Refreshing

NEW FACE, NEW FEATURES, SAME CHEROKEE

- Gary Witzenburg

A half-decade ago, Jeep’s all-new ’14 Cherokee midsize crossover replaced the aging Liberty with a choice of two new engines—a 2.4L “Tigershark” MultiAir2 16-valve four and a 3.2L variant of Chrysler’s Pentastar V-6—both driving through a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission. It marked the rebirth of Jeep’s once-vaunted (but unused since ’01) Cherokee nameplate and boasted vastly improved fuel economy, best-in-class off-road capability, more carlike on-road dynamics, and an array of advanced technology features. 

It also wore a sleeker, more modern new body that some thought looked great but proved a bit controversial with traditional Jeep customers. But Jeep needed a modern midsize CUV to battle the hot-selling Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Mazda CX-5, and so many others, and the Cherokee— partly due to its unmatched off-road capability—has competed well.

Now, five years down the (on- and off-) road, “a stunning, more premium design and the addition of our new fuel-efficient 2.0L turbo engine make the new ’19 Jeep Cherokee even more desirable in the midsize SUV segment,” says Mike Manley, global head of FCA’s Jeep brand. The optional turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0L four pumps out 270 horses and 295 lb-ft of torque, and the somewhat blunter, more “Jeep-like” front end (with full LED lighting) should appeal more to traditional Jeep lovers without detracting from the modern good looks that have helped this Cherokee stand out from its growing phalanx of tough competitors.