![]() ![]() Spending some drive time behind the wheel of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee made us wonder if Jeep should have left the Cherokee name intact. We averaged high nines, low 10s during a mild-early March winter. In turn, the engine’s fuel economy is just as lackluster as its performance. There’s nothing exciting or energetic about the way this engine provides power. The turbo engine pulls strong only during a small window, between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm, where it then runs out of puff before kissing redline at 6,000-rpm. ![]() In that respect, the available 3.2-liter V6 has more personality and downright more grunt. Power from the 2.0-liter turbo, however, is effective and nothing more. Big round knobs and buttons make manipulating it easy when wearing gloves, and the heated seats and steering – that reduce their heat after running for a while – are enjoyable during the winter months. Menus are easy to find and access, commands, while digital, are a breeze to operate. A new, more up to date Uconnect is coming to FCA vehicles soon.īut it’s still the textbook example of how a touch-operated system should work. The Cherokee we drove still had the last generation software, so yes, it’s starting to show age. We also continue to adore the simplicity and effectiveness of FCA controls, especially its Uconnect infotainment interface. Of course, there’s no sway bar disconnect or two-speed transfer case in this Cherokee, but it can nevertheless crawl its way out of some rather complex situations. It’s also plenty capable on a beaten trail, altering its 4×4 system between Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud. Handling is also surprisingly composed, with somewhat firm suspension tuning and low levels of body roll, making for an agile crossover around town. If you absolutely need a compact crossover to tow something heavy, this Jeep has you covered. It does, however, have things going for it. So no, the Cherokee is not a good value proposition. That’s smaller than a subcompact Kia Seltos.īut maybe even worse is the realization that you’re paying well over 40 grand for a vehicle that doesn’t feel like it. Max cargo space is rated at 1,548 liters. It’s also rather small, with barely more cargo space than some newer subcompact crossovers. ![]() The Cherokee’s interior is fine, controls are well placed and build quality is ok, but there’s nothing here to make you want to buy one over anything else in this class. Let’s face it, it’s now swimming in a pool of supremely engineered machines, things like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan, Chevrolet Equinox/GMC Terrain, Ford Escape, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, and Nissan Rogue. Perhaps the Cherokee’s biggest issue is that it doesn’t feel as fresh and value-packed as some of its rivals. And although it’s a tad less capable than the V6, the four-cylinder Cherokee still boasts a solid towing rating at 4,000 pounds (1,814 kg). Yet, it still didn’t have a sunroof.Īt least, four-wheel-drive does come standard. Our Cherokee ended up costing us $46,505. Then $100 for the Velvet Red Pearl paint job, $995 for the cold weather group, $895 for the SAFETYTEC group, $995 for an 8.4-inch screen and $1,295 for the Comfort and Convenience group. We added $2,590 for the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine good for 271 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our tester was the better-equipped Altitude model, the third and presumably best-selling Cherokee available. There are no less than nine variants of this thing on the market, ranging from the bargain basement Sport at $29,545 to the almighty and not-so-worth it Overland at $41,645. It’s becoming more and more difficult to follow the Cherokee’s story as Jeep keeps injecting new trim levels each year. Has the slew of updates done anything to help the Cherokee crawl its way back to the top of the segment? Or should Jeep consider ditching the ready-for-a-first date demeanour in favour of the classic truck-like look of the past? Endless Trims The Cherokee therefore crosses to the 2020 model year unchanged. It got a new turbo engine, new looks and new available safety technology. In 2019, FCA gave its compact crossover a fresh dose of updates so it could remain relevant within a dog-eat-dog segment.
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