If you own a Jeep, or have a friend who owns a Jeep (chances are they let you know every opportunity they can), then you’ve most likely come across an Easter egg or two. With some references easier to discover than most, it’s an amazing concept by Jeep to connect with their customers in a fun, simple, and cost-effective way.

But it wasn’t always like this. Before the arrival of automotive designer, Michael Santoro in the ‘90s, Jeep as a company didn’t have much of a personality outside their unique design shape. It just wasn’t the utilitarian, practical, Jeep way. Thankfully, their dedicated customers found a way to impart their love for Jeep on an up-and-coming car designer, in Santoro.

Luckily, that all changed when Santoro was tasked with redesigning the TJ Wrangler in 1997. Credited with being a key contributor to the design of the Dodge Cirrus/Stratus platforms (we’ve since forgiven him), Santoro found himself familiar with the history of Jeep, but not the values that make Jeep so endearing to millions of people around the world. Fortunately for the rest of us, he quickly learned from enthusiastic owners which direction he wanted to take the Wrangler.

Capitalizing on the legendary seven-slotted grill, Santoro used this design cue to reconstruct the air intake on the cowl to feature the same seven bar design. It was this design feature that was credited as Jeep’s first, in a long line, of Easter eggs to be featured on their vehicles. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is no different. Join us as we identify some Easter eggs you may not know about.

RELATED:Check Out These Clever Easter Eggs In New American Cars

A Bit Of Jeep History

Grange Cherokee Since 1941 Easter Egg
Via: Facebook- Mopar Insiders

Blink and you’ll miss this subtle surprise, Jeep’s inaugural year etched into the side of the dashboard, facing the doors. One of the tougher Easter eggs to notice, the engraving pays homage to the birth of the Jeep during one of the most tumultuous periods in world history.

The Grand Cherokee Pout

Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Egg Grill Silhouette
Via: YouTube - TFLEV

If you happen to be sitting in the passenger’s seat, adjusting the rearview mirror, you might notice lurking in the black trim of the windshield, the iconic gaze of the Grand Cherokee. You’ll find a combination of the Cherokee’s headlights and seven-slotted grill nestled into the design of the tinting, making it one of the tougher eggs to find.

'Merica

Grand Cherokee Badging
Via: Facebook- Mopar Insiders

What might be the easiest of these Easter eggs to find, that is, if you bought your Cherokee L stateside, is this special emblem. Both sides of the car adorn chrome American flags following the Grand Cherokee badging, just in case you forget which country you live in. There has to be an American schooling geography joke in there somewhere.

Jeeps In Different Area Codes

Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Egg Detroit Map
Via: YouTube - TFLEV

A subtle nod to Motor City and Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant. The first and only location where the Grand Cherokee has been assembled since it began production in 1992. Located a handful of miles from downtown Detroit, the plant was an effort to show Chrysler’s commitment to downtown Detroit and its revitalization.

Our First Willys Appearance

Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Egg Gas Tank
Via: Facebook - Mopar Insiders

Pop open the gas tank, and you’ll find a silhouette of the WIllys Jeep, one of two found on the Grand Cherokee L. The Willys MB was a WWII era vehicle largely responsible for the Allies victory the fascist regimes of the Axis powers. Forged in the forests and plains of Europe, Japan, and Korea, the Willys is directly responsible for the Jeep capability we know and love.

RELATED:What Gearheads Should Remember About The WW2 Willys Jeep

Family Decals

Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Egg Cherokee Silhouette
Via: Facebook - Mopar Insiders

In what seems to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the horrendous stick family decals, the third-row window tinting features side by side silhouettes of the Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L, just above the air vents. Luckily, it isn't forcing you to see how many children and dogs they have.

An Expensive Cup Holder Accessory

Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Egg Keyholder
Via: Facebook - Mopar Insiders

One of the biggest annoyances new-age car keys cause, is the lack of dedicated space to keep them safe while traveling. Sure, you could jam it in some random slot that carmakers build because there is wasted space (*cough* Fiesta ST *cough*), or you could let Jeep Grand Cherokee L’s cup holders gently hold it upright for you, never to be lost again. Just make sure your beverages have lids, it could end up being a pricey accident waiting to happen.

Willys, We Meet Again

Jeep Grand Cherokee Easter Egg Willys Silhouette
Via: YouTube - TFLEV

In yet another callback to the legendary Willys Jeep, the window tinting features a silhouette of the 4x4. It also appears to be ascending the steep incline of the window. What should be an easy task for the Willys that traversed thousands of miles during multiple political conflicts.

Much like the hidden Easter eggs of video games, Jeep offers a variety of subtle and over-the-top references. Some meant to be discovered immediately, like the Willys in the gas tank, and some meant to be discovered after paying attention to every inch and detail of your Jeep, like the seven-slotted air intake on the TJ Wrangler.

It’s no surprise as to why Jeep fandom has reached a meme-worthy level of infatuation; they’re practical, capable, affordable (to some extent), and feature an attention to detail that has since caused other automotive designers to implement Easter eggs of their own. Here’s to one of the remaining car builders that have as much fun with their design cues, as you can with the vehicles itself, Jeep.