Jeep Cherokee

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

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 our rankings. Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth take on the 2021 Cherokee.

Which Cherokee does MatoCar 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.

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 (4x4 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: