"We were expecting it to be rather polarizing," admits Mike Manley, Jeep's brand president and CEO -- but Chrysler executives weren't expecting the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee to be this polarizing. Although Jeep hoped to unveil its new D-segment crossover for the very first time at the 2013 New York Auto Show, the automaker was forced to tip its hand weeks ago when photos of the new crossover leaked online, and feedback from press, pundits, and potential customers wasn't exactly as warm and fuzzy as Chrysler would have hoped for.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Think of the Jeep Grand Cherokee as an ant. As ant species extend from innocent little pismires in your yard to hellacious fire ants that plague ranches in central Texas, the Grand Cherokee family extends from the bargain-priced Laredo to the ravenous SRT that has now devoured the Circuit of the Americas.

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"You might not be tired of looking at the Grand Cherokee," says Mark Allen, director of Jeep design, "but we've been looking at it for quite a while." He's not kidding. Although it didn't reach dealers until the summer of 2010 as a 2011 model, Jeep first showcased the WK2-platform Grand Cherokee at the New York auto show in 2009.

What's in a name? Well, for Mark Johnson of Sanger, California, the "Altitude" name represents a free Jeep Grand Cherokee in his driveway. Jeep presented a "production-intent" version of its Grand Cherokee with a blacked-out exterior design theme at the Houston Auto Show last January and launched the Name My Ride campaign in which it invited the general public to help choose a name for the production model that would follow. (Similar blacked-out editions of the Patriot and Compass have also been created.) Mr. Johnson's submission was chosen as the best, and we agree that it's the perfect name for a Jeep trim level. Wish we'd thought of it. With it, Jeep has an attractive model that's above the base Laredo but a little more affordable than the Limited and much more affordable than the top-of-the-line Overland. Not that our tester, at $42K, is what one would call cheap. Unless I towed frequently, I'd save myself $1700 and choose the standard V-6 over this example's optional V-8 and get significantly better fuel economy in the bargain (16/23 mpg city/highway with the V-6 vs. 13/20 mpg with the V-8). In any case, it's good to see that Jeep is keeping the Grand Cherokee, which we very much like, fresh. Nice job, Jeep, and congratulations, Mark Johnson.

Jeep Wrangler owners are an interesting group. Even the slightest change made in the name of creature comfort is likely to set off the die-hards. Luckily, the changes Jeep bestowed upon the 2013 Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition are functional and aimed right at the guys who would take a brand new Wrangler off-road before the first monthly payment is due.

As a former 1988 Jeep Wrangler owner, it's amazing to me how far this model has come. My '88 was punishing over every road surface, not comfortable off-road, and spent the summer months without a top or doors. When enough mud built up inside the tub, I'd just hose it out. I learned how to drive off-road in that Jeep and it kicked off a mild obsession with all things Jeep that still flares up from time to time.

The J-12 concept draws from an interesting part of Jeep's history, but you might not remember the Forward Control vehicles that Jeep built in the 1950s and '60s. Those funky trucks incorporated a cab mounted over the front axle and a full-length pickup bed into a relatively compact footprint.

Mopar Underground team members affectionately referred to the J-12 concept as the Old Man Truck during its hasty ten-week build. It only takes a glance at the finished product to understand why. This basic pickup looks just like your grandpa's old truck: no extended cab, no bucket seats, and a fishing pole hanging in the rear window.

Jeep always builds a few cool concept vehicles to bring to the annual Easter Jeep Safari held in Moab, Utah. The concepts range from pie-in-the-sky ideas that have no chance of production to virtual test vehicles for new parts and accessories that will be available at your local Jeep dealer in the coming months. As the Easter Jeep Safari brings Jeep’s most loyal customers together for a week of off-road adventures on some of the best trails in the country, it gives Jeep an excellent venue to solicit feedback on new ideas.

North America isn't the only market privy to special-edition Jeeps: in fact, three new models, all destined for European Jeep showrooms, will officially debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

During the darkest days of 2009, when Chrysler was skidding toward bankruptcy and many wondered whether the company was worth saving, it used the occasion of the New York auto show to unveil one of the brightest hopes for its tenuous future: the totally redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee (which wasn't due in showrooms for another year). Despite all the bad news surrounding Chrysler at the time, the new Grand Cherokee was undeniably impressive.

