OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
So it has been two months about about 3,000Km with the new Jeep and I believe time for a reasonably comprehensive review of it.
Since purchase, there have been two updates for it:
1. Latest UConnect update, released in September
2. BCM update which showed up on WiTech a couple of weeks ago. Fixed some bugs and improved diagnostic capabilities. More on this later.
I'm going to get the cons out of the way first:
- Power lift gate is a bit slow. Not being able to open the window means you have to open the lift gate every time. I found the speed on the recently rented Tahoe more appropriate.
- Since the latest UConnect update, I found the touchscreen a bit laggy on power up. Trying to hit the heated seats and wheel buttons takes a second for them to become responsive. The BCM update has, for whatever reason, improved this however.
- The analog speedometer in the cluster is absolutely useless. It is so small I don't even know why it was included. Luckily the large digital display is wonderful but it is weird having this entirely useless gauge moving around on the left side.
- There is no coin storage in the centre console. This was a fantastic thing in the Charger. It had this padded/lined movable coin holder, which the Jeep lacks.
- The cup holders are not heated or cooled. This was another feature that I really liked in the Charger.
- Periodically the remote start would not work. However, the BCM update mentioned above, appears to have fixed that issue. So I can't complain about that anymore.
- There is a reflection of the stitching from the leather dash that you can see in the windshield.
Now the pro's:
- The ride is phenomenal. Perfect balance between taught and compliant.
- The interior fit and finish is wonderful. Everything lines up, there are no weird gaps, rattles....etc.
- UConnect, this is the third vehicle we've had with this and I have grown no less fond of it. It is currently my benchmark for a touchscreen system.
- The seats. These are the Laguna Leather seats, which are an upgrade from the regular SRT seats that I had in the Charger. They are very similar to the quality of the seats in my former M5. The bolstering is perfect as is, IMHO, the material selection. They feel "just right". Heating and cooling features work extremely well.
- The 6.4L coupled with deeper gearing and the 8spd is an amazing combination. Bucket loads of power at any speed and it comes out of the hole like a bear.
- The panoramic moonroof coupled with the suede headliner/pillars and leather-wrapped dashboard really give it an extremely upscale feel. These are improvements over the Charger for sure.
- The Brembo's are, as expected, fantastic.
- Being a '16, it has the updated steering wheel controls with larger buttons like on the Durango. My Charger had the smaller buttons. I find this new wheel an improvement.
- The auto-levelling HID projector headlights are fantastic, and on-par with the ones in the M5.
- The exhaust note is absolutely intoxicating. It is louder than the Charger was, but not obnoxious. This is probably the best factory exhaust I've ever heard.
All-in-all, I am extremely pleased with the vehicle and it has replaced the M5 as my new "favourite". Capable in corners, but can still tow the boat to the cottage in the spring and handle snow like a champion. This experience, coupled with my dad's recent testing of a GC Trail Hawk has made me a big fan of this platform and Jeep's QC with it. Definitely one of their better, if not their best product right now.
A few filthy winter pictures:
Since purchase, there have been two updates for it:
1. Latest UConnect update, released in September
2. BCM update which showed up on WiTech a couple of weeks ago. Fixed some bugs and improved diagnostic capabilities. More on this later.
I'm going to get the cons out of the way first:
- Power lift gate is a bit slow. Not being able to open the window means you have to open the lift gate every time. I found the speed on the recently rented Tahoe more appropriate.
- Since the latest UConnect update, I found the touchscreen a bit laggy on power up. Trying to hit the heated seats and wheel buttons takes a second for them to become responsive. The BCM update has, for whatever reason, improved this however.
- The analog speedometer in the cluster is absolutely useless. It is so small I don't even know why it was included. Luckily the large digital display is wonderful but it is weird having this entirely useless gauge moving around on the left side.
- There is no coin storage in the centre console. This was a fantastic thing in the Charger. It had this padded/lined movable coin holder, which the Jeep lacks.
- The cup holders are not heated or cooled. This was another feature that I really liked in the Charger.
- Periodically the remote start would not work. However, the BCM update mentioned above, appears to have fixed that issue. So I can't complain about that anymore.
- There is a reflection of the stitching from the leather dash that you can see in the windshield.
Now the pro's:
- The ride is phenomenal. Perfect balance between taught and compliant.
- The interior fit and finish is wonderful. Everything lines up, there are no weird gaps, rattles....etc.
- UConnect, this is the third vehicle we've had with this and I have grown no less fond of it. It is currently my benchmark for a touchscreen system.
- The seats. These are the Laguna Leather seats, which are an upgrade from the regular SRT seats that I had in the Charger. They are very similar to the quality of the seats in my former M5. The bolstering is perfect as is, IMHO, the material selection. They feel "just right". Heating and cooling features work extremely well.
- The 6.4L coupled with deeper gearing and the 8spd is an amazing combination. Bucket loads of power at any speed and it comes out of the hole like a bear.
- The panoramic moonroof coupled with the suede headliner/pillars and leather-wrapped dashboard really give it an extremely upscale feel. These are improvements over the Charger for sure.
- The Brembo's are, as expected, fantastic.
- Being a '16, it has the updated steering wheel controls with larger buttons like on the Durango. My Charger had the smaller buttons. I find this new wheel an improvement.
- The auto-levelling HID projector headlights are fantastic, and on-par with the ones in the M5.
- The exhaust note is absolutely intoxicating. It is louder than the Charger was, but not obnoxious. This is probably the best factory exhaust I've ever heard.
All-in-all, I am extremely pleased with the vehicle and it has replaced the M5 as my new "favourite". Capable in corners, but can still tow the boat to the cottage in the spring and handle snow like a champion. This experience, coupled with my dad's recent testing of a GC Trail Hawk has made me a big fan of this platform and Jeep's QC with it. Definitely one of their better, if not their best product right now.
A few filthy winter pictures:
