The Overland appears made to get the Scoccer Moms twitterpated and not a true off-road machine like the TJ Rubicon.

The official Jeep web site now has some info on the Overland package. Here are the standard items. Note that it does offer QuadraDrive.

Many of the standard features appear to be just options available on Limited like the Up Country Suspension (which includes the skid plate group which includes tow hooks, etc.).

Some items specifically new are the new HO engine, availibility of adjustable pedals, side air bags, "rock rails" (previously an aftermarket item, etc. Basically its seems to have every option that is available on a Limited and tosses in a few others.

As for pricing, check out Jeep Warehouse ( www.jeepwarehouse.com ). They estimate 35,804 for an Overland with *every* cost option including the extra cost paint and chrome wheels.

Sounds like a pretty decent deal to me.

There are only a few things that aren't optimal. One, I really wish they would offer an HID light option. Two, they continue to offer goofy wheel sizes. The 2002 comes with 17" wheels which have a more limited tire selection. Previously, they came in a 16" wheel which is much easier, but even then, they gave the Up Country package a 245/70-16 which is fairly hard size to find tires in, instead of a 245/75-16 which is the same size except an inch in diameter larger. The latter size is extreamly common. Go figure.

Here are the Overland standard features from the Jeepunpaved web site:

4.7L Power Tech HO V8
5-Spd Automatic 5-45RFE
Air Bags - Side, Supplemental
Air Bags-Front,Next Gen,Multistage**
Air Cond ATC w/Dual Zone Control
Alternator - 136 Amp
Antenna - Fixed
Assist Handles - Passenger
Audio Ctrls-Steering Wheel Mounted
Axle - Front, Dana 30/186MM
Axle Ratio - 3.73
Badge - 4.7L HO, Liftgate
Badge - Grand Cherokee, Bright
Badge - Jeep, Bright
Badge - Overland
Badge - Quadra Drive
Badge - V-8, Liftgate, Bright
Battery - 625 Amp Maintenance Free
Brakes - Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc
Cargo Storage - Covered
Cargo Tie Down Loops
Cargo Trim Panel w/Storage Net
Carpet - Cargo Compartment
Carpet - Floor
Child Seat Anchor System-LATCH Ready
Cladding - Lower Bodyside
Cold Weather Group
Console - Full Length Floor
Console - Mini Overhead
Cover - Cargo Compartment
Defroster - Rear Window
Door Trim Panel - Highland Vinyl
Engine Cooling - Hydraulic
Floor Mats - Front & Rear
Fog Lamps
Foot Rest - Driver
Fuel Tank - 20.5 Gallon
GVW Rating - 5500#
Garage Door Opener - Universal
Glove Box
Grille - Chrome/Body Color w/Accent
Headlamps - Automatic
Headlamps - Halogen
Horns - Electric, Dual Note
Illuminated Entry
Instr Cluster - Electroluminescent
Keyless Entry - Remote
Lamp - Ash Tray
Lamp - Cargo Compartment
Lamp - Center Hi-Mount Stop
Lamp - Glove Box
Lamps - Courtesy
Lamps - Door Courtesy
Lamps - Rear Courtesy/Reading
Locks - Power
Memory - Radio/Driver Seat/Mirrors
Mirror - Rear View, Auto Dim
Mirrors - Power,Heat Driver,Auto Dim
Power Accessory Delay
Power Outlet - Auxiliary 12V
Power Outlet - Auxiliary 12V
Quadra-Drive 4WD System
Radio-CD/Cass/10 Disc/Infinity Spkrs
Rails - Rock Protection, Sill
Roof Rack
Seat - Rear 60/40 Folding
Seats - Leather Low-Back Bucket
Security Alarm
Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
Skid Plate - Front Suspension
Skid Plate Group
Skid Plate Shield - Fuel Tank
Skid Plate Shield - Transfer Case
Spare Tire - Inside Mount
Spare Tire- Full Size, Matching Whl
Speaker System - Six, Infinity
Speed Control
Speedometer - 120 MPH Primary
Steering - Power
Steering Column - Tilt
Steering Wheel-Wood/Leather Wrapped
Sun Visors - Illum Vanity Mirrors
Sunroof - Power
Suspension - Heavy Duty w/Gas Shocks
Tires - P235/65R17 OWL All Terrain
Torque Converter - Lock-Up
Tow Hooks - Bright
Traveler/Mini Trip Computer
Up Country Suspension Group
Vehicle Information Center
Warning Chime
Wheels - 17 X 7.5 Alum, Gray Accent
Windows - Power, Driver One-Touch
Windshield Glass - Tinted
Windshield Wipers - Rain Sensitive
Wiper/Washer - Rear Window

Did the last two posters here even read that article?? Jeep Overland will be a model that will be avail. in addition to what they already have out--Similiar to the Orvis and the 5.9L V8 years back. Why should anyone care that this is being made? If you dont want it, dont buy that model... Am I missing something here?

