[JWS360]

Finally got around to driving a 2014 JGC Overland with a V6. Much, much nicer in person than expected. The interior was indeed well finished.

Positives include a well finished interior, comfortable seats and surprisingly intuitive touchscreeen interface, although hard buttons for seat heaters/vents would be appreciated. It was surprisingly quiet on both the highway and local roads, although the thicker "A" pillars do obstruct vision. I do see why some complained of the white stitching on the dash reflecting in the windshield. Didn't think I'd care, but it was surprisingly noticeable.

Power is best described as "adequate", but then again I'm coming from a BMW 335xi. The 8 has more power, but abysmal gas mileage. Since I don't tow and likely never will I cannot justify it, nor is the maybe going to appear someday in our lifetime diesel in the cards. At $4500 more it would take several years at least just to break even factoring in the higher fuel cost.

What pissed me off was the color I THOUGHT was Granite and would consider is really the now discontinued "Mineral Grey". Granite was "eh", thus leaving white as a possibility.

Going to give this more thought, but the Jeep is indeed in the running. Now, if I could only get over not having a BMW for the first time in who knows how many years.......

We also looked at a 2014 MDX. And then we walked away. Chick mobile!

Still undecided on lease vs. buy, but can see from here that 5% under invoice seems to be the going rate.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Willx]

I just finished a thorough run in the JGC... The Hemi is better on fuel than I thought and it performed better than I thought. The Transmission with the Hemi is the EXACT same model tranny as the BMW if that helps your BMW fever

 

[LSU_FAN]

We average 16-18 with the Hemi with mostly city driving, IMO thats not bad for any SUV. Our's is 2wd and has 18" tires which probably helps a little on the mpg's. I don't tow with the JC but having the extra power from the 8 is very nice, it makes you feel confident while merging into traffic or passing the Sunday driver. When we were shopping I felt the exact opposite as most here when it was time to choose between the 8 and the 6, I couldn't justify buying the 6 because in my mind the little extra it did cost will be made up when I sell or trade it.

 

[JWS360]

We average 16-18 with the Hemi with mostly city driving, IMO thats not bad for any SUV. Our's is 2wd and has 18" tires which probably helps a little on the mpg's. I don't tow with the JC but having the extra power from the 8 is very nice, it makes you feel confident while merging into traffic or passing the Sunday driver. When we were shopping I felt the exact opposite as most here when it was time to choose between the 8 and the 6, I couldn't justify buying the 6 because in my mind the little extra it did cost will be made up when I sell or trade it.

I'll have to drive the 8, but am concerned that the next round of gas price hikes could have an adverse effect on value as we saw before. Neither version will approach the 4.8 0-60 of a 335xi, so what's the difference? Still, you raise good points so I'll have to drive it. Much as I love BMW, I'm starting to get a few years under my belt & don't appreciate hunching to get into the car. The Jeep was certainly easier to enter/exit! Besides, as fast as a BMW is I never really get to use it. Too many damned speed traps and the like. Thought about a 535, but the prices are insane. Can't justify 63-65K once optioned as a BMW should be.

 

[acilate]

I quite like the Granite color. Add some matte black in instead of chrome, and it looks dead sexy. To each his own though. More Granite for me

 

[JWS360]

I quite like the Granite color. Add some matte black in instead of chrome, and it looks dead sexy. To each his own though. More Granite for me

I really liked the "Mineral Grey" they have apparently discontinued. I'll have to look at it again in the sunlight. Today was overcast.

Where did you get the matte black trim for the exterior?

 

[acilate]

Well I don't have a JGC yet, I'm waiting for the diesel. Search around for "plasti dip" - that is where I plan on starting and then as I decide what I want to stay matte black, I'll have them painted/powder coated.

 

[mceb]

Try it with the eco button off too (middle button below screen), gives little power boost when you need it by changing trans shifting range

Check out the indigo and brown interior on the overland - amazing with white or grey exterior

 

[JWS360]

Try it with the eco button off too (middle button below screen), gives little power boost when you need it by changing trans shifting range

Check out the indigo and brown interior on the overland - amazing with white or grey exterior

Good point- I did try it with Eco off. Made a slight, but noticeable difference.

Didn't see any indigo/brown interiors. Not stocked in the 2 local dealers I visited. Will try others as I come across them.

