Hi Scotty,
I know how you feel about Jeeps, but I'm looking into a used 2020 Jeep Cherokee (Trailhawk) and it seems like a good deal to me. I'm looking for a crossover/small unibody SUV that can actually go off-road but also is a good daily driver for under $20K, and it seems like the Cherokee checks all my boxes. Reliability ratings seem at least reasonably good. The other car I'm looking at is a 2014 Outback 3.6r (before they put the CVT in). I'm sure it's more reliable overall but for the same price I could get a 6 year newer Cherokee with under 70K miles that seems better off-road too.
Thoughts? Is the Jeep gonna be so unreliable it's not worth it? And are there any other options I should consider that compete in the same class/price range but that are also equally capable off-road?
Thanks!
Neither of those is a good choice. Between engine problems, transmission problems, and electrical problems the Jeep will very likely turn into an endless money pit. Although the Subaru has a great AWD system the H6 engine is a gas hog and very expensive to repair as it ages.
I see, thank you. Do you have a recommendation for something better that meets my needs?
Something from Toyota or Honda would be top picks.
I'd much rather go with something like a Honda CR-V or a Toyota Rav4. Toyota makes an Adventure model Rav4, actually. I would assume it's similar to the Jeep Cherokee and much higher quality made. Toyota also makes a TRD Off-Road edition in that model vehicle.
Stay away from Jeep if you value your money. Jeep is a subsidiary of Stellantis, now. Chrysler got bought out by Fiat in 2008, becoming Fiat-Chrysler, then Fiat itself went under a few years later. Peugeot bought both Chrysler and Fiat out, becoming Stellantis. Scotty refers to them as the 3 Stooges of automobile manufacturing routinely.
4Runner
I’m normally pro-Subaru, but I’m very ambivalent about the 3.6. Opinions range from strongly positive to strongly negative. I think that’s because they are very maintenance-dependent. They can be great cars for a long time if you stay on top of maintenance, but repairs can get very expensive if you don’t (very different from Subaru’s 4 cylinders, which are usually very cheap and easy to repair).
Ditto for the Cherokee. In general, I don’t think they’re good cars, but if you maintain them aggressively they actually can do alright. My wife and I know a couple who drove one up to Prudhoe Bay and then down to Southern Mexico - towing a trailer! - without a problem. That should tell you something. (But then they got a Tacoma, which should also tell you something….)
Anyway, on this forum, you will always get recommendations for Toyota and Honda, which is correct for long term reliability. Those makes also tend to be a little more forgiving of deferred maintenance. Problem is that they don’t depreciate as fast and values are higher. That leads to a paradox:
- A used Honda or Toyota will be more reliable than other used cars of the same age
- A used Honda or Toyota will NOT necessarily be more reliable than other used cars of the same price
So now to answer your question, I think the Jeep will meet your needs and seems like a good value. BUT, you have to know that it has been well cared for, and I would invest in a very detailed pre-purchase inspection from an experienced mechanic.
Good luck!