The Overland sounds great except for one thing - my '99 Grand Cherokee is unstoppable because of one thing: Quadra-Drive. (See me do the Rubicon with the Jeep Jamboree this weekend). The spec sheet says it has the VariLok Progressive axles but does it have the Quadra-Trac II transfer case? If the Overland is not available with QuadraDrive it won't be a replacement for my vehicle.
Don

I've been driving Jeeps since the Korean conflict. Right now I have a 2000 GC Limited with all the bells and whistles, and a 2000 Wrangler I'm still modifying for serious off-roading.

Love 'em both.

As long as DC continues to produce a Jeep similar to the XJ's or TJ's that can be easily modified for serious off-roading, why should anyone be bothered by the fact they are coming out with something like the Overland???

I think it's great that they are doing it. This keeps them competitive in the horsepower/torque arena with what the other guys (Nissan, Chevy, etc) have done with their SUV's this year.

If they don't stay competitive in that arena, the Grand Cherokee will lose serious market share, and for my money, it's the best of it's type out there.

I'm glad to see DC taking steps to keep it that way.

Dear Sean M. You might try visiting a Jeep showroom sometime so you know what your talking about. First of all, it's not possible to get an '01 Grand Cherokee Limited with every possible factory option over $40,000. And did you hear, the '2002s are going down in price? And 18" rims are not available in a Grand Cherokee. They are either 16" or 17". And they already make a Grand Cherokee without leather, moonroof, and 4.7 V-8. And guess what? It's available with a 4.0 V-6. It's called a Grand Cherokee Laredo, and it starts at $29,870. in a 4WD '01. If you are ever in the Twin Cities(Mpls./St.Paul), stop into Park Jeep and ask for me. I will take you for a ride on our off-road course in a Liberty. It is a capable off-road vehicle.

I totally agree with the comments of Sean M. in
the previous post. The last thing that Jeep needs
at this time is another luxury model of Jeep. We
have enough of them already. While the interior of my '99 XJ Sport is spartan by luxury standards
it provides everything I need such as air, cruise,
power windows, power locks, cloth seats and a decent sound system. Its functional yet easy to
take care of. A back to basics Grand with a 4.0
liter, 5/speed, tow hooks, skid plates, rock rails, lockers and some more aggressive off road
tires priced at no more than $25,000 would fit my
bill nicely. Since it would basicly be a decontented Grand why not drop the Grand title
all together and just call it the Cherokee Rubicon. It would be a much better choice to
wear the Cherokee name than the Liberty. If DC
would do something like this they would have every
market demographic covered from the mid teens to
the upper thirties, price wise with their three
platforms (WRANGLER,LIBERTY AND GRAND)

What DC needs need now is a bare bones Grand Cherokee priced where the Cherokee used to be or slightly above. This would fill the gap left by discontinuing the Cherokee. The KJ is nice and all but it is no good for heavy duty off-road use.

Put all the mechanical bells and whistles like the 4.7L v8 (maybe a hopped up 4.0L I6 to keep cost down), Quadra-whatever they call it now?, tow hooks/skid plates, etc. and LEAVE OFF the expensive plush stuff like leather, moon roof, big 18" rims, etc. and call it the Grand Cherokee Rubicon.

This would give the people that still want a solid front axle and cargo room with an option, without paying $40,000 + for plush useless crap that shouldn't be on a Jeep in the first place! But wait... that would be something an off road vehicle manufacturer would do, and Jeep seems to be getting out of that business, just too much greed at DC, and not enought people who use Jeeps for what they are supposed to used for!

It is possible for manufacturers to product low volume models if managed correctly. Look at Honda bringing the high strung Integra Type-R to the US. Look at Chevy making the balls out SS Camaro and Ford with the SVO Mustang. All are priced right, have the REAL parts installed and leave out the fluff stuff.

