Rear legroom is tight. That hurts on the marathon runs with four fishing buddies, but you won't notice much cramping on an evening with two couples. Climbing into the back seats is much easier than before, however, because the rear doors are wider.More space is available for cargo because the spare tire was moved from its upright position on the left rear side of the cargo compartment to lay down under the load floor. That means the load floor is relatively high, so you'll have to lift groceries a bit higher. The instrument panel looks simpler, more modern, but it's still a long reach to the dashboard for the radio and climate controls. Part of that impression comes from the high seating position. Controls and switches have been improved in feel and operation, including the Jeep's once-balky turn signal/wiper combination stalk. The front seats have highly padded longitudinal ribs, and the thickness of the padding reminds us more of house furniture instead of serious off-roader benches. The bottom cushion has ridges to keep you in place, but the backrest has no lateral support. This makes it easy to slide into while wearing a bulky coat, but when you're fast into a short entrance ramp that leads onto a 75 mph freeway, you'll need to use the door to hold yourself in place.
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