Auto active: It's big, tough and it really moves - especially the

Obsessions tend, by and large, to be terrible things. Although being obsessed with a particular car may be understandable, becoming totally preoccupied with petrol consumption is not.

Yet that is what the new Jeep Cherokee does to you: it turns you into someone who thinks about little else. The petrol version (there is also a diesel model available) is a gas-guzzling monster so get used to viewing the inside of your local Texaco. Before long, you'll be on first-name terms with the cashiers.

I drove a 3.7 litre V6 PowerTech petrol model and spent the entire time marvelling at the way the petrol gauge seemed to move before my eyes. Why the designers of the Cherokee couldn't have made a more economical engine - in an age when most of us are more aware of the impact cars have on the environment - is a mystery. They clearly gave it some thought. Fuel consumption was an important enough issue to justify installing a computer in the centre of the cab which calculates the miles per gallon you are doing as you drive along. I could hardly take my eyes off it - crawling through town the Jeep Cherokee did a shockingly low nine mpg but once travelling at a steady speed it turned into a more respectable figure. But the computer has you trying to calculate the optimum speed for fuel consumption when you should be concentrating on your driving.

It is 18 years since Jeep launched the last Cherokee so it is no surprise that the new Cherokee is very different in appearance. However, it still betrays its American heritage. It's taller and has rounder edges than its predecessor, with the boxy look gone. And you get a lot of car for your money. The Cherokee is a monster in more ways than one, providing plenty of room inside the cabin. However, I was surprised by the unimpressive size of the boot when the back seats are in use; once they're down, the storage capacity is much better. Fortunately, the trademark positioning of the spare tyre on the back has been retained, providing extra space, and there is a clever tailgate design with a flip-up rear window above a side- hinged door.

The new Cherokee is available with a choice of engines; as well as the powerful 3.7 litre petrol engine, there is a 16-valve, 2.4 litre and the 2.5 litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine (The latest fuel injection technology, offering cleaner, quieter, smoother running). Prices start at pounds 17,995, rising to pounds 23,145. Trim levels come in a choice of Sport and Limited editions.

The Cherokee is rugged and solid with a hard-wearing interior. Yet little things are irritating - finding the switch to open the driver's window was quite a challenge as it is located below the centre armrest. And where you would expect to find the window switch you discover the central- locking switch instead, which repeatedly caught me out.

Little thought appears to have gone into the positioning of the four- wheel drive selector lever, forcing the driver to lean over to the passenger's side to reach it. The seats are comfortable, though, and electronically adjustable in the Limited edition. The heaters inside the front seats were welcome on a cold autumn morning, but be warned: I couldn't figure out how to switch them off without turning the engine off as well, so a long drive could end up being warm indeed. Air conditioning (which is noisy), CD stereo and cruise control all come as standard.

The new Cherokee has independent front suspension and better steering, making it a good drive on road, (which, despite its off- road credentials, is where buyers will do most of their driving). It has numerous safety features: two front airbags come as standard, with side curtain airbags in the Limited. ABS is also standard, along with electronic brake-force distribution.

If it is pace you're after, pick a different motor. This is not a car for thrashing down the motorway and its size causes it to rock slightly on bends. It feels much more comfortable travelling at mid- pace, particularly so with the automatic. Which is good news as you don't want any distractions when you're worrying about your petrol consumption.

Next week: Renault Clio dCi

Jeep Cherokee 3.7 V6 Limited 4x4

pounds 23,145

Acceleration: 0-60mph 13.9sec

Max speed: 108mph

Overall fuel consumption: 19.3mpg

Insurance group: 15P (provisional)

The rivals

Mitsubishi Shogun

pounds 22,000

Brutish and in your face, this 3.2 DID Classic is one of the most comfortable 4x4s on the road.

Land Rover Discovery

pounds 21,995

The new 2.5 TD5 E, launched two years ago, may look like the 1989 version but it has been revamped in every other department.

Copyright 2001 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.