Jeep's Ugly 2014 Cherokee is Evidence of Big Problems at Chrysler-Fiat

You can't build a car without hundreds of people. Engineers, designers, company management - even accountants - are involved in the process of building a car. From the first design to the first vehicle rolling off the line, hundreds of people have a chance to raise their hands and say "UH, doesn't anyone else think this car is ugly?"

Which is why Jeep's ugly-as-sin 2014 Cherokee is such a big problem. If a vehicle that has been universally panned can make it all the way through Chrysler-Fiat's design process, than the process is BROKEN.

Which is why I say that the 2014 Cherokee could be Jeep's Aztek - the ugly vehicle that symbolized major dysfunction and ultimately predicted Pontiac's demise.

Even if this ugly little SUV isn't the forebearer of Jeep's doom, it's clear that there are big problems at Chrysler-Fiat. The 2014 Cherokee is the proof.
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pepito66 - 2/23/2013 12:17:17 AM

+1 Boost

Yes is true , is a real prove of serious problem between Chrysler-Fiat , miscommunication in their entire team of designer , that make real this abomination.

cidflekken - 2/23/2013 12:34:05 AM

+2 Boost

Actually, I think this SUV will sell like hot cakes. And I'm being serious. With the number of Jukes, Cubes, and Muranos that I see on the road, there is clearly an American appetite for different, quirky, and unique. It's much more tasteful than the Aztek ever could be. And the Jeep brand is extremely strong.

Chark - 2/23/2013 8:31:02 AM

+2 Boost

The Jeep's not nearly as bad overall as the Azugly Aztec, but the front end is horrendous. It reminds me of the Griswold family station wagon from National Lampoon's Vacation. The individual parts are all out of scale with each other and the chrome looks like someone had too much fun with a JCWhitney catalog. The rest of the exterior looks pretty good, but not very distinctive.

randy3023 - 2/24/2013 7:47:51 PM

0 Boost

Great commentary, Autospies.

It takes an unusually high number of ignorant and arrogant managers in a company to screw something up this bad. Which is why investors ought to be pretty nervous right now, as it is good management they value most.

Investors ought to be wondering WHO is responsible for hiring these managers, who silenced and/or disregarded so many voices in their company, such that a blatant error like this got by. It is only a matter of time before a FATAL mistake occurs, one as serious and obvious as a horrific design misjudgment like the Aztek, or market miscalculation such as the $40,000 hybrid Volt.

trmckin - 2/25/2013 12:07:38 AM

0 Boost

While i don't like the cherokee in question, i don't see this as some sort of sign of doom and gloom. Every brad has their dog. This is jeeps. Not like they haven't been down this road before with the "compass" and some of the liberty models. The Wrangler and GC is their bread and butter and those are some great looking vehicles with no end in sight as far as interested customers go.

trmckin - 2/25/2013 12:08:07 AM

0 Boost

brad = brand

TheDepressingTruth - 2/25/2013 9:50:06 PM

+1 Boost

FIX THE GRILL !!

Eyecarehawaii - 2/25/2013 9:53:59 PM

+1 Boost

I think a bigger problem with Jeep is reliability.

Knox - 1/13/2014 1:39:35 PM

+1 Boost

I had to stop reading at your incorrect use of the word than. The word you were looking for was then. with an e.