2002 Chrysler Group vehicles: Changes from 2001
We are not responsible for errors or omissions. Source: Chrysler press materials.
Essential links: 2002 Dodge Ram | 2002 Jeep Liberty | News | Squads | 2001 Changes
Contents: Dodge - Dodge Truck - Jeep - Chrysler
Highlights
- Neon finally getting four-speed automatic - and a surprise (but optional!) 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty!
- New Stratus R/T Sedan with five-speed/V6 combination! It's for real!
- New Sebring Convertible GTC with five-speed manual / V6 combination!
- Intrepid gets 3.5 liter engine instead of 3.2
- Special Edition 300M
- Grand Cherokee Overland with high-performance 4.7 and real wood trim
- 5-speed automatic in Durango
- New Caravan/Voyager option packages include substantial price cuts
Across the board
- Substantial price cuts to avoid the need for constant incentives
- New engine computer combines engine and transmission controls
- Models and options juggled: "price classes" replace option packages
- Location of badging changed on many models
- 3.2 liter engine replaced by 3.5 as part of a standardization drive - in 2002, the 3.2 and three-speed automatic are both eliminated. When the Wrangler is next revised, the 2.5 and 4.0 liter AMC engines are expected to be eliminated as well. We expect and hope that the current four speed automatic is also quickly phased out.
Dodge
Neon
- Finally gets the four-speed automatic! (41TE, 3.75:1 final drive ratio) - the three speed seems to be gone, no doubt as part of DCX's "cost savings through parts reduction" effort (not unlike Lee Iaccoca's standardization drive of the 1980s).
- Gas mileage now 24 city, 31 highway (automatic), 27 city, 33 highway (manual) - still fairly low due to power-oriented gearing
- "New grille" turns out to be mainly a revised Dodge insignia
- "Standard option" packages changed. SE includes CD, a/c, power everything, Sentry Key™.
- Five-year, 60,000-mile zero-deductible warranty with towing allowance, roadside assistance, rental car allowance
- Optional side airbags, remote keyless entry, security alarm
- New rear view mirror with compass and outside temp indicator—Optional SE, ES and R/T with Leather Group - a nice touch
- Rear seat Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system standard! That should save a few lives.
Caravan
- Grand Caravan EX and ES both get 3.8 V6
- EVIC (Electronic Vehicle Information Center) with customer programmable features - if this is like the one on the Grand Cherokee, it's a real plus.
- Tire pressure monitor—low/high-pressure indication for all tires
- Rear seat courtesy reading lamps and overhead passenger assist handles
- Slight change to front fascia
- Power-adjustable pedals option (not on EX)
- Minor changes to options
- Fancy new rear seat audio system with cassette, CD, wireless remote, and dual wireless headphones (Sport and ES)
- Optional steering wheel radio controls added to the power accessory delay feature (ES)
Intrepid
- New options including cargo net, remote keyless entry
- Two 3.5 liter engine options - the SOHC 3.5 replaces the 3.2 liter engine and produces 234 horsepower, 241 lb-ft of torque. The higher-performance 244 horsepower version, with an electronically controlled manifold tuning valve, is on the R/T. Again, this is probably part of a standardization drive, since the 3.2 pretty much disappears.
- ABS now includes electronic distribution
- Rear Spoiler included on R/T along with adjustable lumbar support
- Rear Seat includes LATCH Child Seat Anchorage System—Lower anchors and tether-ready upper anchors
- Natural Vacuum Leak Detection (NVLD) Evaporative Emission Control Monitoring to enhance fuel vapor emission control
- Intrepid squad car to be produced - this has been known for some time, and a prototype was tested by the Michigan State Police (this item not provided by Chrysler)
Stratus
- New Dodge Stratus R/T sedan! (mid-year introduction), with 2.7 liter V-6 and - we reported this but did not believe it - a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic! AutoStick® will be available. The R/T will have a hydraulic clutch release system, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, unlimited top-speed engine controller, performance suspension with front and rear stabilizer bar, 0.6 inch lower height, P215/50R17 Michelin Pilot® HX MXM4 all-season performance tires, and Vertex 17-inch aluminum wheels.
- Stratus Coupe: optional AutoStick® on R/T; P205/60HR16 standard on SE; Battery Saver.
Dodge truck
- New Dodge Ram
- No changes to Ram Van, Ram Van Wagon, Ram 2500, Ram 3500
Dakota:
- New SXT model with regular and Club Cab® bodies includes sixteen inch tires, aluminum wheels, rear stabilizer bar, appearance package
- Increased payloads on some models
- Larger P235/75R15 Tires standard on two-wheel-drive Quad Cab™
- Electronic brake apportioning on rear wheel antilock brake systems
- Optional three-channel garage door opener
- AM/FM Stereo Radio with cassette player, changer controls and three-band equalizer made standard
- Door structure revised for dynamic side impact protection
- Brake-shift interlock (automatic transmission only)—must depress brake pedal before shifting out of Park
Durango
- New SXT model includes sixteen inch tires, aluminum wheels, appearance package, roof rack
- Five-speed "Grand Cherokee" automatic coupled with 4.7 liter automatic. Believe us, this is a nice combination. Lower noise, increased responsiveness. Standard on Sport, SLT, SLT Plus.
