The Cars

2015 Jeep Cherokee Latitude

We purchased this to replace the 2004 Isuzu Rodeo during a “Black Friday” (day after Thanksgiving) car sale. This vehicle was my choice after almost a year of researching affordable options to replace the Rodeo. I wanted a minimum 3.2 LT engine for the towing power, and I really wanted a Four-Wheel or All-Wheel drive package as well. This sweet software-controlled vehicle nicely fit the bill. It was loaded with electronics, and I joke about the Jeep being smarter than me. To date this vehicle has been perfect for towing my boat, hauling kayaks, commuting, and long-distance trips.

Read The History

Jeep Cherokee 3.2 LT Latitude Specifications

Purchased – November 2015 from a local dealer, 459 miles on the odometer.
 Features – 3.2L Pentastar V6 engine, rated 22 City / 31 Highway mileage
– 4-wheel drive with four drive train settings (Selec-Terrain traction control system)
– 9 speed automatic transaxle transmission
– White with tan cloth upholstery, black leather dash and steering wheel, black carpets
– Auto Stop/Start
– Backup camera and “Park Sense” warning system
– Blind Spot Warning System
– LCD touchscreens display for AM/FM/SIRUS’S radio, media, climate controls
– LCD Instrument console with Vehicle Information System
– UConnect 8.4AN/RA4 touch screen radio with 9-1-1 emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and support for apps
– Blue Tooth option for cellphone calls, text messages, and media hookup
– Media options include One SD Card input, One Audio Input, Two USB ports, Two 12VDC Power Ports
– Cruise Control
– Power Windows and power tailgate lift
– Power Sunroof
– Power Controlled and Heated Side Mirrors
– Fog lights as standard equipment
– Auto-dimming Rear View Mirror
– Power Door Locks
– Remote Start and Remote Rear Tailgate Operator
– Center storage console
– Front and side airbags, rear collision protection in head rests
– Power driver seat
– Three Programmable Garage door opener controls
– Electric Parking Brake
– Alloy wheels
Custom Options – Class III Tow Hitch and Wiring Harness, Dealer Installed
– Thule AeroBlade 7501/7502 Roof Rack Bars
– Combination Dashcam / Radar Detector
Major Repairs– Week-long dealership repair issue getting the auto stop/start function to work correctly. Issue identified as a software problem that required complete system reprogramming.
– Lots of repeated bodywork repairs due to accidents.
– Multiple battery replacements, due to batteries constantly draining down while Jeep was parked.
Comments One very sharp looking vehicle, and the heaviest vehicle I’ve owned. Massive amounts of electronics controlling everything on the vehicle.
External Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Cherokee_(KL)
Fact Sheet for 2015 Jeep Lattitude

Photo Collection

Another view of my new Jeep Cherokee, the first weekend I owned her. Before any body parts had been replaced.

My Jeep, camouflaged with snow. Sitting in the local commuter lot where she spent a lot of time, pre-Pandemic era.

Jeep hauling my kayak. It was a bit tricky hauling a kayak due to the back overhang (didn’t want to put weight on a fiberglass overhang), and the roof antenna. I figured out how to load the kayak from the side, then swing it around on the roof and strap it down. Unfortunately, over a period of time, the rubber coating on the antenna broke.

I also discovered that I could not open the tailgate with a kayak on the roof. Actually, I could, but if the kayak wasn’t strapped down, the raising tailgate would flip the kayak forward down the windshield and into the street…

We also towed our utility trailer a lot. The one issue with the Jeep was the Class III hitch socket was in the rear bumper, not hanging below the way it was with the Rodeo. This higher elevation meant the straight hitch I had with three different sized balls was high enough that the trailer had an unsafe up-angle. I solved that problem by using a second hitch with five-inch drop, which kept the trailer level. I still used the heavier hitch for boat.

In this photo we’re hauling our Eton Moped off to a new buyer. We hauled a lot of different things in this utility trailer; everything from household items, a moped, building materials, trash, soil compost, and even horse manure.

With factory-installed towing system, towing was a real joy. A problem I had with previous vehicles was the electrical hook-ups. The Jeep, with its factory installed wiring harness never gave any problems with electrical issues.

This is the Jeep towing my 2010 Bayliner 175BR “Sea Dragon” when we moved across town in December 2021.

