2020 Jeep Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes in five trims namely Latitude, Latitude Plus, Limited, Trailhawk, and Overland. The base Latitude trim gets a 2.4-liter inline-4 motor while there is an option of a 3.2-liter V6 (standard on Overland trim) or a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. Except for the Trailhawk trim, all the other trims offer the option of FWD or 4WD while the Trailhawk is strictly a 4WD model.

Apart from the standard features listed in the table below, there are a couple of optional packages worth looking at. The first one in this is the Technology Group package that adds adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam, automatic parking, automatic emergency braking, automatic wipers, lane departure warning, and forward-collision warning. This package is available on Limited, Trailhawk, and Overland trims.

While Cold Weather Group package can be added on the first two trims for the heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and remote start. Lastly, there is a Trailer Tow package that comes with a full-size spare, Class III hitch, trailer wiring harness for four and seen pin system, etc. That being said, most of the comfort and convenience features offered on higher trims are available as an option or in a package on lower trims.

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The Limited trim offers a lot of premium features for its price and is the most feature-friendly option among the rest. While off-roaders can look at the competent Trailhawk trim.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee courtesy of its heavier curb weight and a lethargic motor returns 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The base motor with 4WD sees a drop of one mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway gas mileage. The V6 powered Cherokee on the other hand returns 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. While the turbo-four powered Cherokee returns the best 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Thus if you prefer good gas mileage then opt for the turbo-four otherwise you are better off with the V6 as for a small dip in mileage you get more power and towing capacity.

With a combined mpg figure of just 25, the 2020 Cherokee ranks lowest among the competition. While both the CR-V and the Escape with a smaller engine return the best 30 mpg of combined gas mileage. The fuel tank capacity of the CR-V is the least and the Cherokee has the biggest fuel tank, a capacity of 1.8-gallon more than the CR-V. Thus due to this fact even though the rival SUVs are more efficient the Jeep Cherokee offers a longer range on the highway. 

"The Cherokee’s Interior materials are a notch above the competition and Jeep has updated the look this year with contrasting lighter colors on lower panels." –TheCarConnection.com

Inside the 2020 Jeep Cherokee, it offers seating for five people with the cabin being easily accessible for most body sizes. There is a generous amount of headroom and legroom on offer for both the front and rear passengers. Taller passengers will more so appreciate the good amount of headroom on offer while others will like big glass area that elevates the roominess of the cabin. The cabin was redesigned just last year so most of the things are pretty much up-to-date and the controls being ergonomically laid out with soft-touch material at prominent places.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee offers two screen sizes for the infotainment system. The base unit is a 7-inch touchscreen while the Limited and above trims sports an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Jeep's Uconnect infotainment system irrespective of the screen size remains the best in the business. As standard, you get a six-speaker audio system with smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

The Limited trim with the bigger touchscreen replaces the standard audio system with a 9-speaker Alpine audio system which we felt is the one to opt for in case your trim doesn't offer it as standard. With 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, the cargo capacity of the Jeep Cherokee is below average for the segment. That said, the Cherokee gets a 60/40-split folding rear seat, as standard, to increase the cargo area while with the rear seat folded there is 54.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space liberated.

You would be surprised to note here that the Jeep Cherokee which is dimensionally similar to the CR-V although offers similar cabin space but can't match its cargo space. While overall it is the Escape which is the most space inside among all the SUVs here. But it is also second to the CR-V when it comes to cargo space on offer followed by CX-5 and Cherokee. 

Interior Features:

• 60/40-split folding rear seats
• Available power-adjustable driver's seat
• Available leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Available auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
• Available heated and ventilated front seats
• Available heated rear seats
• Available dual-zone automatic climate control

"The funky, separated lighting that gave the Cherokee a sleepy face is gone." –TheCarConnection.com

The 2019 redesign has brought a lot of maturity and subtleness to the Cherokee's exterior design especially the front fascia. The Cherokee from the front now looks more mature and a smaller sibling of the Grand Cherokee. The rear also has some unique elements like clear lens tail lamps and skid plates that accentuate the character of the SUV

The Jeep Cherokee falls amongst the compact SUVs in the segment in terms of its dimensions and this yields ease while parking in tight spaces or moving through crowded spaces. The smaller footprint with a Jeep pedigree makes the Cherokee a perfect size vehicle for urban duties and a compact family that loves going off-trail.

When it comes to dimensions then the Jeep Cherokee is almost close to the CR-V give or take an inch. While the Escape is the widest one and the CX-5 is the tallest SUV among all. With 7.8-inches of ground clearance, the CR-V is most comfortable in going over big bumps but its large front and rear overhang are a disadvantage while off-roading.

Exterior Features:

• Automatic front LED headlamps w/ LED daytime running lamps
• LED taillamps
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Available front LED fog lamps
• Available 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels
• Available acoustic windshield
• Available skid plate

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes with a good amount of active and passive safety features as standard while a host of advanced driver-assist features are either standard on higher trims or a part of an optional package on the base trim. The IIHS and NHTSA have a slightly split opinion on the safety ratings of the Cherokee as the IIHS gave the 2020 Cherokee the highest rating of 'Good' in all its six parameters while the NHTSA only gave it four out of five stars in overall safety ratings. 

Safety features:

• Rear View Camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Available blind-spot monitor
• Available rear cross-traffic alert
• Available automatic emergency braking
• Available adaptive cruise control
• Available forward-collision warning

2020 Jeep Cherokee vs 2020 Honda CR-V

There is no denying the fact that the Honda CR-V is one of the best SUVs in the segment. It flaunts an easy-to-understand infotainment system and best-in-class storage space. The CR-V additionally has a rich lodge that offers two lines of seating and has enough space to oblige grown-ups.

The Cherokee however is a more practical off-roader of the two as it offers better ground clearance, approach and departure angles, superb 4WD setup, and a capable V6 motor under the hood. So if you want a daily driver for occasional off-road the go for the Cherokee else the CR-V should be preferred.

2020 Jeep Cherokee vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the sportiest SUVs in the segment. The Mazda offers one of the best second-row seating arrangements in the class as well. When it comes to refinement and luxury the CX-5 is leaps and bounds ahead of the Cherokee although both the SUVs boast a spacious cabin.

The Cherokee however manages to close the gap between it and the CX-5 in terms of riding dynamics and handling. When it comes to daily usability and practicality the CX-5 has an upper hand but just like the CR-V, it falls short before the Cherokee when it comes to off-roading prowess.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee now has become a very refined and mature offering for urban customers who can't live with the unforgiving ride quality of a Wrangler or buy the pricier Grand Cherokee. The base motor is a letdown but the V6 packs in a whole lot of punch with decent gas mileage and pulling capacity. Unlike other pseudo compact SUVs, the Cherokee is very much capable off-road, especially in the Cherokee Trailhawk trim. So, if you want a proper SUV but in a compact proportion, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee is definitely, one of the top contenders to be considered.