[tbppjpr]

Here is the video of elk test performed on Cherokee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaYFLb8WMGM

Some links of the stories:
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/28..._elk_test.html

http://www.autolatest.ro/news-cars/t...mouse-elk-test



Here is more explained about elk/moose test:
http://www.car-addicts.com/feature/moose-test-explained

[raul]

I love this kind of journalism, not looking for a middle ground, not pulling punches. Now its for the manufacturer to respond.

I don't think the kind of scenario tested is extreme , avoiding a obstacle is necessary for any driver, and at least these kind of tests increased awareness and got ESP mandatory in cars in the US and EMEA.

The Jeep responds very similar to the Hilux tested. The tyre blowouts are pretty shocking. Compare that and the Volvo, the Volvo does it so calmly, no drama.

[amitoj]

LOL. I loved one of the responses to the youtube video that says if you see a moose, hit it
TYpical Jeep driver.

[F150]

That's pretty scary. The way the VW and Volvo trucks handled the same course is amazing.
Wonder how our safari,scorpio,xuv,endy,fortuner fare in this test !

[GTO]

That VW was absolutely & stunningly F-L-A-T. Though electronics stopped the Cherokee from flipping over, I'm pretty sure it will, if pushed a bit more.

We should do a similar test on Indian SUVs. I'm dead certain that the Fortuner, Scorpio & Safari would roll over easily, and am equally confident about the XUV500, Duster and other monocoque SUVs passing it with flying colours.

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by GTO

That VW was absolutely & stunningly F-L-A-T.

When the Touareg and Cayenne are based on the same platform, you know its gotta be good.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by F150

Wonder how our safari,scorpio,xuv,endy,fortuner fare in this test !

Totoyta Hilux (on which Fortuner is based) has failed the elk test so I don't expect the Fortuner to fair any better (unless it had the ESP etc which the truck lacked)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZF8N9NItHI

Probably none of the tall, ladder frame based SUVs pass this test.

@GTO, The Duster has failed this test as well
http://auto.1hnews.com/dacia-duster-...k-test-by/127/

[1100D]

The way they are violently operating the steering on a tall SUV, I am sure none of the SUV drivers would turn that way in event that an elk comes in the way. Looks like they want it to flip and hence that sort of steering movement. They dont show internal video of the VW and the Volvo, but from outside the steering inputs dont look same.

[ashis89]

The thing is when a driver spots something on the road, he might panic and might play the steering wheel. However a driver turns the steering wheel, the car shouldn't react in a fatal manner. The VW and Volvo show us ideally how a car should respond under such situations.

I think such a test should be mandatory all models launched in India, probably by ARAI.
A benchmark should be set for a particular speed at which which the the car should pass the test(50-60 kmph).


But regarding the couple of videos posted above, I feel that Jeep was being driven faster than the Volvo and VW. Same goes for the Hilux. The Mitsu felt slower, or may be I am mistaken. Like 1100D mentioned, they should have included the in-cabin footage also for all the vehicles.

[Jeroen]

When we lived in the USA I owned a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. Petrol version, 4.0 litre 6 cylinder in line. 2/4WD.

Always wanted one, so I got myself one. Loved that Jeep! It proved to be very reliable, engine and mechanics are near indestructible, parts are available, at least in the US, on every street corner shop.

We used it for our big shopping trips, trips to the garden centre, hauling our Christmas trees, when I went cycling my bicycle would fit in the back without having to take it apart. Took my wife and two of our kids all the way to Colorado, up the Rockies, 12500feet and back to Kansas City again. It served us very well during two pretty severe winters with 40-50 centimeters of snow. Put it on proper snow tires and in 4WD this Jeep is near unstoppable in the snow.

Having said all that, although pretty comfortable to drive around town and the highways, it had terrible road holding. Especially when the roads got a bit wet. I tried several different tyres, but this thing started skidding on a wet road when you were only thinking about braking, let alone stepped on the actual brake. Taking a corner is done in true "US wallowing fashion". I know it's a bit of a cliche, but American cars just don't corner, because there are no corners, no bendy road in the US to speak off.

The successor of the original Cherokee was the Grand Cherokee. Which was a pig of a car and had one of the most awful unreliable V8's ever to be put into any car. I'm not sure how successful the various next generation of Grand Cherokees have been. This one is certainly of to a troublesome start.

Although, it remains to be seen how serious the US consumer will take a test carried out by some Swedes. Joe average believes that all of Europe is just full of lefty softheaded socialistic types. Sweden being the worst of them all, closely followed by the Netherlands. And no American, Democratic or Republican will take anything seriously from a socialist! Just the way it is.

Personally, I think that from the moment Jeep added the "Grand" to the Cherokee things have been going downhill for this model/series.

Jeroen

This is what a Jeep ought to look like: Simple, functional, rugged, nothing else.

[W.A.G.7]

I never knew this kind of test existed; but I was aware of the Merc A-Class incident. No doubt this test would help in safety to a certain extent, if introduced in India. However, I feel that in India, the margin for correction/maneuvering is even less than what is there in the test and roads are horrible to say. In USA/EMEA they can at-least think of switching lanes quickly and falling back to the original lane just like they show in the test videos. In India, is it possible to do this maneuver on a two lane highway? I don't think so, because there are bright chances that there are 2 wheelers or cycles or cars or slow moving trucks to your left or right always all the time. And secondly, I feel that this test result is with a static object. If an actual moose/elk would have come in front of you, I think it would have panicked on hearing/seeing the approaching car and ran either to the left or right.

[Anghammarad]

Wow saw the video, props to them for pointing out this vital issue. As Raul said, hard hitting facts, not wishy washy at all, putting the onus on the manufacturer to respond and counter.
Great vid.

Originally Posted by GTO

That VW was absolutely & stunningly F-L-A-T. Though electronics stopped the Cherokee from flipping over, I'm pretty sure it will, if pushed a bit more.

We should do a similar test on Indian SUVs. I'm dead certain that the Fortuner, Scorpio & Safari would roll over easily, and am equally confident about the XUV500, Duster and other monocoque SUVs passing it with flying colours.

I would actually love to see this done as a test if someone is game.
I think the XUV is tremendously grounded at high speeds from having driven in one, not sure about the duster though. It seemed a bit light on curves on the highway.

Moderators, my apologies for the double post, would it be possible to merge both my posts. Just happened to post this as an afterthought.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

The rough speeds at which they do this test is known, any idea how are the cones placed at (length run during first lane change before changing to the second) ?

For a similar test done in India, what could be an acceptable test speed ? I must tell here that manufacturers do this test, but the acceptance criteria varies from one to another. Although the test is same, it is referred to as the "Double Lane Change" test within the industry, which is obviously derived out from the Elks test.

Spike

[amitoj]

Whom would you believe?
http://www.leftlanenews.com/jeep-gra...-magazine.html

German publication Auto Motor und Sport performed the same test and found the Grand Cherokee to be perfectly safe when loaded to its maximum stated capacity.

Ze Germans say the Jeep had all 4 wheels on the ground in their tests.

[amit_mechengg]

I dont know what was the moto of this test. But its crazy to do this in any SUV. Also its quite evident that they are driving the Jeep crazy and jerking the steering.But in volvo and other Suvs they are going easy.

But the tyre bursts are serious.