2020 Jeep Cherokee

The  Jeep Cherokee Suv is for the people who live in the city but want a taste of the off-roading madness in their lives too. The Jeep Cherokee has always been one of the most renowned SUVs in its segment for its tremendous off-road abilities and practicality. People, however, expect more from Jeep in terms of what they add next to their Compact SUV and Jeep hasn’t been slow to respond.

The base trim  Latitude has an ample amount of tech and features while the Latitude Plus adds premium equipment. Move up to the Limited and the off-road rated Trailhawk trims to get standard safety equipment. The base Latitude trim gets a 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Motor while the other get a Standard 3.2L V6 which produces a lot more power than the former. For 2019, Jeep has also added a new 2.0L turbocharged motor that delivers 271HP and 291lbs-ft of torque while returning a combined MPG of over 23. 

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If you can add about an extra $3000 to your budget then it will be a better option to choose a higher model with a V6 engine compared to the 4 cylinder engine of the base model. It will be more helpful when going off-road and the mileage doesn't hurt much.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee is a 5 seater SUV available in two types of engines. The base models are equipped with the 2.4L 4 cylinder engine. Although this engine is a bit sluggish and noisy at times, it is an ideal city ride for daily commuters. It is also available with a 3.2L V6 engine in the higher models for a smooth and power-driven experience on all terrains. All the trims are equipped except the Trailhawk are equipped with a standard All-Wheel-Drive and an optional Front-Wheel-Drive system with 9 automatic transmissions.

The Trailhawk has only one driving option i.e., the All-Wheel-Drive, but is one of the topmost performers amongst the series. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard on both the engines. The Trailhawk comes standard with an all-wheel-drive, however, the Latitude, Limited and Overland trims are available with either the front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The sluggish 2.4L 4 Cylinder engine of the base model has a horsepower of 184hp and produces a torque of 171 lb-ft which is less when compared to its competitors such as Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, and Volkswagen Tiguan. Although a tad higher model with a V6 engine at a tad higher price of around $2000 can provide you with a more power-driven performer.

 Acceleration

The 4 cylinder engine of the base model takes time to pull the heavy body forward. This is the reason that the base model of the Cherokee has sluggish acceleration.  The Cherokee’s V6 Motor, on the other hand, betters the acceleration by a significant amount but is again held up by the Slow to respond transmission and the heft of itself.

Though the base model is not on par with its competitors in terms of acceleration, the higher models with the V6 engine is capable of providing it with very high and smooth acceleration. 

Ride and Handling

To test the Cherokee’s handling, you need to venture off the road as this SUV can keep up with some of the trails rated rivals. The Cherokee Trailhawk comes equipped with trail-ready equipment for an extra hold that includes 4-wheel drive system with low range, an off-road suspension, a rear locking differential and five terrain mode (Auto, Snow, Rock, Sport, Sand/Mud). The Cherokee, however, feels stable on paved roads and its suspension soaks up most of the bumps in the road. There is minimal body roll around corners and steering feels responsive. Brakes feel nice and firm while the response form brake pedals are good.

Cherokee comes with a SELEC-TERRAIN system which operates on different modes such as AUTO, SPORT, SAND/MUD and SNOW depending on the Terrain. This uses the brakes, traction and stability control and engine management to get an optimal grip on the vehicle on all types of roads. Apart from that, the relatively firm suspension controls the body roll in each corner without compromising the quality ride. The suspension does a good job of absorbing the less deep potholes and speed bumps with ease. The Big Potholes are where the Jeep’s suspension fails to impress as the lack of damping in the suspension isn’t enough, to sustain those bumps

Braking

The Braking system of the Jeep Cherokee is quite rigid. It has a 13.0-inch front brake disc and an 11 inch rear brake disc. The Brake Pedals offer good response while not feeling much squishy and spongy in feel. These help the driver to smoothly bring the vehicle to a halt with ease even in emergency situations.

The Stopping distance of 128ft helps the Cherokee to rank among the top half of our comparison table in terms of Braking performance while outperforming several lower weighted SUV’s.

The Jeep Cherokee has a subpar fuel economy. It gives an average mileage of 25 MPG, i.e., 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. This becomes a reason to reconsider this SUV for many customers. The V6 with the front-wheel-drive meanwhile is rated at 21/29/24 mpg. With the all-wheel-drive, they are pegged at 20/27/23 mpg.

When compared to its competitors, the Cherokee offers a little less fuel economy. One of the redeeming points for the Cherokee is its Turbocharged 2.0L Unit that delivers an excess of 25 MPG in terms of the overall MPG figures.

The Interiors of 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes out from the line of award-winning interiors. This 5 seater has a spacious and stylish cockpit. Its seats are made adjustable up to 6 modes that make the commuters feel comfortable on every road. Also, the spacious foot space and a fair headroom add extra comfort to the ride.  There is good visibility all around while an available rearview camera helps in backing and reversing.