If you run things right you can make the money on the econo box cars and minivans. That frees up resources and capital so can produce low volume speciality vehicles. I hope someone from DC reads this!

First of all we need to stop judging a company based on rumers! People said that the TJ would not be a great off-road vehicle before it was released, and it has turned out to be the best preforming Jeep to date! I am willing to bet the new Liberty will be winning quite a few automotive awards in the near future (including 4x4 of the year)! The most important thing for Jeep to do is make sure their vehicles are the BEST in their class, and the Liberty is a far better vehicle than ANY in it's class (read the reviews from the experts, who have actually driven the vehicle). I own a '99 Grand Cherokee, a '00 Cherokee and an '81 CJ-5, and have been happy with all of them, but I also understand that a company must change, in order to exsist. We should all be thankful that the Cherokee lasted as long as it did!

Sounds as if it has everything but a good DVD based nav. system. Anyone who has had a car with a nav. system won't want one without.

The Jeep Overland will be an assett to Jeep lovers everywhere simply because it will be another option for buyers. As long as Jeep continues to evolve, they will still be available. In case you don't know, DC is bringing their $50K plus Mercedes GWagon to the US, along with the Unimog line. But as far as Jeep is concerned, as long as they provide quiet, plush, comfortable, and powerful SUV's, the market will continue to support their other models as well. The Overland having more horsepower / torque, means that the same engine should be available in a stripped down Laredo soon. Sure the engineers should be able to make a body style change which would allow owners of this new body to install larger tires and off-road components more easily, but without making the other changes currently necessary to do so on a Grand, parks breakage and reliability become a glaring issue. Nobody is going to put tires bigger than 31's on a Grand Cherokee now without spending some serious change and making modifications to the drivetrain to support this change. If the model becomes known for being able to install 35's with a 3" lift kit and everybody that does breaks down at the next Jamboree, nobody will buy it! If you want a serious off-road vehicle, buy used and make it the way YOU want it. Anyone who goes to off-road events on a regular basis has seen the fools who go buy a current year model, spend another $20K on off-road parts and accessories and then sits in the camping area and washes his vehicle all weekend! If you're interested in really going four wheeling in a Grand Cherokee, buy the 93-97 Grand with a 5.3 or 5.9 V8 and make it the way YOU think an off-road vehicle should be. You'll have way more fun building it, and WAY more fun off-road cause you aren't afraid to break it.
Thanks DC for continuing to evolve and managing to keep the Jeep name respectable with solid axles and true off-road capability. Thank you also for making the Liberty, (I know, IFS...) a Jeep my wife will drive everyday, but will still get to the trailhead and back bone stock!

'56 MB - Quarter Elliptics and full roll cage
'71 CJ5 - 402ci, 44's, sealed for mud
'77 J10 - Errand truck for the farm and towing the CJ5
'86 CJ7 - Almost Stock for Hunting
'95 ZJ - Daily driver, K&N FIPK II, Doug Thorley Headers, Gibson Exhaust, Edelbrock shocks
'97 XJ - 6" Rusty's Suspension, 35's, ARB Bumpers, Warn Winch
'01 KJ - Wife's Daily Driver

What is the I want a Grand Cherokee for 25K. There are plenty available now with end of the year savings, so go get one.. or buy a used one...solution

I love it when Jeep salesmen post on the site! It always leads to an objective opinion. Not. What Jeep should do if they want to keep the market segment of buyers that like the cherokee is to bring back the '98 Grand Cherokee. That was the best Grand made, clearly more atractive than the current model.

DC would never market and price the current grand as a base model around $25,000. Think of how that would damage the ego and image of all the people that WANT to spend around $35,000-37,000 on their new Grands. Its all about status, and if they priced a grand in the mid twenties, that would alienate some of those status buyers, they dont want a more affordable copy avail. to people with less money. Some drive that Jeep for the pure fact that WE know approx. how much they spent on it, and YES they can afford it.

Jeep is a trademark, not a religion. You people simply must get a life.

With the Liberty design team about to ruin the
wrangler, I always felt that at least Ford was
coming out with a Defender based vehicle that
would be great, now it is reported that plans to
bring the Ford badged Defender to the U.S.
have been scrapped! Looks like it's a
convertible Liberty or a Nissan.... think I'll
choose Nissan!