Another shot of the Jeep loaded up with kayak. This is at the house we moved into in December 2021.

2015 Jeep Cherokee Factory Brochure

The Jeep Cherokee brochure is a lavish 49-page production, with foldouts. Had they put a hardcover on this, it could easily be a fine coffee table book.

Inside cover with long list of all the goodies these Jeeps include.

Inside semi-transparent artwork sheet. As mentioned, this brochure could be a coffee table book.

More gratuitous artwork. Starts to build the brochure theme of adventure and freedom as related to the Jeep.

We’re on page 6-7 and they finally start getting to the point. More gratuitous artwork and a bit of text.

Now they start to describe the Jeep models starting with 4×4 drive and the computerized transmission options.

Next set of foldouts discuss the engines. The 3.2L in my model offered plenty of power and surprisingly fuel efficient for the size. Also made towing easy.

The 9-speed automatic transmission was also nice but had a few quirks. It tended to “surge” at low speeds or starting up from a stop sign, getting me accused of “bad driving.” But it was otherwise very smooth shifting. I did especially like the control for shifting different four-wheel options.

And the towing capabilities. This shows a boat about the same size and weight as my runabout, along with a shot of carrying a kayak. Exactly how I used my Jeep.

A quick discussion on suspension and handling.

A discussion on the auto traction modes. My Latitude Model only had four modes – no “Rock” option. Which was fine, those four modes were plenty for my driving. I used the “Snow” mode for wet slippery roads as well as snow. I used the “Sand/Mud” setting when pulling my boat out of the water, for that low-speed traction.

The driver display was slick and showed off the advantages of electronic systems. I liked having the options for checking different engine functions, but particularly liked how the display integrated with the Navigation system. When using GPS, when I’d come up to a turn, I’d see the display right in front of me. M default setting was the digital speed display, which I suspect helped me drive closer to speed limits.

Note this brochure page has a half-page insert. Very slick.

Next, a brief discussion on the interior layout. It was nice and did have handy little storage niches tucked away all over.

This jeep was a software-controlled behemoth, quite possibly smarter than me. The 2015 model year had a huge screen display in the center of the dash, which I loved for large GPS map displays. I noticed in later model years this screen display was smaller.

Another interior shot, with a better view of the center dash screen display. I found the controls were nicely laid out and easy to find everything.

Note another half-page insert in this brochure. My scan doesn’t show behind the half-page, but it’s a different view of the screen, this time with the radio display.

Close-up detail of the door panels. I had the pattern shown here.

The large sunroof was wonderful, especially as it was electric operated. The interior sunshade was also electric. my only worry was hitting the wrong button and inadvertently opening the sunroof when all I wanted to do was open the sunshade.

Another pitch for the excellent interior storage.

A few shots of the cargo-carrying capacity. In truth, the cargo capacity isn’t bad, but much less in comparison to the 2004 Isuzu Rodeo. The Rodeo, with rear seats folded down, had as much cargo space as a regular pickup truck. The Jeep, much less, but it was adequate for our needs.

Every brochure includes a discussion of safety features. This Jeep is loaded with airbags, something near and dear to my heart. I can also attest to just how tough the framework is, after seeing the results of my second accident.

A pitch for some of their numerous Jeep accessories

More Jeep accessories. I managed to not buy any of these, but I did add roof racks. Surprisingly enough, the Jeep roof racks as sold by the dealer were actually Thule-brand racks.

Back cover spread. Note the postcard-sized addon on last page. This is a fold-out with all the Jeep Cherokee’s features, specs, and color combinations. Interesting way of displaying these.

Index

Introduction
1977 Chevrolet LUV (Isuzu Luv Series Six) Pickup Truck
1979 MG Midget 1500
1980 Chevrolet Chevette 4 door Hatchback
1988 Isuzu LS SpaceCab Pickup Truck
1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 1.6 Four Door Sedan
1978 Mercedes Benz 200D 4 Door Sedan
1991 Volvo 240 Sedan
2004 Isuzu Rodeo LS SUV
2000 Volkswagen New Beetle GL 2 Door Hatchback
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8S Hatchback
2013 Nissan Versa 1.6SV Sedan 
2015 Jeep Cherokee “Latitude”
2024 Thor Scope 18G RV
Final Thoughts and Table of Changes

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