2014 Jeep Cherokee: Noticeably New

After nearly 13 years of absence from the Canadian market, the Jeep Cherokee is back! It’s filling the void that was left when they nixed the Jeep Liberty, a model that never really made a name for itself in the compact SUV segment. The all-new Cherokee offers the same legendary capabilities as other Jeeps and is shaking things up in its segment with several technological innovations.

The 2014 Cherokee is positioned between its big brother, the Grand Cherokee, and the Patriot-Compass duo. Ranging in price from just under $24,000 to just over $32,000, this vehicle rounds out the Jeep line-up.

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Factory-standard nine-speed automatic transmission

Thanks to its new global architecture developed by Fiat Group, the Cherokee adopts a split personality – one part city-slicker and one part hardcore off-roader. It’s all about making the purists happy!  

The base engine is the well-known 2.4L four-cylinder – the same one that equips the Dodge Dart. It generates 184 horsepower and 171 ft.-lbs. of torque, which is on par with what several of the Cherokee’s competitors offer. While this option is nothing out of the ordinary, the nine-speed transmission – offered factory-standard – is definitely worth getting excited about. This marks a first for a vehicle of this kind, as technologically advanced systems like this are usually reserved for luxury vehicles, and then gradually make their way into more affordable models.

Nowadays, many other automakers are going with fewer cylinders, but Jeep has stuck with a V6. No, it’s not the same 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 as before. This is its little brother and the latest addition to the family, the 3.2-litre Pentastar V6. Why did they choose this new engine? To strike a compromise between power and fuel economy. The Cherokee is now lighter and therefore doesn’t need a 3.6-litre engine. The 3.2-litre produces 271 horsepower and 239 lbs-ft of torque, which is not that far off from the previous mill’s 290 ponies.

What’s interesting about the Cherokee is that all trims come with choices. Specifically, all versions can be equipped with the basic four-litre engine or the V6, and all-wheel drive can be added too. Just the Trailhawk – designed for off-roading – comes factory-standard with the V6 and all-wheel drive.

The controversy starts with style

It’s hard not to be charmed by the 2014 Cherokee’s mechanics. But when it comes to its style . . .  Erm, not so much. Based on the comments we got from our online audience after publishing photos of the vehicle, it seems that a lot of people agree with us.

To be fair, the vehicle doesn’t have the same Jeep look that we’re all used to. You know, that athletic and aggressive look. No one is going to mistake the new Cherokee for a Wrangler or Grand Cherokee. Sigh, weren’t we all hoping for a mini-Grand Cherokee? Most folks are hung up on its front end, where the hood and bumper create a very short nose. It looks like it’s been squished. The light cluster also bothers some people because the lights have been split into two sections. The narrow upper portion houses the daytime running lights and indicators, while the headlamps are located down in the bumper. In fact, the only recognizable aspect is the seven-slot grille. To play the devil’s advocate, this new design gives the vehicle a better attack angle when off-roading.
Despite its resemblance with several rival SUVs – such as the Kia Sportage and Ford Escape – the Cherokee’s rear treatment seems to be more universally accepted.

The vehicle’s interior is controversy-free. It looks good and the attention-to-detail is evident. Soft materials have been used throughout, which is nice. There is plenty of space and visibility is excellent. The base trims come with a 5-inch touch screen for the multi-media system, while the more expensive trims come with an 8-inch screen. This system is simple and intuitive. We also liked the volume and other controls located behind the steering wheel.

On – and off – the road

The new Cherokee was designed to be efficient and effective. Not only is the equipment level an important choice, but so is the engine. If power and accelerations aren’t high on your priority list, go with the four-cylinder engine. It will suit your needs just fine. In fact, we were surprised by how well it performed (we expected a lot less pep!). It just runs out of breath during accelerations and its response time is a little slow mainly because of its timid torque.

The more robust 3.2-litre V6 will be most people’s preferred engine. It never lacks energy and only costs marginally more than the four-cylinder. Plus, its fuel consumption is just slightly higher. If you ever want to tow a load, you definitely need the V6. At 4,500 lbs. (2,041 kg), the Cherokee’s towing capacity is well above its rivals.

It’s hard not to urge you to choose the all-wheel drive. An SUV with just two-wheel drive is like a car without heat in the Canadian winter. In other words, it’s missing something very important! The Cherokee offers three different AWD options. The Active Drive I system is the simplest. When you lose traction, it sends some of the torque to the rear wheels for improved traction.

The Cherokee Trailhawk, the would-be Wrangler

The more robust Active Drive II system is optional and includes low-range gearing to improve performance in extreme conditions. Finally, the Active Drive Lock system as the same but adds a locking rear differential. It comes factory-standard on the Trailhawk, which is designed for off-roading and officially “Trail Rated.” This version is easy to spot thanks to its front and rear shields  and red tow hooks.

It’s hard to find fault with the Cherokee on the road. Its steering is precise and the independent suspension on all four wheels makes the vehicle both comfortable and dynamic. Essentially, if you like its looks, you’ll be thrilled with the Cherokee. We’re all hoping that its nine-speed automatic transmission – used for the first time – will turn out to be reliable.