Jeep Cherokee SUV (2014-2019) - Engines, drive & performance
Punchy diesel engines, but the Jeep Cherokee is noisy and no fun in corners
Without doubt, the Jeep Cherokee was set up to provide a comfortable, cosseting ride and decent off-road performance, not to be thrilling in corners. Its soft suspension, tall body and high ground clearance all make for better off-road performance, but the trade-off is that body lean is pretty pronounced in corners and the steering is somewhat vague. The Land Rover Discovery Sport is equally (if not more) capable off road, but much nicer to drive on it, while the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 are both better on road, but not as capable when the going gets tough. Worryingly for Jeep, even the cheaper Skoda Kodiaq feels like a more sophisticated driving partner.
Jeep Cherokee diesel engines
While the Cherokee was previously offered with a 2.0-litre diesel, it's looking like the facelift will only be sold with the range-topping 2.2-litre engine in the UK, providing 192bhp. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes a respectable 9.1 seconds and it has a top speed of 127mph.
It comes with standard four-wheel drive and the same nine-speed automatic gearbox as before, albeit with new software. It perhaps doesn't feel as fast as the figures suggest, but it's smooth enough, even if it does get quite loud under acceleration. The gearbox is usually smooth, too, but it's best left in automatic mode, as the manual shifts feel hesitant and it can be slow to drop down a gear.
