The Jeep Cherokee is a charming small SUV. Fitted with either one of its optional engines — a turbocharged four-cylinder or a V6 — the Cherokee is more fun to drive than you might expect. And, as with its Grand Cherokee sibling, its off-road ability and maximum towing capacity are both excellent for the class.

Rival SUVs you might want to cross-shop include the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. The Cherokee is a solid option here, with a smooth ride that is good enough for the average commuter, plus rugged chops to satisfy adventurous drivers. That’s a tough line to straddle, but the Cherokee pulls it off well enough to earn a decent spot in rankings.

Which Cherokee do we recommend?

The newly created Latitude Lux trim could be the way to go. It delivers a lot of features that enhance the Cherokee ownership experience, striking a nice balance of comfort, capability and price. With the savings, you can option up to the more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and the Comfort and Convenience package with upgraded technology. If you’re planning to venture into any sort of off-roading, however, the Trailhawk is the way to go.

Jeep Cherokee models

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee is a five-seat small SUV available in five main trim levels: Latitude, Latitude Plus, Latitude Lux, the rugged Trailhawk and the range-topping Limited. You might also see some designations such as Altitude or High Altitude, but these are essentially styling packages that add on to the main trims.

Most Cherokees come with standard front-wheel drive and offer four-wheel drive as an option. The exception is the Trailhawk, which has standard four-wheel drive.

Latitude
The entry-level Latitude trim offers a basic yet comfortable package that comes with:

• 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (180 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque)
• Nine-speed automatic transmission
• Roof rails
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 60/40-split rear seats
• 7-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration
• Six-speaker audio system
• Selec-Terrain management system (4×4 only)

Standard driver aids include:

• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Cherokee back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Latitude Plus
Adds more creature comforts such as:

• Foglights
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Remote start
• Heated front seats
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Satellite radio
• Rear USB ports
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

Latitude Lux
This new trim level includes:

• 3.2-liter V6 engine (271 hp and 239 lb-ft) or optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (270 hp and 295 lb-ft)
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat

Trailhawk
Feature-wise, the off-road-oriented Trailhawk is similar to the Latitude Plus. But it does also come with:

• V6 engine only
• 8.4-inch touchscreen
• All-terrain tires
• Jeep Active Drive Lock with rock mode and locking rear axle

Limited
Most luxurious trim in the Cherokee range boasts:

• Standard V6 or optional turbocharged four-cylinder engine
• 18-inch wheels
• Power liftgate
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Driver-seat memory settings
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Nine-speaker premium audio system
• Upgraded driver information display
• Panoramic sunroof
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Jeep and the car in front, even in heavy traffic)

Many of the extra standard features on the upper trims can be added to the lower trims as options. Other main options include:

• Altitude, High Altitude and 80th Anniversary subtrim levels
  • Add either dark gray or black styling accents and wheels plus a few extra features

• Elite package (Limited trim only)
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Heated rear seats
  • Hands-free liftgate
  • Integrated navigation system

• Trailer tow package
  • Class III receiver hitch
  • Seven-pin wiring harness
  • Upgraded engine cooling

Competitive Vehicles

2021 Honda CR-V

2021 Ford Escape