Jeep

Turned on the television today to be greeted with doom and gloom on the news about the state of the economy. It was the same yesterday, the day before and well seemingly for as long as I can remember. If things were as bad as the media made out we'd all be unemployed, homeless and dead within the week. Being a sometime journalist myself I shouldn't criticise the media, with me being one of the bad guys but in a refreshingly honest manner I will. If there is a whiff that you, your perfect wife, two healthy children, family Jeep and home are after a holiday or a new home, all hell breaks loose.

It seems that by keeping us downtrodden we won't treat ourselves to the goods and services that we deserve following a typical 37 hour weekly slog at the office. Certainly don't listen to the politicians and what they spout, but equally don't be downtrodden either, if you've been saving for a week in the sun, do it, regardless of whether the big bang machine will suck your plane into Mars.

The thing I scratch my head over the most though is the cost of goods relative to others - there appears to be no logical relativity at all. For example, a highly sophisticated DVD player with years of research, thousands of wires, micro boards and the ability to keep you entertained for an indefinite amount of time costs from £30 for a decent model. Compare this to a barbecue which consists of three metal legs, a tray and technology that has existed for millions of years and makes you the man of the house for 30 minutes, which costs £85.
It's all well and good scrimping and saving on food, gas and electricity, but when the most basic way of burning your sausages costs nearly three times as much as something a hundred times more sophisticated, it's time to start believing the world has gone mad. The world of cars does appear to buck this trend and in turn temporarily stabilised my sanity. For years the pattern has been simple, pay less, get less. A cheaper manufacturer is more likely to break down, prove to be false economy and be rubbish to drive anyway. Therefore stick to a reputable brand, pay a bit for more for your CD player and alloy wheels and be content knowing the cheaper competitors that have all this included in the on-the-road price are far worse.

Imagine my state of mind then when I discovered this has all been tipped upside down too. Not by the media, but by Jeep. You see in the world of the SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) or 4 x 4 as they were previously known Jeep is the cheapest option but weirdly could prove to be the best. The new Jeep Cherokee is the latest model and has the wealth of 65 years experience in its veins. There are two things that instantly spring to mind upon seeing the latest model - Jeep appear to be following Porsche's lead with their 911 and not restyling it at all and therefore it looks like a mini Land Rover and just like the old model.

The good news is that the styling was previously very likable whilst being utilitarian, the cornerstone of any good Jeep. Therefore you get chunky features, the patented seven slot front grill and that mud-splattered heritage. Jeep also won't bombard you with options - you can either have a 2.8 litre diesel with a manual or automatic gearbox. Yes that's it.

I'd hazard a well-judged guess that a Jeep owner will do more off road driving than the typical SUV owner and the fact is that the Cherokee can cope ably with rugged terrain, thanks to its high ground clearance, powerful engine and hill descent option as standard. That doesn't mean it has sacrificed tarmac handling mind. Yes it isn't as refined as a car, or SUVs in a much higher price bracket from the continent, but the Jeep combines on and off road duties perfectly well.

Inside the Cherokee is well equipped with the aforementioned hill descent accompanied with air conditioning, parking sensors, stability and cruise control and seats that are both electrically moved about and heated. For an extra £950 you can open your roof to the sky above with the 'Sky Slider' option - a panoramic canvas roof. Some may complain that the materials used on the interior aren't to the highest standard but they all function perfectly well and keep a good chunk of money off the retail price.

That price starts at £25, 595 which in any economic climate is good sense. The Jeep Cherokee is therefore cheap but not rubbish. If that doesn't mess up your life equilibrium, nothing will.
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