One of the brawnier crossovers you can buy, the Jeep Cherokee delivers everyday practicality along with true off-road capability for those who want it. It's an ideal choice for buyers who need a civilized family vehicle, but still admire traditional Jeep character and ruggedness.
What's New for 2015
The Latitude and Trailhawk models receive additional standard equipment. A front collision mitigation system joins the option list, and the V6 engine gets a stop-start feature for enhanced efficiency.
Choosing Your Jeep Cherokee
While the Cherokee serves the same market as other compact crossovers, it rides a bit higher and has more aggressive front-end styling for an SUV-like look. All models start out with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 184 horsepower. The available 3.2-liter V6 develops 271 horsepower, excellent output for this class. Both engines can be paired with your choice of four-wheel drive systems. Active Drive I, designed for on-road use in foul weather, is similar to the all-wheel drive systems found on conventional crossovers; Active Drive II features low-range gearing for off-road capability. Both systems come with a terrain selector to maximize traction for different driving conditions.
As before, the Cherokee comes in four trim levels:
A tow package is available on all models regardless of drivetrain. Dual sunroofs can be added to all trims except the Sport.
Adding four-wheel drive to any model (except the Trailhawk, where it's standard) costs about the same as moving up a whole trim level. Unless you want your Cherokee completely loaded, we recommend deciding upfront where to concentrate your resources—on luxury and conveniences or all-weather capability.