American Icon: The 2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland 4X4

The 2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland.

Okay, so the styling is still somewhat (!) controversial.  It's been four years since I saw the first one and the front end is still something I haven't warmed up to.  But the current-generation Jeep Cherokee is what it is and, Godzilla grille aside, it is the right car in the right segment at the right time.

Beauty Is As Beauty Does: The 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

The 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 4X4.

You may have noticed that we have entered the age of angry comic book styling in the car world. Front ends, which once endeavored to present earnest, friendly "faces", now look like they want---no, intend---to eat you.  And none looks more hungry than the Jeep Cherokee. Even now, three years since the first one rolled onto American roads, the effect is still a bit startling to some.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Is An Acquired Taste

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited.

Having written recently about the best cars being works of art, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited presents me with a dilemma.  Perhaps it is a Picasso and I just don't see it.  That troubles me, because I believe I can discern between a Jackson Pollock original and a wall that just happened to get in the way of a paintball fight.

Much has been written about the styling of the new Cherokee.  It does, as noted by many, look better in person than it does in pictures.  But it still does not, to my eye at least, look good. The odd angles, the way the lamps (which are the headlamps and which are the daytime running lights? You will never know until you see one in motion) make it appear like it came from a Japanese studio in the bad old days of the early 70s when so many of their cars seemed to be inspired by Godzilla movies as much as anything else.

First Look: 2014 Jeep Cherokee (UPDATED with more photos)

We knew Jeep was going to do something different. This is the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, which will replace the Liberty.

Chrysler (Jeep's parent company) is promising best-in-class capability, it will be Trail Rated and it brings back a beloved Jeep model name.

But the styling seems to be a love it or hate it thing, based on early response in the Twitterverse. Our guess is it's going to look great (if a tad cartoonish) in dark colors with the right wheels, but may not work so well otherwise.

What do you think of it? Comment below.