And in order to get the price of the vehicle down to an acceptable level for which people would consider purchasing they need to make large compromises on the quality and sourcing of drivetrain components.
The vast majority of folks want a disposable car. 100k no service and throw it away and get another.
We can moan all we want about the state of the industry but as long as the money votes in a completely different direction then we're going to continue to get vehicles that prioritize cup holder placement over transmission longevity. Because that's what sells.
Stellantis is in trouble because the vast majority of consumers don't want Jeeps.
The JK was popular because it was a small SUV and you could put a kid in a rear seat carrier without bending over.
Now you've got crossover SUVs that do the same thing, better cup holders, gas mileage and price.
Unless you have another Clueless movie that makes consumers fall in love all over again their isn't enough Jeep enthusiasts to save the brand.
-Mac
After spending lots of time in my friends JLUR 4XE, he and I both came to the conclusion that it's really a jack of all trades but master of none. On one hand it got reasonable mileage with the 4XE, it was quiet, it had two rows, and it had enough power. It was also pretty capable off-road in stock form. On the other hand, it was problematic as hell (always in the shop), too small to be a really good family car (he's got three kids and that back seat just isn't very big), not particularly as comfortable to drive as something with IFS, etc. In addition, they're far overpriced for what they are.
To your point though, most people who would have purchased a Wrangler are realizing there are better options out there that do it a lot better than the Wrangler.
It would be cool if Jeep wanted to compete with Mahindra (or similar) and start making bare bones 2-door models with the avid off-roader in mind again. Sure, it isn't a huge market compared to SUVs and crossovers, but the fanbase is there.
