2021 Jeep Cherokee Road Test and Review

2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk ・ Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

There are two ways to look at the 2021 Jeep Cherokee: You could say it's small for a midsize SUV, or that it's large for a compact SUV. Either way, those labels might get in the way of understanding the Cherokee because it is very different from the run-of-the-mill crossover SUV. After all, it's a Jeep. Because of the mindset of its designers, engineers, and marketers, the Jeep Cherokee is a Jeep first and a grocery-getting vehicle second. The Cherokee offers uncommonly good off-pavement capabilities that frankly require sacrifices in exterior size and interior room. But if you are building vehicles that must prove themselves on the legendary Rubicon Trail, those are compromises you have to live with. And the fact is, even with the allowances made for superior off-pavement capabilities, the Cherokee is easy to live with day in and day out. No matter where you’re going — up the street or up a mountain — it is an excellent 5-passenger SUV that looks as good as it drives.

Exterior Design

This generation of the Cherokee has been refined over the past several years to bring it in line with mainstream Jeep suv designs. No, it doesn’t look like the Wrangler, but its front end — controversial when this generation was introduced — has been refined. The hood is made of aluminum, and it meshes well with the front fascia, bi-LED headlights, daytime running lights, and fog lamps. The rear fascia is a composite material, and the liftgate can be power-operated with a hands-free option. The dimensions of the Cherokee tell you a lot. In overall length, it is just 1.5 inches longer than the Toyota RAV4, the top-selling compact SUV. It is more than 15 inches shorter than the Ford Explorer, a leader among the midsize-SUV class. In overall width, it is 0.1 inches narrower than the RAV4 and 16 inches narrower than the Explorer. All that has ramifications on interior space. One thing that most agree on is the Cherokee is a good-looking vehicle. Among our favorite features are the push-push fuel door and capless fuel fill. Overall, the compact Cherokee has a contemporary, upscale look.

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Variety of Powertrains

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offers a variety of engine choices, but the one that stands out from a technical point of view is the 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection inline four-cylinder. Mated to a highly efficient nine-speed automatic transmission, it features engine stop-start technology and a twin-scroll, low-inertia turbocharger. Stellantis says the engine, which delivers 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, is the most technologically sophisticated ever offered in a Jeep. The base engine is a naturally aspirated 180-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder, and the naturally aspirated 271-horsepower 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 engine, a favorite of many longtime Jeep fans, is also available. Three 4x4 distinct systems are available, which demonstrates how committed Jeep is to off-roading. Active Drive I, Active Drive II, and Active Drive Lock allow buyers to choose the level of capability they desire for off-road and bad weather situations.

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Driving Impressions

Many crossover suvs that fill the market these days are designed for the streets, and some offer an off-road trim level or package. The Cherokee approaches things a bit differently. Yes, Jeep offers the Trailhawk Trail Rated version of the Cherokee, a vehicle many call the most-capable off-roader of all midsize suvs. But a variety of other Cherokee 4x4 models that don’t carry the Trail Rated badge perform exceptionally well off-road as well. At the same time, it is important to highlight that the Cherokee isn’t an off-road beast that is harsh, noisy, and rough-riding in everyday on-road driving. In 4x4 configurations, the Cherokee is a true dual-use vehicle that performs well both on and off the pavement. And should you simply seek the looks and aura of a Jeep at a lower price point, the front-drive models offer you that opportunity. When it comes to drivability, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine features a satisfyingly broad torque curve.

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Interior Features

For those who like to mix some luxury with their Jeep adventures, the news for 2021 is the introduction of the new Latitude Lux trim level. The trim is filled with upscale features including remote start, Nappa leather upholstery, power-operated heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and a windshield-wiper de-icer. Even more luxury additions are to be had in the 80th Anniversary Edition based on the Lux. To the just-mentioned equipment, it adds a panoramic moonroof, 19-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, plus special badging and trim. Even if customers don’t opt for these new versions, they will find the Cherokee’s interior comfortable and accommodating. All Cherokees seat five passengers and have 60/40 split second-row seats that adjust fore and aft for increased comfort and cargo-carrying flexibility.