 

[kbrown127]

We wound up with a black limited, but almost chose the billet silver. It isn't as dark as the mineral grey was, but I think it is definitely more grey than silver. Ultimately Black on Black won out for us though.

 

[lstowell]

I just finished a thorough run in the JGC... The Hemi is better on fuel than I thought and it performed better than I thought. The Transmission with the Hemi is the EXACT same model tranny as the BMW if that helps your BMW fever

It seems the mileage on the Hemi is highly dependent on how trained your right foot is. If you have the bad habit of toggling the gas pedal, you'll be dropping into the low teens quickly. If you can keep your foot fairly steady and get out of the lower gears quickly without going to WOT, you can get 17-18 even in city driving.

The nicest thing about the hemi seems to be in the range from 30-80 where you can transition from anywhere in the bottom of that range to 80 very smoothly and seamlessly.

It keeps going from there, but then you need a trailer to haul a gasoline tank along....

With limited miles, don't see any difference between midgrade and premium. The OM ways premium isn't recommended and that it will run just fine on regular, but luckily the difference in my main driving area is only a few pennies.

Tried the V6, but at high altitude and steep hills, it sorta failed the "I-70 uphill test" even with the 8 speeds.

 

[LSU_FAN]

When you test drive the Hemi give sport mode a try it's a difference you can feel.

 

[SW03ES]

We also looked at a 2014 MDX. And then we walked away. Chick mobile!

Interesting. I have been driving vehicles shopping for a replacement for the Jeep since we're having so many problems all of a sudden. Need to decide whether to replace it or buy a warranty in the next 5k miles.

I've driven all of them, and I found that aside from the Jeep the new MDX is the least "chickish" vehicle in the segment. I think if I were going to replace it today the MDX would be it.

 

[JWS360]

Interesting. I have been driving vehicles shopping for a replacement for the Jeep since we're having so many problems all of a sudden. Need to decide whether to replace it or buy a warranty in the next 5k miles.

I've driven all of them, and I found that aside from the Jeep the new MDX is the least "chickish" vehicle in the segment. I think if I were going to replace it today the MDX would be it.

What year & model Jeep do you have?

We had the exact opposite reaction to the MDX. Look around when you see one in traffic. Probably 70-80% are driven by women. The only vehicle more "chick" (my opinion only) is the Lexus RX350.

Either way, the MDX did not impress. To my eyes it is frumpy and marred by the awful looking "beak" front end.

 

[jp467]

Interesting. I have been driving vehicles shopping for a replacement for the Jeep since we're having so many problems all of a sudden. Need to decide whether to replace it or buy a warranty in the next 5k miles.

I've driven all of them, and I found that aside from the Jeep the new MDX is the least "chickish" vehicle in the segment. I think if I were going to replace it today the MDX would be it.

Did you test drive the 2014 jeep? I think that would probably be your best bet.

 

[SW03ES]

What year & model Jeep do you have?

We had the exact opposite reaction to the MDX. Look around when you see one in traffic. Probably 70-80% are driven by women. The only vehicle more "chick" (my opinion only) is the Lexus RX350.

Either way, the MDX did not impress. To my eyes it is frumpy and marred by the awful looking "beak" front end.

Its a 2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo X.

Sure 70% of drivers are women, but the same is true of the Jeep. My wife drives our Jeep. There are 4 other WK2 Grand Cherokees in my little area of our neighborhood, all are driven by the women of the household. My boss has one that his wife drives (he has an Audi S5). Thats going to be the case with any SUV. The Lexus is very "chick" I agree (drove that too), but what else is more masculine than the MDX other than the Jeep? At least the MDX is sporty and doesn't feel like the *only* reason it exists is to haul a gaggle of children...which to me is what everything else in that segment but the Jeep feels like.

FWIW, I think the new MDX is very attractive. Not as nice looking as the Jeep, but better looking than everything else in the segment. The RX looks like a sperm whale, the Pathfinder/JX35 is just awkward, the Explorer looks good from the front and the back but it looks like a swollen Taurus down the sides, the Hyundai Santa Fe looks like the Lexus...which looks like a sperm whale...

Did you test drive the 2014 jeep? I think that would probably be your best bet.

