeep Wrangler for |
| away with Uncle Sam, in motoring terms they've | | | | example is the US Army's company car. |
| been…well…unremarkable, shall we | | | | Essentially, four big wheels, a seat and steering |
| say. So whilst sports cars don't handle and stick | | | | wheel, the only time this vehicle encounters a |
| you into a hedge backwards and saloons possess | | | | school is defending one in a war. It is arguably, the |
| suspension that breaks your back at the mere | | | | most robust, go-anywhere vehicle available to buy |
| sight of a pebble, Americans go elsewhere. The | | | | today, but is far too small and workmanlike for a |
| biggest selling style of vehicle is anything big and | | | | mother of three. |
| with four-wheel drive, and this is where Jeep | | | | The aforementioned Cherokee and Grand |
| come in. The words 'cheap jeep' may not | | | | Cherokee ranges however, give you Wrangler |
| seemingly fit together - one look at the shear size | | | | bullet-proof suspension and reliability whilst lapping |
| of a Cherokee or Grand Cherokee (that'll be the | | | | air conditioning over you and your leather seats. |
| model range, not native Americans) has your | | | | Ok so which Jeep is it to be? The Cherokee as |
| wallet popping a cyanide capsule, but you'll be | | | | mentioned earlier, is the entry level model, |
| pleasantly surprised. | | | | offering the usual refinements for a price that pits |
| For a tad under 15 grand (UK Money) you can | | | | it against the likes of the Ford Focus and the |
| jump on the Jeep bandwagon and have a sparkly | | | | Vauxhall Astra. In the jam packed world of the |
| new Cherokee all to yourself (that'll be the model | | | | hatchback, the Cherokee offers a bit of |
| name not an Indian - is this going to get | | | | individuality on the road, or outside the school |
| tiresome?) Right lets start at the beginning - other | | | | gates. |
| than being cheap, Jeep has a lot going for it. A | | | | If you want to really impress however, the Grand |
| brief history lesson would inform you that Jeep | | | | Cherokee may be your choice. Ok, so at nearly |
| are the oldest Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV to you | | | | £30,000 it's not initially the cheap Jeep I've |
| and me) manufacturer, beating even | | | | been harping on about, but compare it to the |
| long-established companies like Land Rover. | | | | rivals and you'll need a lie down. For your money |
| Heritage counts for a lot, plus once you've been | | | | you get everything you'd expect on the |
| making SUVs for 67 years, you must be doing | | | | specification sheet (that's not me being vague, |
| something right. | | | | you really do even get the kitchen sink) and of |
| One look at American roads will have you gazing | | | | course the big one - 4 wheel drive. Right sit down |
| into the distance without seeing a single bend, the | | | | please, here's how the rivals stack up. A BMW X5 |
| horizon gobbling up the tarmac until it's out of | | | | is £10,000 more, a similar specification Land |
| sight. Faced with this mundane terrain and the | | | | Rover is £6,000 more and don't get me |
| alternative - vast mountainous deserts and cactus | | | | started on Mercedes or Audi. |
| lined off-road passes, Jeep came to a simple | | | | Admittedly owning the flagship American brand |
| conclusion that was probably along the lines of: "if | | | | may lead to badge snobbery in the staff car park |
| we make sure it can handle a desert, then geez | | | | from BMW man and yes you may be filled with |
| man, a straight road in Chicago ain't gonna be a | | | | dread every time you reach a corner - but don't |
| problem". Owning a Jeep affords you the luxury | | | | be as you'll come out the other side without a |
| of cruising comfortably on the motorway, safe in | | | | problem. The Cherokee derivatives really are a |
| the knowledge that the American (or in my case | | | | serious alternative to the sombre, repetitive metal |
| British) countryside holds no fear should you turn | | | | that lines our streets and despite the US of A's |
| off at the next junction and head for the hills. | | | | car making CV; they've made a pretty good car, |
| Now obviously an SUV isn't built to climb Mount | | | | sorry SUV. |
| Everest but that's because it'd be foolish to | | | | |