The Jeep Cherokee Was Worthy Of A Comeback: Review

The Jeep Cherokee is back. After a years-long hiatus for Jeep’s mid-size crossover, it returns with all-new… everything. A new hybrid-only powertrain. A swanky new infotainment system. And a new, very ridgy interior space.

That said, it all comes together with some important fundamentals: An impressive 37 miles per gallon combined, a stout 210 horsepower, and level 2 advanced driver assistance, all for a base price of $36,995.

As a value proposition, especially in a world of $50,000 average new car transactions, the Cherokee starts off solid. But how does it put the package together? Jeep gave me a few hours in Malibu with a $41,995 Cherokee Limited to put the new SUV through its paces.

At launch, the Cherokee will come in a small variety of trims: base, Laredo, Limited, and Overland. The off-road-focused Trailhawk-style trim will come later, though Jeep doesn’t say when. All-wheel drive (which Jeep calls 4×4) is standard, and each trim adds nicer interior features like leatherette, a panoramic sunroof, and park assist. My Limited added the Capri leatherette seats, heating steering wheel, power liftgate, and a wireless phone charger.

Impressions start strong with the interior. The new 12.3-inch infotainment system and 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster class up the interior significantly. All of the switchgear is new-generation Jeep stuff, as seen in the Grand Cherokee, though with a noticeably less “premium” feeling.

Photos by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Photos by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

The HVAC panel is covered in gloss black plastic and touch-sensitive controls with haptic feedback to simulate actual buttons. Mercifully, Jeep kept the volume knob, though the rest of the panel is mostly touch-sensitive, like the seat heaters and screen-off function.

While Jeep’s haptic feedback feels decent enough in a Grand Cherokee, the Cherokee’s haptics have a significantly different feel. Instead of a nice, gentle click, it’s more of a plasticky crack. Then, the squircular steering wheel is outright idiotic, but that’s maybe more of a subjective thing.

The infotainment and general build quality of the cabin save the day, however. Excusing some minor rattles of a pre-production vehicle, the infotainment system is fast and smooth, with quick phone connection and trouble-free Apple CarPlay.

Photo by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Pros: Great Infotainment, Comfy Seats, Good Real-World Fuel Economy

Jeep’s design motif for the cabin revolves around new “ridged” materials. The dash, center console, and door panels all feature ridging that provides some visual interest. It’s clear that the material used for the ridged panels isn’t upscale, but I commend Jeep for making a cheaper plastic feel interesting. The seats are a standout: you sink into them with an obvious suppleness, but still provide critical support over long drives.

Jeep’s 1.6-liter turbo hybrid powertrain, which packs a ton of tech into a small package, also proves to be a willing partner. For the nerds in the crowd, it is derived from the old Prince engine platform, but updated to meet current emissions needs. It uses a two-motor hybrid system similar to Toyota’s, but mixes in a variable-geometry turbo for even more responsiveness.

Photos by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Photos by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

On a cold start, the engine is undeniably buzzy. But it smooths out considerably in normal use. It’s not silky smooth, but for a wound-up 1.6-liter four, it is surprisingly unencumbered by the Cherokee’s 4,295-pound curb weight. I’d even hazard to say it has decent passing and highway merging power.

The transition between electric and engine-assisted power is also notably smooth and comes on with zero odd jerks or sounds. And, even while driving on twisty, steep roads, the Cherokee returns a pretty impressive 31 MPG combined.

Photo by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

Cons: Cheap-Feeling Controls & Surfaces, Some Rattles

The Cherokee also proves smooth and quiet as a whole, with some light rear tire noise betraying the experience, though it’s far from annoying. Mixed with decent ride quality over large bumps and small cracks, the Cherokee gets the job done without many wrinkles to note.

Sure, the Cherokee could use a little more body control, and it feels underdamped and a bit soft, but it works well for average use. Steering feedback is, of course, muted, but the steering has a nice effort curve in sport mode. Otherwise, it hardly feels connected to anything, with the square steering wheel not helping ergonomics.

It just was uncomfortable to my hands, though I’m a tryhard nine-and-three kinda guy.

Jeep Cherokee Verdict

Photo by: Chris Rosales / Motor1

The new Cherokee delivers the goods, even in a crowded and competitive market. It isn’t a standout winner, but it is compelling, especially when you consider Jeep’s baked-in off-road chops. It offers similar fuel economy to the hybrids in the segment, has similar standard features, and drives about as well as most of them.

It’s a matter of personal choice, and maybe technology. The Jeep certainly has great tech and an overall excellent driving experience for the money, and it places itself firmly in the leading pack of mid-size crossovers. That’s quite commendable, especially considering where the Cherokee was just a few years ago.

Put simply, the Cherokee is nice, with no obvious errors or misses. Besides the steering wheel. I hate that thing.

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