A Place to Live: Customizing your Jeep

California is a fun state. People don’t vacation here for nothing. A lot of people wish they lived here but don’t. That means you have more opportunities for daily fun than most other people in the country. That’s pretty exciting. You may not think of your daily commute as one of those opportunities for fun, but it sure can be. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: there’s no place to drive a Jeep like southern California. That’s why we feel that being a Jeep dealership in Irvine gives us a very special opportunity to give you a better driving experience.

There’s no better way to feel the wind blowing through your hair than in an open-roof Wrangler or Gladiator. But Jeep doesn’t only make open-roof vehicles. We think those are the most fun, especially in that warm California sun, but Jeep makes a number of different SUVs, ranging from small to large. Some are more athletic-focused, while others are more luxury-focused. The big thing that ties them all together is that they can all be customized to be a better fit for you specifically, and a customized Jeep sure is a fun way to drive. So what are the options for customizing your Jeep?

Customizing and Customizing

When it comes to customizing a vehicle, especially a Jeep, there are two different types of customizing. There is choosing the right vehicle when you buy, which entails selecting just the right trim and packages, picking out the specific design, technology, and engineering features that appeal to you specifically. You look at all of the available features the vehicle offers and build something which suits you and appeals to you. The vehicle puts it out there for consideration. You consider, you decide, and then you enjoy it. This is customization based on what is offered.

Then there is customization for you specifically, which entails adding features that are not offered on the vehicle from the factory but can be made for you personally. For example, you won’t find a Grand Cherokee in our lot with “I <3 Mom” stitched into the headrests. But if that’s really what you want, we can make that happen. So, how do you go about learning the different trim levels, the different features, and even the ways to pursue custom-designed features?

Navigating the Trims and Packages

Trims and packages can be confusing. Let’s use the Cherokee, which has gone through some big updates recently, as our example. For 2022, you have four trim options: X, Latitude Lux, Trailhawk, and Limited. Those names give a bit of insight as to their character, but if you’re not super car-savvy, chances are none of those names is very helpful in your decision-making process.

Every vehicle offers a base-level trim. “Base-level” may look different depending upon the specific vehicle, but generally speaking, base-level trims won’t include the higher-level luxury features like heated steering wheels, massage seats, ambient lighting, and so on. For the 2022 Cherokee, the base-level trim is the X. The X offers an all-black interior with cloth seats, which is pretty standard for base-level trims. The X also offers the Uconnect 4 system on its 8.4-inch touchscreen. By all means, the X gives you a functional Cherokee. It does not, however, offer some of the higher-level luxury options like heated seats or leather seats.

In order to have those options, you’d have to move up to the Latitude Lux trim. But take note. The Latitude Lux trim comes standard with front-wheel drive, not 4×4 like the Cherokee X; a potentially easy detail to miss. Inside, though, you’ll find standard heated leather seats––a big step up from the X. You’ll even find that those front seats are power Lumbar adjustable. How exciting!

Now, some trims focus on luxury while others focus on activity. The Trailhawk trim, for example, is focused on off-road activity. That is Jeep’s thing, after all. It’s got some different design elements to make off-roading a more accessible activity for drivers, including an upgraded 4×4 system with a low-range mode and locking rear differential. The Trailhawk even offers some more luxurious features, like a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

If luxury features are what you’re looking for, though, then the Limited is the top-of-the-ladder trim that pulls out all the stops and offers the Elite Package, which takes the car to its finest level. This option adds everything from a hands-free power liftgate to heated second-row seats. Packages like this help you go beyond what is normally offered in the trim.

While some of these four trims are specific to the 2022 Cherokee, you can apply the process to all Jeep vehicles, choosing the right version depending on your needs and preferences. Different packages are usually offered on different trims––for example, the Cherokee’s Elite Package is not offered for the Trailhawk trim––so you’ll want to ask questions about trims and packages to determine which features are offered where and how to get them.

But, as we said before, sometimes you want features that are not found on any trim level or in any package. Sometimes there are features that just scream you that nobody else could possibly think of. Can you get those features in your Jeep? Yes. Yes, you can.

But How?

Talk to us! If we can make it happen, we will. Adding a lift to your Wrangler for better off-roading clearance? No problem. Our service center can take care of that easily. You could even take care of it yourself if you really wanted to, but we specialize in working on Jeeps and have all the tools for the job. Lifts can be great ways to customize a Jeep since they really can make a radical difference in the quality of off-roading performance.

Obviously, we wouldn’t sell you a car without wheels, but if there are tires or wheels that you prefer over what came with the vehicle, which is likely true if you’re adding a lift kit, we can get those swapped out for you. A lot of people like giving their Jeep their own flair; Jeeps have so much personality as it is, which means they can show a little bit of your personality too. And we’re here to help you do that! In the rare case that it’s something our dealership doesn’t offer, we can point you in the right direction to someone who can. We want to see you get the vehicle you want, exactly as you want it.

A Place to Live

Sure, at the end of the day, your vehicle is a tool that gets you from one place to another. But just like your house, your room, your office, or anywhere else you spend time, it’s a place where you live your life and spend a significant amount of time. Therefore, you’ll probably want to decorate it and add a little bit of character just like you would for any other living space. When you bring other people into your car, you want them to get a little taste of your personality. Customizing your vehicle through trims and packages or aftermarket parts and upgrades can help achieve this. Talk to the team here at Orange Coast CJDRF about the best way to make your upgrade dreams become realities. It’s not as difficult as you may think!