Used 2021 Jeep Cherokee

Although the 2021 Jeep Cherokee is in the same basic compact crossover class as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, it forces a rethink of what exactly is a crossover and at what point it becomes an SUV.

Those ever-popular Japanese vehicles are great for running around the suburbs as well as longer trips. The Cherokee can easily cover such duties as well. And its safety features are just as plentiful. But if someone wanted a stronger SUV flavor, with a choice of engines and perhaps some real off-roading capability, then the Cherokee stakes a particular claim.

The Trailhawk model is a rugged SUV with extensive off-road credentials and a cabin every bit as comfortable and technologically advanced as the class best.

Most competitors come with a single engine. The Cherokee offers three. It weighs more than most in this segment and has one of the smallest cargo compartments, but compensates with its style, power, towing ability (up to 4,500 pounds), and off-road readiness.

As a city-dwelling competitor to the Honda CR-V and the usual compact crossover suspects, the 2021 Jeep Cherokee has its shortcomings. It’s heavy, so fuel economy isn’t as good as the competition.

This weight also means it never feels particularly quick, even with the optional V6 engine. And skip over the base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. The Cherokee feels more lively with the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit, thanks to better torque delivery.

All three engines connect to a 9-speed automatic that is sometimes lazy with its shifts, but it’s smoother than when the current generation debuted in 2014.

Ride and handling are spot-on. And even though the Cherokee isn’t quick, neither are its rivals.

Head off-road, and the Cherokee really shines. The Cherokee Trailhawk, packing an Active Drive Lock all-wheel-drive system, is the most rugged choice. But even less specialized variants with Active Drive II and low-range gearing still come with capability that most others can’t match.

Throw in the 4,500 pounds of towing capacity with the V6, and arguments in favor of a 2021 Cherokee become stronger.

For the most part, Jeep’s 2021 Cherokee has a modern interior with logically located instruments and easily reachable controls. There are plenty of soft-touch plastics and many stowage spaces.

The standard infotainment has a 7-inch Uconnect 4 touchscreen that’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The upgraded Uconnect 4 setup brings an 8-inch screen with Alexa Skills integration.

The seats are fairly comfortable and improve higher up the trim levels, although driver comfort is affected by a steering column that lacks sufficient travel for both height and reach.

Rear-seat comfort is acceptable, with good headroom and legroom for passengers of average size. But cargo space behind them is only 25.8 cubic feet. Compare that with the Honda CR-V’s 39.2 cubic feet.

Even if it’s not an arguable beauty like the Mazda CX-5, the 2021 Cherokee sports a tidy, traditional look with slim LED headlights that mimic the Jeep Compass and Grand Cherokee.

The rugged looks of the Trailhawk are especially attractive, with beefy tires, blacked-out hood, and red tow hooks projecting from its lower-profile bumper.

2.0-LITER TURBOCHARGED ENGINE
This optional 2.0-liter turbocharged engine endows the 2021 Cherokee SUV with acceleration that beats most 4-cylinder rivals, yet without a noticeable penalty in fuel economy. It’s $695 well spent.

TRAILHAWK
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has Jeep’s most sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. It also rides higher than a regular Cherokee and includes protective plating, tow hooks, and specialist off-road tires. More than just looking the part, the Trailhawk is designed to wade through up to 20 inches of water, tackle rugged boulder-strewn courses, and push through deep snow.

The entry-level 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude comes with front-wheel drive (FWD), the 2.4-liter engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers, full-speed forward-collision warning with active braking, hill-start assist, 6-way manually adjustable front seats, cloth upholstery, 7-inch Uconnect 4 screen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and a black-and-white digital information display between the gauges.

Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction management system comes with all-wheel drive.

The most obvious options are drivetrain-related. The base 4-cylinder can (and should) be skipped in favor of either the V6 or, even better, the turbocharged 4-cylinder. Various all-wheel-drive systems are also available, with the Jeep Active Drive Lock reserved for Trailhawk models. Higher trims are eligible for more options.

Limited versions have an 8.4-inch infotainment screen, leather upholstery, and power-adjustable front seats.

The trail-rated Trailhawk model adds under-body skidplates, a more specialized all-wheel-drive system, and suspension, plus other enhancements to make it more capable off-road.

The standard engine in the Latitude and Latitude Plus trims is a 180-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder unit that’s neither refined nor efficient. The Cherokee’s weight makes this engine an undesirable choice, although it does keep the price in line with the competition.

Buyers will be happier with either the 271-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 (standard in the Latitude Lux, Limited and Trailhawk versions) or the 270-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo, which is optional in the Latitude Lux and Limited trims.

Horsepower for these two options is nearly identical, but the turbo has an additional 56 lb-ft of torque, which is useful for passing and rapid acceleration. And it does it all with fuel economy figures similar to the base 2.4-liter engine. However, the thirstier V6 is still the engine to have for towing, with a 4,500-pound rating that exceeds the turbo by 500 pounds.

All engines connect to a 9-speed automatic transmission that’s reasonably smooth, but often slow to respond. It’s better with the two superior engines.

All-wheel drive is also available with all three engines, depending on the trim level.

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), 20/26 mpg (Trailhawk)