Its ‘interesting’ former face didn’t hurt sales, but refreshed Jeep’s inoffensiveness can only help brand’s bottom line.
When the modern Jeep Cherokee was introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year, the community was slow to accept it. Not only did it lack the boxy qualities that made the old Cherokee so popular, but it also featured a split-style headlight design that was unlike anything in the Jeep lineup. Hell, it was unlike anything in any American lineup, and the front end design drew heavy criticism from the media and the public alike.
Even with the controversial front-end styling, the Cherokee has proven to be one of the brand’s best-sellers, but plenty of people are still quick to complain about the exterior design. That ends with the debut of the 2019 Cherokee. The star of this show is the refreshed front end, but this new Jeep is more than just a prettier face.
The Face of the 2019 Cherokee
As you can see in the images here, the 2019 Jeep Cherokee departs from the unique split-style headlights, combining the low beams, high beams and LED trim into one lens assembly mounted high on the front end. The fog lights have been moved up to the middle of the bumper area and the lower fascia has been redesigned in the absence of the old fog light assemblies.
The seven-slot grille has also been restyled a bit, with a new contour as it approaches the hood, but the bottom line here is that the unusual headlight setup is gone and the new look fits much better with the rest of the Jeep lineup.
We do not dislike the current Cherokee with the split-style headlights, but we have little doubt this new front end will appeal to far more Americans who are shopping for a new midsize SUV.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
