"It's a Jeep thing. You wouldn't understand". You have seen it before, most likely on a beat up old Jeep's windshield behind you at a stop sign. Jeep owners, with CJ's and Wranglers in particular, are a family of sorts. They wave or nod to each other in the streets, signaling a mutual sign of appreciation for each other. This extreme brand loyalty is unique to Jeep among modern car manufacturers.

With such a strong brand following, each new Jeep that is introduced to market faces heavy scrutiny by current Jeep owners. Over the years, Jeep owners slowly accepted the steady modernization of their beloved CJ into the YJ and then the TJ Wranglers. New model introductions, like the Grand Cherokee and Commander, were still true to the Jeep brand promise of being "Trail Ready" and accepted into the Jeep family as cousins.

Then came the new Jeep lineup, and the introduction of the first 4-door Wrangler. It is obviously designed to complete against the FJ Cruiser and Hummer's H3, but has Jeep has gone too far? Does this new Jeep stray too far from the Jeep brand with it's 4 doors and power windows? Or will it’s familiar removable top, slatted grill, and true trail readiness be enough to grant it entrance into the Jeep family?

Only time will tell if this new arrival will be brought into the fold, but the real brand killers come in the form of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. Both are not built to leave the road and this goes against everything the Jeep brand stands for. Although in the short run these two new models may help Jeep sell a few more vehicles, the potential damage to their brand in a crowded space like the auto industry is not a risk that I would take.