Used 2022 Jeep Cherokee

There are tons of compact crossover SUVs on the market, many of which tend to blend together. Many of these “soft-roaders” are perfectly competent in typical daily driving conditions but don’t offer much in terms of off-road capability. That’s where the 2022 Jeep Cherokee comes in. The Cherokee strikes a nice balance of on-road comfort, everyday practicality, and impressive off-road chops in classic Jeep fashion. Some competitors have more refined interiors and sharper handling, but few can match the capability of this Jeep when the pavement ends.

The X trim is a nice new addition to the Jeep Cherokee lineup for 2022. The Cherokee X has an extra dose of off-road attitude with a unique appearance package, and it comes standard with the V6 engine and all-wheel drive. It’s a more budget-friendly alternative to the more extreme Trailhawk model.

In a world where many compact SUVs offer “off-road” trims that are strictly appearance packages, the Cherokee is a rugged breath of fresh air with its adventurous capabilities. However, if you don’t intend to venture off-road, one of this Jeep’s many rivals will probably be a better buy.

Driving the Jeep Cherokee on the street is a pretty uneventful experience with the base engine. It’s adequate for daily city driving, but it requires some patience for passing on the highway. If your budget allows it, we highly recommend the turbocharged engine or the V6. The 9-speed automatic transmission that comes with every engine does its job fine, but it can sometimes be lazy to shift.

The handling and ride quality are good, but again, nothing to write home about. It’s about average for its class and if you’re looking for an SUV on the sporty side, consider one of the more athletic offerings in this class, like the Mazda CX-5.

Where the Jeep Cherokee really shines is off-road. As the name on the hood suggests, this is a better off-roader than almost all of its rivals. The Active Drive Lock AWD system available for the Trailhawk model gives this SUV a rear locker, and even the more affordable Active Drive II system has a 2-speed transfer case. These sophisticated AWD systems — combined with features like real skid plates, off-road suspension, and hill descent control — make the Cherokee Trailhawk a serious off-roader.

A couple of other good off-roaders in this segment include the Subaru Forester and Ford Bronco Sport.

The interior of the Jeep Cherokee is pretty good, but it’s starting to feel dated compared to more modern rivals. It’s reasonably comfortable, and the controls are ergonomic and easy to use. The Cherokee has one of our favorite infotainment systems in the business, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard.

Seating comfort is pretty good, and the higher up you go in the model range, the more premium materials you’ll get. There’s plenty of room in the front seats, and back-seat space is about average for this class. Cargo space is disappointing at only 25.8 cubic feet. If you want something roomier, go with the bigger Grand Cherokee or one of the Cherokee’s more spacious rivals like the Honda CR-V.

Like the bigger and more expensive Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Cherokee does a nice job looking both rugged and premium. It doesn’t have the boxy, military-inspired look of the Wrangler, but it does have a look that hints at its off-road capabilities while still looking modern.

The look of the Cherokee can change a bit depending on the trim. For example, the X and Trailhawk trims look decidedly off-roady, and the Limited trim has a more premium look.

The size of the Jeep Cherokee is average for a compact SUV. Within the Jeep lineup, it’s bigger than the Compass and smaller than the Grand Cherokee. Its dimensions are very similar to the Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Equinox, and Honda CR-V.

OFF-ROAD CHOPS
When equipped with one of its three available AWD systems, the Jeep Cherokee can venture where most of its rivals can’t, especially with the Trail Rated Trailhawk trim.

AVAILABLE V6
A V6 engine option is very uncommon in this class, but you can still get one in the Jeep Cherokee. It makes 271 horsepower and has a class-leading tow rating of up to 4,500 lbs.

The base Altitude trim is the only one that comes with the base 2.4-liter engine. Standard equipment includes cloth/premium vinyl seats, air conditioning, cruise control, dual USB ports, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, LED lighting, and remote start.

Standard safety tech features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The standard infotainment system is a user-friendly 8.4-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Upgrading to the Latitude Lux trim adds excellent features while keeping the pricing reasonable. On top of what you get in the Altitude trim, this trim adds leather seats, a 115V power outlet, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch TFT color display in the gauge cluster, a power liftgate, and a universal garage door opener. The V6 engine is standard, and the turbo engine is optional for the Latitude Lux and Limited trims.

Front-wheel drive is standard on the Altitude and Latitude Lux trims and all-wheel drive is optional. AWD is standard on all of the trims you’re about to read about below.

The new X trim has off-road attitude, but it’s more affordable than the more capable Trailhawk. On top of the standard V6 and the Active Drive I AWD system with Selec-Terrain, you get a unique appearance package and unique cloth seats. Other than that, the equipment list is similar to the base Altitude trim.

For the Altitude, Latitude Lux, and X trims, you can get a Sun and Sound Group that adds a sunroof and Alpine premium audio.

At the top of the model range is the off-road-ready Trailhawk and the premium Limited model. With the Trailhawk, you get a unique appearance package that includes special wheels, a black hood decal, functional skid plates, and red tow hooks. This trim only comes with the V6 engine, and you’re treated to off-road suspension, heavy-duty engine cooling, and the Active Drive II AWD system with a 2-speed transfer case. A locking rear end is optional.

A few other features you get with the Trailhawk include unique interior touches like red stitching and standard all-weather floor mats plus all-terrain tires, hill descent control, and Selec-Speed control.

The Limited trim is the most premium offering in the Cherokee model range. Its appearance package has 18-inch painted diamond-cut aluminum wheels and tasteful use of chrome. A few other standard features include a sunroof, leather seats, Alpine premium audio, and more tech features like adaptive cruise control, side distance warning, automatic high beams, and park assist with full stop.

There’s an Elite Package available exclusively for the Limited trim. It adds 19-inch wheels, chrome tow hooks, navigation, sliding second-row seats, heated back seats, a hands-free power liftgate, HD Radio, cooled front seats, and more. Some of these features can also be had on the Trailhawk in the Technology Group, Comfort/Convenience Group, and Sun, Sound, & Nav Group.

There are three engine options for the 2022 Jeep Cherokee. Unfortunately, there are no hybrid options. There’s a base inline-4, a turbocharged inline-4, and a V6, which has become a very uncommon option in the compact SUV segment. The base engine only comes in the Altitude trim. The Latitude Lux and Limited trims are available with the turbo-4 or the V6, and the V6 is the only engine available in the X and Trailhawk models.

We’re unimpressed with the base engine’s performance and fuel economy, and we highly recommend either the turbo engine or the V6 if you’re going to get a Cherokee. Both offer more robust performance on-road and off, and the V6 delivers a class-leading tow rating of up to 4,500 lbs.

Every Jeep Cherokee has a 9-speed automatic transmission. On the Altitude and Latitude Lux trims, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. All-wheel drive comes standard on the X, Limited, and Trailhawk trims. The Trailhawk has an Active Drive II AWD system with a 2-speed transfer case, and it’s available with a rear locker.

2.4-liter inline-4
180 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
171 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (FWD), 21/29 mpg (AWD)

3.2-liter V6
271 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
239 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg (FWD), 19/27 mpg (AWD), 18/26 mpg (Active Drive II), 18/24 mpg (Trailhawk)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
270 horsepower @ 5,250 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg (FWD), 21/29 mpg (AWD), 20/27 mpg (Active Drive II)