There is good visibility all around while an available rearview camera helps in backing and reversing.  There is a generous amount of headroom and legroom on offer for both the front and rear passengers. Also, the spacious foot space adds extra comfort to the ride.

Interior Features

• Stylish DashBoard
• UConnect Infotainment system
• Intelligent seat adjustability according to driving modes
• Cloth upholstery
• Six-way manual adjustable front seats
• 60/40 split-folding rear seat

Infotainment System

The Jeep Cherokee is equipped with UConnect infotainment system. It has been rated amongst the top infotainment systems in the world. It comes along with 8.4-inch touch screen with well-organized menus and quick responses. Apart from that it also has many features such as voice command controls, satellite navigation, and steering wheel controls.  There are large graphics which are easy to read and intuitive.

These are the list of Features available from the infotainment system of the Cherokee

• Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
• 4” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Navigation
• SiriusXM Radio and Travel Link with 5 years Subscription
• 9 Speaker Music System with Subwoofer
• FM/AM Radio connectivity with HD Radio
• USB and 3.5mm Jack Aux connectivity
• Bluetooth with Integrated Voice Command
• Steering Wheel Mounted Controls

Cargo Capacity

Though the Cherokee offers a spacious cockpit, it lags in terms of cargo space. This compact SUV can be rated below average in terms of cargo space amongst its competitors. This might become another point of reconsideration for the customers.

When it comes to the looks, the Jeep Cherokee stands out for its non-aggressive look amongst other Jeep SUV models. Its steeper hood and narrowly curved headlights make it look much of a practical SUV than an aggressive beast. Although the seven-slot grille in the front represents the Jeep inside it. The 2020 Jeep Cherokee is on the longer and wider side in its class. It also sits high off the ground than most with 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

Jeep got mixed responses when they first showcased the Cherokee to the public because of the unconventional use of plastics around the front bumper and the weird design of the headlamps. This design however now looks very similar to the Grand Cherokee and that is a good thing. The rear also has some unique elements like clear lens tail lamps and skid plates that accentuates the character of the SUV.

Some of the other noteworthy features include

• Automatic Front LED Headlamps with Led Daytime Running Lamps
• Front LED Fog Lamps
• LED Tail Lamps
• Powered Exterior Mirrors with Turn Indicators, Courtesy Lamps, Memory Function and Heating Element
• Rear Window Defroster with Wiper and Washer
• Windshield Wiper De-Icer
• Acoustic Windshield
• Front Suspension Skid Plate
• Fuel Tank Skid Plate shield
• 3 Tow hooks (2 Front and 1 rear)

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee is equipped with some of the best safety features in the industry. The features that are going to keep you safe during your ride are as follows:

• Smart Brake Support Forward Collision and Rear Cross Traffic Alert Rear Collision
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• Back-Up Camera
• Blind Spot Monitoring Blind Spot Sensor
• Emergency SOS

Jeep Cherokee vs Honda CR-V

It is hard to beat the Honda CR V when it comes to safety ratings and reliability. It also boasts most cargo space in the segment and has higher fuel economy than the Cherokee. The Honda is a great family hauler but if your driving needs includes venturing off-road then Jeep will perform the duty better any day. The Cherokee, however, is a more practical Off-Roader of the 2 as it offers 8.4” of Ground Clearance, Superb 4WD Setup and a very intuitive and easy to use infotainment system.

Jeep Cherokee vs Mazda CX-5

The  Jeep Cherokee is no competition to Mazda CX-5 in terms of performance and acceleration. Even the fuel economy and cargo space are comparatively low. However, when it comes to braking and handling, the Cherokee has an upper hand due to its easy adjustability to diverse Terrains. On the other hand, it’s towing capacity is a better than that of Mazda CX-5. Though the cargo space is less, the spacious interior seating can be considered an added advantage. 

Jeep Cherokee vs Chevrolet Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox is one of the popular choices for people who want an American Crossover SUV in the market. It offers an Amazing Engine, Great Infotainment System and a Stylish Exterior. The Cherokee, however, comes with the pedigree of the Grand Cherokee and manages to beat the Equinox in terms of the Off-Road Ability and the Infotainment System as well. The Cherokee also has many functional exterior components that aid while doing off-road stuff like multiple tow hooks, Skid Plates and high ground clearance.

The Jeep Cherokee is a compact crossover with perfect qualities required for Off-roading. However, it is only advantageous if you prefer to choose the higher trims with the V6 engine to get higher power-driven performance. However, if you want to buy an SUV for a day to day drive in the city. So you are planning to settle for the base models with the 4 cylinder engine. We suggest you to first take a look at its competitors in the class also, as there are better options available.