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2019 Jeep Cherokee First Drive Review | Still the most truck-like crossover SUV

The history of the SUV has been one of ever-increasing refinement, and that arc bends towards carlike forms. It's a trend that even the hardiest of nameplates has succumbed to, including the venerable Cherokee, which for 2014, moved from the solid-axle brick of yore to the shark-nosed, independently suspended crossover of modern-day. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing. We found it to be quite a competitive machine at the time, and one that was plenty capable. But time marches on, and five model years later, Jeep has updated the Cherokee. The polarizing shark nose has been toned down, with all the headlight elements integrated into single units on either side. The hatchback has been revised and now sports a cutout for the license plate. Besides improving the looks at the back, Jeep says it allowed them to expand the rear cargo area to 25.8 cubic feet, an increase of 1.2 cubes, because moving the license plate space allowed them to pull the latch assembly farther out. It should be noted, though, that the Cherokee still doesn't have as much cargo capacity as the new 27.2-cubic-foot Compass. Besides the cosmetic changes, the new Cherokee gets a new engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque that shares commonality with the Jeep Wrangler and Alfa Romeo Giulia engines. However, it lacks the mild hybrid technology of the Wrangler because of space issues, and it has a cylinder head with two camshafts rather than the Alfa's single-overhead cam design. In addition to the new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the Cherokee's old naturally aspirated engines, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder (180 hp, 170 lb-ft) and a 3.2-liter V6 (271 hp, 239 lb-ft), carryover unchanged except for the addition of standard engine start-stop functionality. The question is, can mild changes to the Cherokee keep it competitive in a segment where several rivals have been completely redesigned? In terms of capability, the answer is a resounding, "yes," particularly for the Trailhawk, which in turbocharged guise, has even shorter gearing for its low-range four-wheel-drive setting than before at 51.2:1. Like the previous model, the Trailhawk includes different front and rear bumpers for improved clearance and approach and departure angles. It features a set of skid plates and gets a steel oil pan for protection from obstacles, and the rear axle can be locked for additional traction.

New England Patriots player helps driver of rollover crash

Winning the AFC Championship game to guarantee a spot in the Super Bowl would be a pretty major accomplishment for most people in a day. However, just hours after the victory, New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork showed what he could do off the field, when he helped save a woman from an overturned car. Though, the player remained modest about what happened. Wilfork and his wife were driving home late at night when they spotted a flipped Jeep near Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Surveillance video showed Wilfork pulling over and running to the vehicle's aid to be among the first on the scene. Finding a woman trapped inside, Wilfork told her, "Don't panic," and according to Massachusetts State Police, the 325-pound player simply reached his arm into the vehicle and lifted the woman out to save her. She was later charged with driving under the influence. Hear Wilfork's description of what happened in the video above.

Woman and child die after Jeep gets stuck in mud

A Florida woman and her baby died over the weekend when their Jeep sank into deep mud during an off-roading trip. Taylor Brown took his girlfriend Hallie Lewis and their infant son Bryson off-roading in his Jeep Cherokee on Saturday night. The Jeep became stuck in thick mud, according to WESH. Brown got out of the vehicle while Lewis and Bryson remained inside. Using a winch, Brown tried – unsuccessfully – to free the Jeep. The Cherokee was left running as he struggled to pull it out of the mud. When he returned to the Jeep to check on his son and girlfriend, he found them unresponsive. Taylor pulled the two out of the back window, but it was too late. Lewis was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The baby died shortly thereafter. Police are still investigating, but their deaths appear to be a tragic accident due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The tailpipe of the Jeep was either submerged or caked with mud, allowing the deadly gas to build up inside the vehicle. News Source: WESH Weird Car News Jeep tailpipe carbon monoxide