I've driven the 2014, I don't love the new front end but I would get one and give Jeep a second chance. My wife however will not because of all the problems we've had, so the only way I'm going to keep my hands on a Jeep and stay married is to keep this one...which is what I'm leaning towards since I can't find anything that makes me remotely excited about trading. I can't bring myself to spend $45,000+ on something I don't really like.

 

[bill_de]

What year & model Jeep do you have?

We had the exact opposite reaction to the MDX. Look around when you see one in traffic. Probably 70-80% are driven by women. The only vehicle more "chick" (my opinion only) is the Lexus RX350.

Either way, the MDX did not impress. To my eyes it is frumpy and marred by the awful looking "beak" front end.

And if you go back to when the first pictures of the '14 GC were leaked you will see, not the dislike, but the outrage about how the Jeep designers ruined the front end of the beloved Grand Cherokee.

Many of those same people now love 'their' '14 Grand Cherokee.

Anybody buying a car should buy what they want, not be so insecure that they worry about who else is driving the same thing.


---

 

[JWS360]

Its a 2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo X.

Sure 70% of drivers are women, but the same is true of the Jeep. My wife drives our Jeep. There are 4 other WK2 Grand Cherokees in my little area of our neighborhood, all are driven by the women of the household. My boss has one that his wife drives (he has an Audi S5). Thats going to be the case with any SUV. The Lexus is very "chick" I agree (drove that too), but what else is more masculine than the MDX other than the Jeep? At least the MDX is sporty and doesn't feel like the *only* reason it exists is to haul a gaggle of children...which to me is what everything else in that segment but the Jeep feels like.

FWIW, I think the new MDX is very attractive. Not as nice looking as the Jeep, but better looking than everything else in the segment. The RX looks like a sperm whale, the Pathfinder/JX35 is just awkward, the Explorer looks good from the front and the back but it looks like a swollen Taurus down the sides, the Hyundai Santa Fe looks like the Lexus...which looks like a sperm whale...



I've driven the 2014, I don't love the new front end but I would get one and give Jeep a second chance. My wife however will not because of all the problems we've had, so the only way I'm going to keep my hands on a Jeep and stay married is to keep this one...which is what I'm leaning towards since I can't find anything that makes me remotely excited about trading. I can't bring myself to spend $45,000+ on something I don't really like.

LOL! "Sperm whate"! Needed a good laugh.

Acura wouldn't sell so many MDX's if someone didn't like the styling. I find the MDX the best looking in their stable, but aren't a fan of the CR-V like rear. The TL/RL have awful looking "beaks". Again, my opinion only.

About the only halfway masculine SUVs I can think of offhand are the Jeep and some GMC models. Maybe the Lexus GX/LX as they aren't in the same pattern as the de-masculating RX350, which come with a tank of estrogen it seems.

Still, I agree with another poster here. Get what YOU want, the rest of the world be damned.

My wife is open to me getting a '14 Overland & then it going to her in a few years, at which point maybe a 535 may be considered. I've had a few 335s in a row & like them, but am starting to find it small & harder to get in/out of.

In my mind the issues are two: Could I really stop driving a BMW for now and how is Jeep quality/reliability? I doubt that the people posting problems here are the majority, but still....... Well, there is that and the downmarket service department. Guess I got way spoiled by BMW. The Jeep service area reminded me of, um...Wal-Mart.

 

[nachojeep]

I tested both 8 and 6 before purchasing the 6. I am happy with my decision and get about 20 mpg with a lead foot and "fun" driving habits. Of course the 8 has more power and gives you more confidence but then again an 8 inch gives you more confidence than a 6 inch if you know what i mean....

I think that if you are towing, racing, or just dont care about the cost/fuel etc then you should get the 8. If you arent doing any of the above and think twice about the premium in price, requirements for premium gas, and the mileage issues then you should be pleased with the 6.

Besides the engine, weight, etc, the interiors are the same. Exteriors are the same. Its all about the power/economy/ego issue.

Now, with that said, I am thinking of improving my efficiency by adding a few HP and MPG with a drop in aftermarket filter or CAI.

 

[BobsWK2]

Now, with that said, I am thinking of improving my efficiency by adding a few HP and MPG with a drop in aftermarket filter or CAI.

Be careful with those aftermarket CAI and filters. All they usually do is emit more noise and allow more dirt into the engine. But its your choice.