- Electronic brake apportioning on rear wheel antilock brake systems
- Wiring and brackets for rear DVD video system optional on some models
- Curtain airbags for front and second row seats (side airbags)
- Brake-shift interlock - must depress brake pedal before shifting out of Park
- New Jeep Liberty
- New Overland model:
- Four wheel drive only
- Luxury exterior and interior trim including rear redwood burl
- Rain-sensitive wipers
- 4.7-liter high-output V-8 engine with Quadra Drive® and up-country suspension
- P235/65R17 Goodyear Wrangler SR-A all-terrain tires
- Full-size spare tire with matching wheel
- 10-disc CD changer
- Inflatable curtain supplemental side air bags
- Optional 4.7 liter high-output V-8 (260 hp, 330 lb-ft torque estimated at this time) optional on Limited with K package, standard on Overland. Comes with Wrangler F1 Ultra all-season performance tires on Limited.
- Vari-Lok™ rear differential replaces Rear Trac-Lok® (option on vehicles without Quadra-Drive®
- Tire pressure monitor system optional - includes actual pressure readings
- Air conditioning improved
- New Laredo Seat Fabric and Appearance
Thermal Expansion Valve added to air conditioning system to enhance cool-down
Electroluminescent cluster lighting standard on Limited and Overland - Power adjustment to pedals optional on Limited and Overland (also on Laredo but without memory)
- Optional airbags for both front and rear seats; airbags upgraded
- All-new climate control unit for faster heating and cooling
- Premium Audio System adds front tweeters
- Base and Special Edition models.
- Special Model added mid-year with new grille, Xenon arc headlamps (2.5 times brighter), all sorts of body cladding, mirrors including turn signals, tilt-down in reverse, and automatic dimming, 255 hp V6, 3.89 final drive ratio, 18 inch wheels, Higher output premium-fuel 3.5-liter V-6 engine (255 horsepower, 258 lb.-ft. torque)
3.89 final drive ratio
Low-restriction dual exhaust with bright tips
18-inch aluminum wheels
245/45ZR18 Michelin Pilot® Sport ultra-high performance tires, higher performance brakes, performance tuned suspension, .5 inch lower suspension, premium leather seats, Nisha carbon fiber instrument panel and door trim appliques, 150-mph speedometer, tire pressure monitor. - Tire Pressure Monitor—Low-pressure warning for all tires and actual pressure readings for tires on road
- ABS Systems now include Electronic Brake Distribution
- 300M new grille
- Rear Seat includes LATCH Child Seat Anchorage System—Lower anchors and tether-ready upper anchors
- Natural Vacuum Leak Detection (NVLD) Evaporative Emission Monitoring to enhance fuel vapor
- New Power Convenience Group option on base model
- Power door locks with central locking and programmable automatic operation
- Power heated foldaway exterior mirrors
- Remote Keyless Entry System
- AM/FM stereo radio with CD player and changer controls—Standard on all models
- Front passenger under seat storage bin—Standard on all models
- New front passenger seat inboard armrest—Standard on all models
- New "Low Profile" outboard head restraints on Touring Edition and Limited Edition rear seats
- Improved seat cushion lateral support for Limited Edition leather front seats
- New emergency seat back release handle accessible from rear cargo area
- Sebring GTC to arrive mid-year with either a four-speed automatic or five speed manual transmission! Also includes interior and exterior appearance packages, sport instrument cluster, sportier suspension, P205/60R16 91T all-season tires.
- 2.4-liter DOHC, 16-valve SMPI I-4 engine now standard on LX
- 2.4-liter Engine meets Low-Emission Vehicle requirements in all 50 states
- Concorde Limited replaces the LHS to help customers
- New Luxury Touring Group available on LXi includes 10-spoke chrome-clad 17-inch aluminum wheels, anti-lock brakes, low-speed traction control, speed proportional steering.
- 3.5-liter, SOHC, 24-valve, SMPI regular-fuel V-6 engine with passively-tuned multi-plenum intake manifold replaces 3.2-liter V-6 on LXi
- 3.5-liter, high-output, SOHC, 24-valve, SMPI V-6 engine with electronically controlled manifold tuning valve and short-runner valves on Limited
- ABS now includes Electronic Brake Distribution
- Speed Sensitive Steering optional on LXi
- Chrome-clad 17-inch 10-Spoke Aluminum Wheels—Standard on Limited, available on LXi
- As we reported earlier, LHS interior and exterior appearance replaces Concorde appearance
- New six-speaker, 120 watt CD stereo with steering wheel controls standard on LXi, available (without the steering wheel controls) on LX
- Automatic headlights standard on LXi along with Sentry Key® alarm
- Rear Seat includes LATCH Child Seat Anchorage System—Lower anchors and tether-ready upper anchors
Jeep
Grand Cherokee
Wrangler
Chrysler
No real changes to the Prowler - just added Inca Gold color
Voyager
Four speed automatic standard with 2.4 engine, optional power adjustable pedals, optional front-only power windows, optional rear seat remote audio system. New eC package combines four cylinder with many options at a startlingly low price.
Town & Country
See Grand Caravan under Dodge.
300M
PT Cruiser
Sebring Convertible
Concorde