The Jeep Liberty is a time capsule. Step inside and you're taken back to the days when SUVs were SUVs and required off-road credibility. There's a massive transmission tunnel that compromises the driver's footwell space, and the vehicle feels very tall and narrow. Unfortunately for Jeep, fuel economy numbers now trump departure angles and crawl ratios in advertising. The world has changed a lot since the Liberty debuted but the Liberty hasn't changed much since its last major update in 2008.

Jeep’s Compass isn’t exactly known as an ideal canvas for building a purpose-built off-road vehicle, but it seems Mopar -- Chrysler’s parts and accessories division -- thinks otherwise. In fact, the brand recently introduced a new Compass True North package that might further the Compass’ prowess off the beaten trail.

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As our year with the Grand Cherokee comes to a close, we prepare to say goodbye to one of the most reliable, comfortable, and versatile Four Seasons vehicles we’ve had come though 120 East Liberty Street.

The Wrangler is the Jeep franchise. It's the rock on which the entire brand's positioning is built. The Wrangler is not always be the bestselling Jeep (although through November of this year it's ahead of the Grand Cherokee by a nose), but it's the most important.

We seem to have come to agreement at 120 East Liberty Street on how we feel about our Four Seasons Jeep Grand Cherokee: we are going to miss it dearly once it leaves. However, as we head into the end of our year-long test, a new wear-and-tear issue has arisen.

Despite a month of mostly commuter duty, our Four Seasons Jeep Grand Cherokee did more than just haul us back and forth to work.

Jeep has significantly upgraded the Compass since its lackluster debut in 2006. A vehicle that was quite literally the ugly duckling in the Jeep portfolio has been transformed into one of its best-looking products. The substantial interior and exterior makeover took place for the 2011 model year and resonated with shoppers, as sales have more than doubled. Jeep offers a variety of drivetrain options ranging from a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 29 mpg to a more powerful 2.4-liter four that can be paired with the rugged Freedom Drive II four-wheel-drive system and an off-road package that transforms the Compass into a surprisingly capable off-road machine. Neither engine is very refined, but they provide adequate power and reasonable fuel economy. The Compass is best suited to around-town driving and off-road excursions that are more focused on casual sightseeing than technical challenges. The Compass will be remembered for trying to stretch the Jeep brand a little too far, and it isn't long for this world. Even Brian Nathan, chief engineer for the Compass and the Patriot, admits, "The vehicle's life cycle is very short at this stage." During a press conference in 2009, it was announced that the Patriot and the Compass would be killed off by the end of 2012 to make room for a new, Fiat-based small SUV wearing a Jeep badge. If you absolutely need a small Jeep today, the Compass will do, but smart shoppers should wait to see what 2013 holds.

Jeep released an all-new Grand Cherokee for 2011 and significantly upgraded every aspect of the vehicle. The flagship Jeep retains the uncompromising off-road capability of its predecessors thanks largely to a trio of available four-wheel-drive systems and an optional air suspension that offers five height settings. Selec-Terrain electronically calibrates the vehicle to handle different conditions via a five-position dial. The Grand Cherokee will spend most of its time on dry, paved roads, though, where it behaves like a typical luxury SUV. The base engine is Chrysler's 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which offers a respectable 290 hp. The optional 5.7-liter V-8 makes 360 hp and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Horsepower fans will likely opt for the new SRT8 model and its 470-hp, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine. Surprisingly -- at least to those familiar with past Grand Cherokees -- interior quality and execution are the biggest strengths of the new version, with standard features such as keyless ignition and satellite radio and optional features that include a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, and a navigation system. Jeep has covered all the mid-size-SUV bases with an efficient V-6; an optional 5.7-liter V-8 that can tow up to 7400 pounds; and now a track-tuned SRT8 model that can blast from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, run a thirteen-second quarter mile, and reach 160 mph.