Best 4x4

[Frog 85]

Hi everyone, first time posting here, but I've been lurking for a while. Really appreciate all the info you guys and girls have put out. And I'm sure this topic has been touched on before, but searching through this thread is pretty brutal given the specific info I am looking. So here is my first question for 14ers.com: When I'm looking at theses road difficulty ratings, would I be able to handle pretty much anything under level 5 with a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

To put that in context, I live in a large city, and I don't have the Jeep yet, I'm just trying to figure out what I want. I know I want an SUV of some sort, I've done the I'm also not the most advanced off-road driver in the world. I grew up in Mississippi, and did some time in Iraq, so I'm not completely inexperienced, but it's been mostly just mud that I've driven through, not mountains. My plan is to drive up to Colorado sometime in the next year or so and spend a week or more hiking/camping, so fuel efficiency is as big for me as everyday comfort in city driving (pretty much rendering a Wrangler pointless). I had initially looked at the Renegade Trailhawk b/c it's reasonably priced, gets good gas mileage and appears to have legitimate off road ability, but my concern is that at <200 hp from the factory, it will be woefully underpowered at altitude. Then I started looking at the Cherokee Trailhawk. I really liked it, with the v6 it had power to spare, still decent gas mileage, and again, off-road capability, but when I took one for a test drive, my GF's head was basically touching the roof (she's 6'3") and so she nixed that plan. We both really liked the V6 Grand Cherokee (even with the trade-off in mpg), and we can find one a couple of years old for a reasonable price with most of the off road equipment I want.

I've also tossed the idea around in my head of getting a Subaru. I know they are reliable cars and all wheel drive, but I've read a few comments here that advise against that.

Anyways, I hope that wasn't too long-winded, I know I can get wordy sometimes, but, thoughts?

[Wish I lived in CO]

Since you're only going to use it once a year for 4x4, I'd look more for economy, comfort, etc. or whatever your city goals would be. Having said that, clearance (over power) would probably be the most important factor. Thus the Subaru would be not so good for mountain roads.

[Frog 85]

Well, my intention is to use it more often than that. I would like to take at least 2 trips/year hiking to an area where it would be helpful to have. Also, while I'm in a very warm climate location right now, I fully intend to move further north in the next 2-3 years, and ideally would have a 4wd option then. Part of what I like about Jeep is the ability to select snow/rock/mud depending on conditions.

[blakhawk]

Ive had the cherokee trailhawk since August 2014...i needed a true 4x4 but with also decent enough mpgs and comfy everyday commuting. No other vehicle in my opinion can really come close to matching those needs. Except now the renegade trailhawk,but slightly less capable offroading wise. Real skid plates,rear lockers, etc,etc... dont have those with a suby,but id def look into those as well and they may fit you better than they do me. Plenty of subys and folks out there that can make almost all the 14er trailheads with them and do.

By the way im the same height as your gf and i have no problems at all with head height. There is a lever diwn on the side that can raise or lower the seat substantialy. Im betting the seat she sat in was raised all the way up. If i raise my all the way then yeah my head is about an inch from the roof. But all the way down its not even close and very comfy.

Just my 2 cents...if ya have any more questions about the cherokee lemme know as im very familiar with it now.

[Frog 85]

Thanks for the info on the cherokee. She was in the passenger seat, I don't know if that makes a difference, but she claims she put it all the way down. And to be fair, they didn't have a trailhawk on the lot, we drove the closest they had to one, but I'm not sure that would matter on the interior at all. Could it be that a different trim level/interior package doesn't allow for as much adjustment? Regardless, I'm going to have to try to get her back into one, because that was my top choice.

[painless4u2]

I drive a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel and really like it. Will be putting on better off-road tires soon which will improve it even more. I'm getting 23 mpg average (gets 33 on highway). One caveat: it's a Jeep, (Fiat Chrysler) so you must be willing to accept build-quality issues that may arise.

[Scott P]

In case you are concerned about reliability:



2015 Graph:



Good luck!

[Frog 85]

Yeah, the diesel option was pretty interesting to me. If I go for the Grand Cherokee, it will absolutely be something I consider. It is pretty tough to find used ones with the diesel in it, and to be honest, I'm too thrifty to buy a brand new Grand Cherokee. Would much rather put that money into an extra trip or new gear, or even just save it so that I can retire a month earlier (not that I'm anywhere near retirement age, I still have some schooling I want to do).

As far as build quality, I can do a lot of repairs myself if I have the workspace. I know a lot of Dodges suffer from terrible transmission problems, and that would be a good bit above my skill level, but almost everything else mechanical I can handle, so I'm not super concerned with that as far as daily driving goes.

[Frog 85]

Acura being so low is a little shocking to me. I've got a 2006 and literally the only thing I've ever had to get worked on was replacing the starter. Other than that, it's just been routine maintenance.

[SkaredShtles]

Acura being so low is a little shocking to me. I've got a 2006 and literally the only thing I've ever had to get worked on was replacing the starter. Other than that, it's just been routine maintenance.

You'll note that the chart is for "2016 New Car"... 2006 was a long time ago.

[Scott P]

Acura being so low is a little shocking to me. I've got a 2006 and literally the only thing I've ever had to get worked on was replacing the starter. Other than that, it's just been routine maintenance.

You'll note that the chart is for "2016 New Car"... 2006 was a long time ago.

Yes, this. Acura has slipped just in the last year or two, before that it was much closer to the top.

[rpdawes]

I have my 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lareado. After 225,000 miles, it still is going pretty well mechanically.