Jeep Cherokee Review

While the iconic and rugged Jeep Wrangler is what many people prefer when it comes to a smaller sized Jeep, the Cherokee is also a great option! It’s still a highly capable Jeep with several four-wheel drive systems to choose from, but it has more of those comfort features that you might miss in a Wrangler. It’s a great vehicle for urban settings and is made for everyday adventures.

The Jeep Cherokee was significantly improved for 2019. It has a new, bold front end and there’s also an all-new available 2.0-liter turbocharged engine for improved performance. Plus, more technology inside and the vehicle is also big on safety! It received the designation of “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (in 2019 models with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights). There are over 80 standard and available safety and security features to help put your mind at ease!

There’s lots of variety offered with the Jeep Cherokee as its lineup is expansive. While SUVs.com recently test drove a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited, there are many other trim options. We suggest thoroughly researching each trim if you’re interested in purchasing a Cherokee.

Continue reading below for more about the redesigned Jeep Cherokee!

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee has been reimagined for modern adventure and as a result, now has a bolder front end design!

While holding true to its roots, the Cherokee’s styling has certainly evolved. The refreshed cascading waterfall grille is now lower on the Cherokee’s front, similar to other Jeep models. New and improved LED headlights and taillights also impress. The LED headlights and daytime running lights have been reoriented, by the way. They used to be separate from one another, but now meet each other. New wheel designs also help elevate the Cherokee’s look. Plus, there’s a new available hands-free power liftgate to help make loading cargo easier.

Of course, the exact look of your Cherokee all depends on the trim level you opt for. For example, there’s 19-inch polished aluminum wheels and a body-color front fascia on the Cherokee Overland. The most rugged Trailhawk, on the other hand, is bold in capability and design with standard red tow hooks and an aggressive stance.

The interior of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee has also been improved. It offers space for five and now features more technology.

While lower Cherokee trims feature a smaller 7” touchscreen with fourth-generation Uconnect as standard, there is an available 8.4” touchscreen. You can also upgrade to the Uconnect 4C NAV system. There’s Apple CarPlay support and Android Auto integration. If a personalized instrument cluster is also of interest to you, know that one is available! The digital instrument display offers crystal-clear definition and allows you to easily scroll though user-friendly graphics with the touch of a button on the steering wheel. There’s also an available 4G WiFi hotspot to help keep you connected! It offers a range of up to 50 feet from your vehicle and can connect up to eight devices.

There’s a stunning dual-pane panoramic sunroof you can opt for. It will help you and your passengers take in all the sights and sounds of the outdoors, whether driving through the city or enjoying some off-roading.

What type of interior materials you get largely depends on the trim you opt for. The 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited that SUVs.com test drove featured gray leather-trimmed seating. There’s also some nice comfort features to help keep you warm during those cold winter months. A heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats are available.

As for cargo space, it has been improved with the 2019 Jeep Cherokee. Cargo width was increased by 3 inches, but there’s still only 25.8 cubic feet of space behind the second row. While there is now more space than before, the Cherokee still trails competitors like the Toyota RAV4.

As for performance, there are three different options available! There are also three four-wheel drive systems to choose from. The most off-road capable Trailhawk is the only Cherokee to get four-wheel drive as standard, though.

The lower trims of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, including the Limited SUVs.com test drove in front-wheel drive, feature a 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir 4-cylinder as standard. It’s paired to a 9-speed automatic and produces 180 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque. In that front-wheel drive configuration, it gets over 474 highway miles on one tank. However, it still trails competitors in the fuel economy department. Many also complain about how laggy the transmission can be when paired to just the base engine.

Higher trims of the Cherokee, including the Limited in four-wheel drive configuration, feature a 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 with stop/start technology as standard. It delivers more horsepower and a higher torque rating. It’s also a suitable option for light towing. It delivers 271 horsepower and 239 lb.-ft. of toque. It’s also paired to the nine-speed automatic.

New for 2019 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder! It’s available in all trims except for the base and offers an impressive amount of power. It’s mated to the same 9-speed automatic as the other engines, but the transmission doesn’t feel as slow to respond with the turbocharged engine. It cranks out 270 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque! It’s also more fuel efficient than the other offerings. If power and fuel efficiency is what you’re after, we definitely suggest upgrading to the turbocharged engine!

While the Cherokee is far from the Wrangler, it still is plenty off-road capable! If you plan on doing a lot of off-roading in your Cherokee, be sure to opt for the Trailhawk trim. It proudly wears the Jeep Trail Rated badge, meaning it has been put to the ultimate test in various off-road conditions. The Trailhawk comes standard with a 1-inch suspension lift to help you crawl over items. There’s also standard skid plates to help protect your Cherokee’s underbody.

The available Jeep Selec-Terrain Traction Management System offers five efficient modes to help you handle different driving conditions. Those modes are Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud, and available Rock.

To help keep you safe, the 2019 Jeep Cherokee features reliable and technologically advanced standard and available active and passive safety and security features. The available blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection systems come standard on Latitude Plus, Limited, Overland, and Trailhawk trims. Limited, Overland, and Trailhawk trims also have access to optional full-speed forward collision warning with active braking and lane departure warning.

Eight advanced airbags come standard. There’s also a standard rear view camera. Plus, there are available systems to help you park!

As with all Jeeps, the Cherokee is built tough. Its high-strength steel creates a robust body structure that helps maximize crash protection.

The starting price of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee varies depending on which trim level you opt for. The base Jeep Cherokee Latitude in front-wheel drive has a starting price of $25,740. Opting for four-wheel drive doesn’t add too much more to the price, so we suggest doing so. If you want the most off-road capable Trailhawk, which is on the higher end of the trim options, you’re looking at a starting price of $34,195. What’s nice is that if you want to opt for the new turbocharged engine, it will only set you back about $500 more. Keep in mind the fuel savings there as the turbocharged engine is the most fuel efficient option!

We’re a fan of the improvements made to the 2019 Jeep Cherokee! We also love the amount of variety offered with it, from all the different trim options to the three engine offerings. Unfortunately, the nine-speed automatic transmission continues to lag in response and especially with the base engine. We suggest upgrading to the new turbocharged option if possible! It’d also be nice if there were some more cargo space in the Cherokee, but the cargo area has at least been expanded. It was an easy vehicle to drive in the city, including on bumpy cobblestone streets. While great for urban settings, the Cherokee is also quite capable and that gives you the best of both worlds.

We gave the 2019 Jeep Cherokee an overall SUVs.com deal score of 74/100. Please be sure to watch our review video!