Stock Inside Door Panel Comparison, 1976 - 2006

[TJRick]

I have always thought that the 1997 Jeep Wrangler re-design brought with it some rather plain, boring interior door panels. They look like large pieces of plastic trim with no thought put into them whatsoever - no chrome trim, no upholstery, nothing. Every trim level got the same door panels, and they were never changed for the entire 10-year run of the TJ. Even the primitive CJ had better-looking door panels than the TJ:

1986 CJ Laredo:

1995 YJ Sahara:

1997 - 2006 TJ, all trim levels:

I think Chyrsler could have done a better job on the door panels. If I could change one thing on the interior, that would be it. They look fine on the SE and Sport models, but I think they could have done something more interesting for the Sahara models and special editions.

What say you?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

They all look decent for what they are.

The first one, with the painted metal still visible across the top and the carpet added to the bottom reminds me of an early 1970s luxury sedan.

The YJ designers just couldn't stand keeping the painted metal up there but still liked the carpet.

The TJ looks like the designers couldn't get the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man out of their mind.

 

[lowranger]

TJ looks like it was made for a utility type vehicle. Nothing fancy and easy to clean.

 

[TJRick]

TJ looks like it was made for a utility type vehicle. Nothing fancy and easy to clean.

Okay, but wasn't the CJ more of a "utility type" vehicle than the TJ?

 

[scottgraham]

It was the 70's mindset of the JL

 

[Chris]

I agree, the TJ interior is a bit boring. I like the interior of the CJs with the metal dash and separate gauges. @psrivats agrees with me

 

[TJRick]

I agree, the TJ interior is a bit boring. I like the interior of the CJs with the metal dash and separate gauges. @psrivats agrees with me

I like the interior well enough. I think it looks better than the YJ, and almost as cool as the CJ. The door panels look too plain to me, though. For some reason, the dashboard and interior design reminds me of the 1987 Ford Mustang re-design:

 

[Chris]

See, I want a CJ interior in a TJ. To me that would be pretty much perfect

 

[psrivats]

See, I want a CJ interior in a TJ. To me that would be pretty much perfect

I think it's easier to do coil conversion on a CJ than to try getting the TJ interior to look like a CJ

 

[Chris]

I think it's easier to do coil conversion on a CJ than to try getting the TJ interior to look like a CJ

Haha, pretty sure you're right!