Keep living in the past. This generation could likely even be independent all around. Look at it's competition in the segment, it's pretty much the way of the world. Ford, VW, Land Rover, BMW all independent. If you want a live axle off-roader, your best option is going to continue to be a Wrangler.

In the past Jeep had a loyal following, so I think it is smart to live in the past in that sense. Jeep really created this segment, and it will still be in this segment when all the other makers get out (and many will).

I've owned 3 jeeps now (yj, xj, wj), and they have each been very different vehicles and served very different purposes and have fit my lifestyle as it has evolved from college student to family man. All of these Jeeps have had solid axles and they have had a common DNA in terms of their AWD systems. Jeep has been cutting this commonality in a bid to keep up with all the new competition (first in 2001-XJ, then again in 2004-Wj), but I think that that kind of thinking is misguided. If you agree that the wrangler is the soul of the brand then it makes no sense not to imbue as many other models as possible with that same essence. All the tired arguments about how no one takes their $45,000 grand cherokee overlands rock crawling is missing the point.

When I get into my 2004 overland and it recognizes me by my key and automatically adjusts my heated leather seats and auto dimming mirrors to fit my frame and favored driving position, and as the rain sensing windshield automatically engages my wipers to swipe off the first drops of an early November rain while the navigation system gently guides me to some colleagues house way out in the boonies all the while the quadradrive automatically is sensing and sending torque to any wheels that have traction, I secretly am happy to think that underneath all this ridiculous opulence, I am driving something as capable in its own way as a wrangler.

Am I the only one that does this?