The JK is still an impressive vehicle after driving it for 3000 miles. The gas mileage still averages right around 18 with a combination of city and highway driving. The average estimate on the dash is typically about 2 mpg higher than what I am getting from the pump. I have managed to get it off road a couple of times and have enjoyed the ride comfort and responsiveness of the Jeep. The extra width is barely noticeable. The initial concerns about the 3.8L lacking power have been put aside with an update to the computer. This jeep was one of the early builds, so didn’t get the updated program for the engine. Just like any computer operating system, there will be bugs in the beginning, just ask Bill Gates. I still dislike the passenger seat. It doesn’t fold forward far enough to really allow you to access the back, so if you have kids in car seats it can be a real pain of juggling the kid to get them in. Of course any 4 year old will zip right into the back via the center console. My center console has been tested by my nieces and nephews many times already. They would rather ride in the Jeep than watch movies in the Tahoe. I did find that the plastic in the front was a little soft, it does scratch, so you need to be careful with sharp objects around it. The controls almost become second nature after a while. I still find that the locker controls are a little far down and cause you to take your eye’s off the road momentarily, but the rest of the controls are within reach and easily operated by the driver.
The JK has only been back into the shop twice in the first 3000 miles. First time to replace a bow that the delivery driver bent, and the second time to get the computer flashed. The first oil change was free from the dealership, so it went back to them for that. I honestly expected more problems out of the JK for it being so new to the market.
I am very satisfied that Jeep has once again produced a Jeep worthy of carrying on the tradition.
