Jeeps have gotten too large and too expensive, they’ve gotten away from their roots and need a basic, utilitarian entry level offering that’s not a tarted up cute ute. The inspiration is there, they just need to tap it. And, put a 4 cylinder diesel in it, with a real transfer case.
I agree with that. Since the demise of the Ford Explorer as anything but a "mall finder", there's very little out there in the way of a reasonable price SUV for the average family of 4, that can get them and a week of supplies to a campsite on an iffy road, or through a foot of snow, or pull ~4000 lbs., AND be at least "average" reliable. (The '08 Explorer qualifies, and we have one.)
If one doesn't need quite the towing or cargo capacity, a Subaru Outback is a great choice, adding much better drivability, mpg, reliability, and all around "execution" -- and we have one of those, too! But, if our Explorer bit the dust for some reason, and we were "ok" on money, I'd probably look for a used, low mileage, maybe 6 years old, Toyota Sequoia. We have relatives with one, and, I'm sorry, it's just so much better thought out and executed, in most ways, than the Explorer, or even any Chrysler products I've been in, that it's almost not funny. The Sequoia's are very reliable, as well.