WHY IS THIS INFORMATION IMPORTANT?
This page will tell you everything that you need to know about this vehicle. Buying a vehicle is a huge accomplishment and a huge financial outlay. We want you to have as much information as possible, so that you can make the best decision for you.
The Jeep Cherokee is a line of SUVs manufactured and marketed by Jeep over five generations. Originally marketed as a variant of the Jeep Wagoneer, the Cherokee has evolved from a full-size SUV to one of the first compact SUVs and into its current generation as a crossover SUV. Named after the Cherokee tribe of North American Indians, Jeep has used the nameplate in some capacity since 1974.
Models:
- Jeep Cherokee (SJ) (Model years 1974–1983)
- Jeep Cherokee (XJ) (Model years 1984–2001)
- Jeep Cherokee (KJ) (Model years 2002–07), also known as the Jeep Liberty in North America
- Jeep Cherokee (KK) (Model years 2008–13), also known as the Jeep Liberty in North America
- Jeep Cherokee (KL) (Model years 2014–present)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ), (WJ), (WK), and (WK2) (Model years 1993–present)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) (Model years 1993–1998)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ) (Model years 1999–2004)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK) (Model years 2005–2010)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2) (Model years 2011–present)
— Source Wikipedia
- Official Page – Jeep Cherokee
- Price: Starts at $35,945 CAD
- Comparable to: Volvo XC60, BMW X5
- Maintenance costs: Approximately $10,244 over 10 years.
REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS
We have put together as many reviews and impressions as we could find. Each finds a way to touch upon something that the others missed. If you are serious about this vehicle then these videos are worth watching. If you have review or first impressions that helped you and that aren’t listed here, please contact us!
OUR SCORE
SCORES BY PUBLICATION:
Kelley Blue Book: 3.4 / 5
USNews: 7.7 / 10
Edmunds: 7.8 / 10
Car and Driver: 6.5 / 10
Motortrend: 6.9 / 10
Driving.ca: No Rating
Top Gear: They have 2021 review listed, but it is 2018 vehicle.
Cars.com: 4.9 / 5
What the critics have to say…
The Jeep Cherokee is a capable small crossover, able to ford creeks, scamper over boulders and take you places more urbane competitors likely can’t. Favorable approach and departure angles, plus a trio of available four-wheel-drive systems help provide those mountain-goat talents. It’s just a shame this vehicle’s off-road abilities come at the expense of some refinement and everyday livability.
CNet
Combining everyday usability with real off-road capabilities, the Jeep Cherokee is built to suit diverse preferences. Unfortunately, the Cherokee is let down by practical weaknesses that make considering the competition a good idea—if you’re not already smitten by the Jeep brand’s appeal.
Motortrend
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
On the road, the Cherokee is comfortable thanks to its supportive seats and smooth ride. There’s plenty of legroom in every seat, though some competitors are even more spacious. Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system is among our favorites for its responsiveness and ease of use (especially on the larger-available screen), while USB ports in both rows are available. The Cherokee makes a nice road tripper, especially when fitted with adaptive cruise control. However, cargo and fuel tank capacity aren’t as great as in some segment competitors.
Motortrend
As you’d expect from a Jeep, the Cherokee drives with heftiness and solidity, making it feel larger than its rivals. Despite its off-road abilities, the Cherokee is still based on a car, meaning it provides a comfortable ride and decent handling on the road. Relatively firm suspension tuning controls body roll in corners without compromising the ride quality. Impacts are absorbed without much excess reverberation, and the Jeep never feels floaty on the highway. We wish the steering provided more feedback from the road, but it’s nicely weighted and accurate.
Car and Driver
IS IT RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY?
Is the Jeep Cherokee Reliable?
The 2021 Cherokee has a predicted reliability score of 82 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Jeep Cherokee Warranty
Jeep covers the Cherokee with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
HOW COMFORTABLE IS IT?
The Cherokee does a fine job of softening harsh roads but is less adept at controlling the ups and downs of smoother undulating roads. We found the seats to be comfortable, with nice, breathable upholstery, even if they don’t provide a lot of lateral support. There’s an average amount of road and wind noise, not enough to be distracting, but we wouldn’t call it quiet either.
Edmunds
WHAT IS THE INTERIOR LIKE?
With supportive seats and easy-to-use controls, the Cherokee’s cabin is comfortable. An attractive dashboard that mimics the larger and more expensive Grand Cherokee‘s layout helps cultivate an upscale feel. However, given that the Cherokee is larger on the outside than many of its competitors, we’d expect it to feel more spacious on the inside. Small windows and high windowsills contribute to the feeling of confinement.
Car and Driver
In keeping with its silence and smoothness, the Cherokee is also mostly comfortable. The front bucket seats are almost like thrones, soft yet supportive and all-day usable. Unfortunately, the backseat is a bit tight on head- and legroom, at least for six-footers. The second row is certainly livable, but a little more space to sprawl might be nice.
CNet
WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE?
The Cherokee comes standard with the Uconnect infotainment system, which is consistently praised for its straightforward operation and clean menu structure. A 7-inch touch screen is standard, but the optional 8.4-inch touch screen’s improved graphics are worth the upgrade.
US News
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and the entry-level infotainment interface is nice, even if the icons are on the small side. The touchscreen menu is pretty straightforward, providing prompts that are helpful in guiding you through the available commands. You can make calls, tune to a radio station, and even set the climate control system through voice commands. There are two USB ports up front and two more for charging in the back, and the upgraded audio system delivers great sound.
Edmunds
WHAT IS THE CARGO SPACE LIKE?
The Cherokee’s cargo area is smaller than most vehicles this size, and interior cubby storage is average at best. It’s more difficult to load items into the rear than into some of its rivals due to the Jeep’s high lift-over height. In addition, its cargo area is significantly smaller than top rivals such as the Ford Escape (34 cubes) and the Honda CR-V (39).
Car and Driver
Despite the trunk’s small volume dimensions, its layout is clever and useful. The adjustable load floor is handy and liftover height is manageable, but the Cherokee has one of the small trunks in the segment with 24.6 cubic feet of cargo space. There’s a good variety of cabin storage options for the items people commonly bring inside.
Edmunds
IS THIS VEHICLE A GOOD VALUE?
Our midlevel Cherokee model was missing some interior refinement, but things weren’t all bad. The control knobs have soft detents and rubberized knurling that makes for easy adjustment. The hard plastic trim has a ruggedness to it, but it looks a bit cheap compared to what’s in segment leaders.
Edmunds
IS THE Jeep Cherokee A GOOD SUV?
The Jeep Cherokee is an OK compact SUV. It’s one of the most capable off-roading SUVs, it’s available with a potent turbocharged engine, and it comes with a user-friendly infotainment system. However, it lags behind most rivals in terms of cargo space, rear-seat room, and interior quality. A weak base engine also hurts the Cherokee’s case.
US News
THE FINAL WORD
For shoppers who won’t base their purchase on pure off-road prowess, the Jeep Cherokee doesn’t move the needle. This SUVs notable strengths – intuitive features and potent engine options – can be found in a number of class rivals that also offer higher-quality cabins and more passenger and cargo space.