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Strong Infotainment Offerings

With a standard 7-inch touchscreen display and an available 8.4-inch touchscreen display, all with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 2021 Jeep Cherokee has strong offerings in infotainment. The UConnect system continues to iterate with more processing power and quicker processing speeds. Its intuitive operation and large on-screen icons make it one of the easiest to use systems on the market. With well-integrated apps, drivers can make phone calls, access music, send and receive messages, and receive voice-guided navigation optimized for traffic conditions using a familiar system. A 4G LTE Wi-Fi HotSpot and Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa are available as well. For instrumentation, the Cherokee has a thin-film transistor 3.5-inch grayscale or 7-inch full-color configurable cluster. Custom choices include turn-by-turn navigation, vehicle speed, current fuel economy, safety warnings, and audio information.

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Safety and Driver Aids

For the 2021 model year, new standard active safety features include full-speed forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Rain-sensing windshield wipers and heated side mirrors are also standard. Beyond all that, an array of active safety and convenience features are available on the various Cherokee trim levels, including adaptive cruise control with stop and go. For automated help with parking, the Cherokee features a rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines, while the available ParkSense parallel/perpendicular park assist uses ultrasonic parking sensors on the bumper to find and guide your Jeep into an available parking space. The system controls the steering angle automatically, while the driver must choose forward and reverse, brake, and accelerate appropriately. Eight standard airbags lead the list of passive safety features.

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Cargo and Towing

As mentioned when discussing the exterior, the Jeep Cherokee doesn’t offer the same interior passenger room and cargo space that many of its midsize competitors do. At the same time, none of its passengers will feel claustrophobic or cramped. With 128 cubic feet of space, its interior is a comfortable cocoon. If you want to travel with five people aboard, it has 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat. With the rear seat folded back, 54.7 cubic feet of cargo area allow a couple to journey with a lot of gear. The lightweight composite liftgate with a well-positioned release handle is easy to use, and a hands-free liftgate is also available. With the 2.0-liter turbo and trailer tow package, the Cherokee's max towing is 4,000 pounds. But when equipped with the 271-horsepower 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 engine and the trailer tow package, the Cherokee is even stronger, offering maximum towing of 4,500 pounds.

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Five Trim Levels

The Cherokee is available in five different trim configurations – Latitude, Latitude Plus, Trailhawk, Limited, and the new Latitude Lux. Last year’s Overland model is no longer available in the lineup. Both front-drive and 4x4 versions are available in each trim level with the exception of the Trail Rated Trailhawk, which is only offered as a 4x4. It features the Jeep Active Drive Lock 4-wheel-drive system and has a locking rear differential, skid plates, and tow hooks. The locking rear differential is selectable in any low-range terrain mode to maximize available traction. For those less inclined to engage in heavy off-roading, the Latitude is the value-oriented trim level. If you are looking for a fully equipped vehicle, the Limited includes dual-pane panoramic sunroof, auto high-beam headlamps, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, parallel/perpendicular park assist with full stop, and ParkSense front/rear park assist with rear stop.

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Pricing and Value

Starting with relatively inexpensive front-wheel-drive models and extending to highly capable off-roaders and dual-use vehicles with tons of luxury equipment, the Cherokee spans a broad price span. For those who want to participate in the Jeep lifestyle as they commute back-and-forth to an urban job, front-wheel-drive versions of almost every trim level are available. If you want to take a headlong dive into Jeep-style off-roading, a number of 4x4 versions, including the Trailhawk, will fill that bill. The base front-wheel-drive Latitude has an MSRP of $26,760 plus a $1,495 destination charge. The new Latitude Lux trim 4x4 has an MSRP of $32,095 plus the aforementioned destination charge. For the Limited trim level in 4x4 configuration, the MSRP climbs to $36,000 plus the $1,495 destination fee. Off-road enthusiasts will appreciate the Trailhawk with an MSRP of $35,800 plus the destination charge. All Cherokees are built in a Stellantis assembly plant in Belvedere, Illinois.

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