Seat Time is a chance for us to share our impressions of vehicles being tested in the Autoline Garage and at media previews from around the globe.
Reviewer: Chip Drake
Vehicles:
- 2016 Jeep Wrangler 4×4 75th Anniversary Edition
- 2016 Jeep Renegade Latitude 4×4 75th Edition
- 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland
2016 Jeep Wrangler 4×4 75th Anniversary Edition
Base: $29,995
Priced as Driven: $44,830
Destination included: $995
Wrangler is the one Jeep with the most direct link to the original World War II Willys MP. So as the brand celebrates its 75th anniversary, it is outfitting some models with a special edition.
The Wrangler, which starts life as a Sahara, becomes the special 75th Anniversary edition with nearly a $5,000 package including 17-inch bronze aluminum wheels, front & rear bronze tow hooks, grille and “Trail Rated” badge; both… in you guessed it, bronze. By the way, all of this bronze equipment looks great against the “Sarge Green” metallic paint of the car.
But the anniversary isn’t only on the exterior. Inside the Wrangler there’s an IP Grab Handle noting the special edition, leather seats with what they call “Ombre Mesh” cloth along with Moroccan Sun Accents.
There are a number of other features that help transform the Sahara into this impressive 75th Anniversary Wrangler. However, if you want the entire package, which pays homage to the vehicle’s heritage, it takes another $15,000 tacked onto the base price.
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2016 Jeep Renegade Latitude 4×4 75th Edition
Base: $23,395
Priced as Driven: $29,720
Destination included: $995
There are a lot of great things to be said about the Italian-built Jeep Renegade. From the ride, handling and styling to name a few, but I’m choosing to spotlight the “Easter Eggs.” Yes, Easter Eggs; those unique styling idiosyncrasies that the Jeep team slip onto the vehicle to delight and surprise the customer.
You may have heard of some of them like the silhouette of the original Willys Jeep on the windshield or a red version in the wheels; And if you look at the back of the car the rear taillights mimic a World War II gas can. But without a doubt, the most populated egg on the Renegade is a smaller replica of the iconic 7-slat Jeep grille, which shows up everywhere from the front headlamps to any number of spots on the vehicle interior.
Yet I have to confess that my favorite Jeep Easter Egg is the one on the rear windshield. And even though it really has nothing to do with the CUV or its heritage, when you see the silhouette of the Abominable Snowman (or do you say Yeti?) climbing a hill, how can you not be smitten?
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2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland
Base: $38,395
Priced as Driven: $41,180
Destination included: $995
Jeep’s compact crossover, the Cherokee Overland, is like its bigger brother and the most upscale of the models trim levels. So its a no brainer to spotlight the vehicle’s delightful interior.
Jeep gives you standard leather seats, with the Overland that seem to be more comfortable than its compact CUV competition. Our Cherokee came with a brown/pearl interior color combination which looked great especially paired with its Deep Cherry Red exterior. In addition to the seats, there are leather-wrapped features throughout the cabin: from shift knob to IP, to dash, along with the heated-steering wheel which also has some nice wood accents.
But looks aren’t everything. Let’s talk electronics.
The vehicle comes equipped with the latest Siri-assisted (“Eyes Free”) Uconnect NAV system, which not only looked great on the 7-inch color display, but worked flawlessly whenever I asked it to perform a task. Then depending on your comfort level, you can heat or cool either of the front seats.
Now, if like with Wrangler & Renegade we’ve already mentioned, you wanted your Cherokee outfitted with the 75th Anniversary package, you’d be looking at adding the following:
The exclusive exterior color of “Recon Green,” special 75th Anniversary badging as well as bronze accents on the exterior, wheels, roof rails and fascias, not to mention the 8.4-inch display and dual-pane sunroof. This will cost you another $2,780 added to your base price. But it does look great and they’re not making very many of these special edition models, so it is unique.
John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.