1 week Ago By Annabel Bate
A MUCH-LOVED American car brand has seen a huge slump in sales as drivers complain about soaring prices and excessive tech. Jeep face the difficult task of winning over consumers - even with its two iconic models , the Wrangler and Gladiator. Jeep has long been an iconic US brand, featuring in the Super Bowl advert a few years ago with singer Bruce Springsteen.
The giant's Wrangler saw a plummet in sales by a whopping 35 per cent from almost a quarter of a million to a mere 155,491, Toledo Blade reports. But the Gladiator's sales are even more catastrophic with sales plunging by 38 per cent from 89,712 in 2021 to only 55,187 last year. The negative trend has also seeped into the first half of 2024 - having devastating impacts on the off-road vehicle giant.
read more in motors Latest sales data display that in June, Jeep experienced its lowest figures ever for the last six years. Only 13,134 Wranglers were sold and only 3,542 Gladiators . Sales projections are so bad that some experts even believe that there may not even be a 2026 Gladiator model coming out.
The downward spiral of sales could be linked to the fact that Jeep prices have skyrocketed by a whopping 61 per cent since 2018, Caredge reports. Most read in Motors A 2024 Wrangler starts at $31,995 - a price increase of $400 from last years. But a top of line model can set you back by an unbelievable $101,890.
The Gladiator meanwhile starts at $37,895 with a top-of-the-range version beginning at $64,890. Modern Jeep's are equipped with an impressive range of futuristic features like remote vehicle start, a 12.3in touchscreen, 4G hotspot, a rear view parking camera among other things.
But some Jeep fans think they've swayed from the brand due to the tech upgrades. Jason David, administrator of Jeep fan Facebook page, told Toledo Blade: "They took something simple that worked and made it too luxurious. "They jacked the price up so much that they lost touch with their loyal consumer base and made it hard for people to afford.
"No one wants to pay $50,000 to $98,000 for something that they take out on the trail. "You can't price the majority of your consumer base out of the ability to afford your vehicles and then be confused about a major slump in sales." Another Jeep fanatic Sherry Trees wants to buy a second Jeep but looks for older models with less tech.
She said: "Comments on the Jeep sites I'm on say the new ones with computer systems are always having problems. "Give me old school, where you don't need a computer degree to fix it." Earlier this month nearly 33,000 Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators were recalled to fix malfunctioning instrument panel clusters.
The Jeep problems have even caught the attention of the National Highways and Transportation Authority. Back in November 2022 the NHTSA announced a recall of nearly 63,000 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's that had a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle engine. Read More on The US Sun At the time the Authority's documents said these cars could experience engine shutdown and result in loss of motive power while driving .
And earlier this year, the government's auto safety agency said it was investigating over 94,000 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's after getting complaints for cars outside the scope of the previous recall. WHEN looking to buy a used car, U.S.
News & World Report experts have a few tips before walking onto the sales lot. Set a realistic budget. Some cars are more expensive to insure and register than others depending on engine type, body style, weight, and the amount of doors.
Before being swindled by a crafty salesman, it's important to know what you can and can't afford. Researching what car would fit best into your lifestyle can save a lot of time. Would a sedan work better for your garage or narrow street? Would a truck meet hauling or towing needs? Knowing what suits your needs can narrow down your options.
Look into certified pre-owned cars. Certified pre-owned cars are backed by the manufacturer and come with comprehensive warranties at affordable prices. Some manufacturers have better deals on CPO cars, so research diligently.
Not all financing options are created equal. Depending on where you look to finance, if that's on the table, be very careful about who you finance with. Your best option would be to get preapproved by your bank before going in to give you an idea of what rates are affordable, and to give a dealership incentive to meet or beat those rates.
Consider a used car inspection. Depending on where you're buying a vehicle from, you can opt to pay roughly $200 for a used car inspection to have key components examined by an expert. Consider a vehicle history report.
When things get close to signing, buying a vehicle history report based on the VIN can help clarify the previous owners, maintenance records (if it was taken to a dealership), title status, and more. Source: U.S.
News and World Report.
