The renowned Cherokee returns to the Jeep lineup for the 2014 model year and promises to be the new king of the hill in the mid-size SUV segment. But is the American model a worthy rival for more premium and traditional offerings such as the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3?
That's what motoring editor Luke Madden went on to find out in his latest video review for AutoExpress. Let's start with the figures, shall we? The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited tested by the British publication is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot oil burner which churns out 168 horsepower. That's slightly less grunt compared to the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro and BMW X3 xDrive20d.
As for fuel efficiency and the 0 to 60 mph run, the Germans sport better acceleration times and mpg figures. By now you might wonder at what is the all-new Jeep Cherokee better than its main rivals? Well, that answer is pretty simple and it's found in what the Jeep brand stands for: off-road capability. But compared to the former generation, the new model has been fine tuned by engineers for better on-road dynamics, so it's pretty comfortable as well.
Mind you, if you plan on taking the Cherokee off-road, then we suggest you opt for the Trailhawk version which features better approach and departure angles, a low-ratio gearbox and the awe-important locking differential. The car tested by AutoExpress isn't the Trailhawk, but the top-of-the-range Limited model, which comes with a big 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster and a soft-touch dashboard garnished with contrasting stitching.
According to the reviewer, the cabin's fit and finish is noticeably improved over the former model's, but still features certain cheap and tacky materials such as the gearstick surround, transmission tunnel plastic and the scratchy lower dash. The nine-speed automatic gearbox received a fair bit of appraisal as well, but the turbo diesel engine's refinement fell a bit short off the mark.
If you're curious about the verdict, scroll down and press play for the full review.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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