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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit Former Medford detective accused of exploiting man with dementia State police: Grants Pass shooter tried to run victim off the road Poodle killed with pellet gun in west Medford Pot-munching deer at Applegate Lodge stars on 'Daily Show' Crime, Courts and Emergency Services State police: Grants Pass shooter tried to run victim off the road Poodle killed with pellet gun in west Medford Car thefts spike in Medford Grants Pass man charged with attempted murder in shooting of Eagle Point resident Emergency Services Politics and Elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Education Medford School District one of most accident-prone in state Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Oregon legislators may end fifth-year high school programs Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Oregon school officials blasting new education budget Environment Rogue Valley lions on their way to California Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval State News Timber payments extension passes U.S. House $15 minimum wage bill dead in Oregon Senate Dave Frohnmayer remembered at Eugene memorial Oregon school officials blasting new education budget Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Nation - World Obituaries Alexander Edwards Ray E. Kniffen, Sr. Lois Emmerette (Wright) Huntley James "Jim" Peter Duman Florence May Grimes Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Gonzaga ends UCLA's run in NCAA Tourney Birdie run gives Walker lead in Texas Open Panthers settle for split with Redmond Shift in power Raiders gain split in softball with C of I Varsity 541 College Sports Gonzaga ends UCLA's run in NCAA Tourney Raiders gain split in softball with C of I 'Zona zeroes in It'll be Coach K vs. Coach K in Sweet 16 Oregon Tech sweeps SOU Pro Sports Birdie run gives Walker lead in Texas Open Ilyasova lifts Bucks over Pacers Hoffman leads in wind-swept Texas Open New-look A's expect to contend Calipari can be the one to save the Nets Community Sports Business Latest Stories Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews Blog: How to Practice Patience Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Medford shoppers wonder about impacts of Costco on Trader Joe's parking lot Blog: State senate president says there will be no minimum wage increase during 2015 session Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 People in Business: Feb. 28 Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Harry & David announces new president Opinion Latest Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Kent Bush: Pete Rose’s request complicated by Jarred Cosart Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorials Our View: Some police videos should be released Our View: Public records rules should apply to lawmakers, too Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Our View: Medford police tried to avoid confrontation Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 26 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 24 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Columns Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Kent Bush: Pete Rose’s request complicated by Jarred Cosart Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Arthur I. Cyr: The legacy of Singapore’s leader Lee Kwan Yew Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Guest Opinion: Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Lifestyle Latest stories No snow makes Marble Mountains accessible early Community blog: How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache Community blog: Try slightly smoky baked beans instead of refried Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Food Community blog: Try slightly smoky baked beans instead of refried App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Frugal foodie Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Almond cookies pass the test Home and Garden Hot tub: The perfect centerpiece for outdoor living Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring’s arrival Home Help: How green is your house? Plant a few dahlias, Dahling Health Community blog: How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here's Tempo's top five picks for live entertainment this week The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Live Music in Local Clubs Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Theater ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Review: Education and its discontents Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Camelot's 'Sunset Boulevard' ambitious, not as dark Music Futurebirds play the Brickroom in Ashland The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Live Music in Local Clubs Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Farr Side: Lines are blurred with theft of Marvin Gaye’s classic groove Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Basque-inspired cuisine at Eleven in Ashland Parsing the meaning behind wine medals and scores Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit ... Former Medford detective accused of exploiting man with dementia ... Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews ... UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit ... Former Medford detective accused of exploiting man with dementia ... Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews ... Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 5:57 PM By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 5:57 PM » Social News The new Cherokee, which got mixed reviews when it showed up in late 2013 — mostly because it wasn’t the old, boxy Cherokee (1984-96, RIP) — has now truly arrived. The media and the market have decided it is a righteous Jeep. Some of this is due to changing ideas of Jeep-ness (roughing it, bad; luxury, good) and the rest to the new vehicle’s amiable nature, useful features and good price/value mix. And so now Jeep is doing what carmakers do when a new model has jumped its first hurdles and settled in for the long run: Add more options! Options are profitable, sure, but they also can tailor a car to certain classes of buyer. For instance, the Cherokee Latitude 4×4 we’re driving is called the True North Edition. Last fall Jim Morrison, Jeep’s product-marketing honcho, decided to load up a Cherokee with cold-weather goodies while holding the line on price. (Did he know what sort of a winter was coming down the pike?) His True North kit — aka Customer Preferred Package 26J — can apply heat to the front seats, the steering wheel, the wing mirrors, the engine block and even the windshield wipers, and it includes floor mats and remote starting. Plus the seat and steering wheel heaters can be set to come on automatically. All this adds just 1,795 well-spent dollars to the $27,900 price of a Latitude-model Cherokee, which is already pretty well equipped with everything from leather and automatic headlamps to a backup camera. Our Latitude also had the 271-horsepower V-6 engine, a $1,695 option, which now can shut itself off (to save gas and emissions) whenever the Jeep stops, and re-start when needed. Jeep tested this system, with its heavy-duty starter, solenoid and flywheel teeth, through more than 300,000 on-off cycles — but if you don’t like it, stop-start has its own off switch. Also, if the car’s oversize battery is low, the engine stays on till it’s recharged. The V-6 is an asset to a midsize 4×4 sport-ute that weighs just 4,046 pounds. The stock Cherokee engine, a 184HP four-cylinder, doesn’t have stop-start, but it now meets PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) standards, according to California’s strict emissions regulations. Steering, braking, handling and ride are right for the vehicle. We have just one question, and it’s about the Cherokee’s unique nine-speed automatic transmission: Why? We’ve never seen a Cherokee reach 9th gear, and even 8th is rare. Higher gearing should improve fuel economy — and in the Cherokee 6th through 9th are all overdrives — but we’ve also never had a V-6 Cherokee hit its highway mpg estimate. (Although this one made its combined rating of 23 mpg even in winter weather.) So what’s the benefit of a nine-speed box? Well, OK, nine speeds can’t hurt and might help. Overall, the transmission works seamlessly, even if the gear indicated in manual mode isn’t always the one that’s actually engaged. Among four Cherokee models — Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk, in ascending price order — Jeep offers three 4×4 systems. All have Selec-Speed, which can take over hill climbing and descending, and Selec-Terrain, which lets the driver choose from up to five driving programs: Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud, Rock and Auto. If you live on top of a mountain, you may want the Trailhawk. Its advanced Active Drive Lock 4WD includes high and low gear ranges, auto-locking front and rear axles, extra ground clearance, skid plates, and beefed-up engine and transmission cooling. Otherwise, our Latitude would do fine, and 99 percent of us will use the Auto terrain setting 99 percent of the time. It even decides when to disengage the rear axle entirely, to reduce friction and save gas. (All Cherokees default to FWD when conditions allow, and FWD-only Cherokees are available.) For 2015, along with new trim and luxury items, Jeep added a slew of safety options to the Cherokee’s order form, including collision and lane-departure alerts, emergency braking assistance, blind-spot and rear-crossing monitors, adaptive cruise control and parking assistance. It’s time to begin cashing in on the Cherokee’s success. Nothing wrong with that. With prices ranging from the low twenties to the high thirties and a spec sheet aimed at everyone from urban commuters to off-road adventurers, Jeep’s Cherokee has evolved into the modern automotive era. Likes - Good value - Muscular V-6 - Windshield-wiper heaters! Dislikes - 9th gear (use it or lose it) Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 5:57 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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