The big brands are all squabbling for a piece of the compact SUV pie. Jeep brings what it does best to the table: a practical package with real off-road capability.
What's New for 2019
The Cherokee gets a substantial update this year, with both cosmetic and mechanical upgrades.
On the exterior, Jeep has redone the front fascia and headlights, which were a bit polarizing in previous years. The taillights, exhaust tips, and license plate placement change slightly as well. The interior features glossy accents and a new selection of infotainment options.
The big mechanical addition is a new turbocharged engine with a retuned automatic transmission to suit the change. The suspension and all-wheel drive system see slight tweaks as well, as part of a bid to save weight.
Choosing Your Jeep Cherokee
The Cherokee lineup includes a wide range of options and equipment, beginning with its engine lineup. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit producing 180 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The next step up is the familiar 3.2-liter V6 with 271 hp and 239 lb-ft. Where it’s not standard, the 3.2-liter is available as an option for $1,745.
Jeep’s new engine entry is another four-cylinder, but this 2.0-liter works alongside a turbocharger to produce 270 hp and 295 lb-ft. The notable figure is the torque, which doesn’t help with the towing figure (4,000 pounds vs the 3.2’s 4,500-pound rating) but does boost the Cherokee's performance both on the road and at the pumps. The turbo is available for $500 over the V6 on all trims except the most basic.
The turbo engine gets the best mileage of the bunch as well, at an estimated 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined (for FWD models). The 2.4 and the 3.2 get an estimated 22/31/25 and 20/29/23, respectively. All three engines are routed through Jeep’s revised nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the Cherokee's Trailhawk, but it’s an option on all other trims, usually for a $1,500 premium.
The 2019 Cherokee rolls out with some well-placed standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All models boast at least a seven-inch infotainment screen with the newest generation of Jeep’s UConnect system.
For further option selection, Jeep offers five trims: Latitude, Latitude Plus, Limited, Trailhawk, and Overland.
Crossovers are still the domain of practicality, so spec accordingly – we recommend the Latitude Plus trim, which still allows plenty of room for luxury options and customizability. Most trims will have enough adventure readiness for the average buyer, but if you plan to spend a lot of time away from pavement, the Trailhawk will face some surprisingly serious terrain.