| Whilst looking for a new 4X4 vehicle, it occurred | | | | considerably powerful diesel engine. |
| to me that the market had become saturated | | | | The first impressions were more of confusion |
| with similar vehicles all vying for the same spots | | | | than a clear positive or negative persuasion. If |
| on everybody's driveways. Ever since the 4X4 | | | | you have spent your entire driving career in |
| explosion in popularity during the nineties (where | | | | hatchbacks, saloons and the occasional roadster, |
| they ceased to represent a rugged, pastoral | | | | the feeling of stepping up into a high driving |
| existence and became an indicator of wealth and | | | | positioned vehicle is strange and rather |
| privilege) the vast proportion of car | | | | disconcerting. Although only a matter of inches |
| manufacturers have offered their own | | | | higher than a regular car, driving the Jeep |
| interpretation of what they consider to be the | | | | Cherokee gave me a disconcerting sense of |
| ultimate 4X4. | | | | vertigo. After half an hour or so of coursing round |
| Up until I was handed the keys to one, I had | | | | country lanes and a couple of dual carriageways |
| never seriously considered owning a 4X4, as I | | | | this odd feeling gave way to a sense of |
| generally prefer feeling closer to the tarmac and a | | | | road-mastery. The sheer size of the Jeep |
| little less surrounded by metal. However, I was | | | | Cherokee does give you a genuine sense of |
| asked to test drive a new Jeep Cherokee and | | | | owning the road, which in less mature hands could |
| found myself enjoying the experience immensely. | | | | lead to mischief, but all it gave me was a sense |
| The model I tested was the new Jeep Cherokee | | | | of control. |
| Jeep Cherokee 2.8 CRD Limited; complete with a | | | | |