2017 Jeep Cherokee Review

Standard equipment on the Sport includes 17-inch steel wheels, LED running lights and taillights, remote keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable front seats, sliding and reclining rear seats with 60/40-split folding seatbacks, Bluetooth, a USB charge-only port and a six-speaker audio system with a 5-inch touchscreen interface, an auxiliary audio input and an SD card reader.

The Latitude adds alloy wheels, roof rails, foglights, automatic xenon headlights, a rearview camera, body-colored door handles and mirrors, tinted glass, LED interior lighting, upgraded cloth upholstery, a folding front passenger seat with a storage compartment inside the seat cushion, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with built-in audio controls and a 115-volt outlet.

The off-road-themed Trailhawk comes with an advanced four-wheel-drive system (Active Drive II) and also boasts slightly wider 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, off-road-oriented suspension tuning, a locking rear differential, hill ascent and descent control, skid plates, tow hooks, unique exterior trim, cloth and leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped shift knob, a larger driver information display with color graphics, satellite radio and Jeep's 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen interface with a USB audio interface, Siri Eyes Free and smartphone-app integration.

The Limited sheds the Trailhawk's off-road hardware, but it includes largely the same standard convenience items plus 18-inch alloy wheels, remote ignition, a wiper de-icer, upgraded power-folding side mirrors (with heating, integrated turn signals and puddle lamps), keyless entry and ignition, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat (with four-way power lumbar) and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The range-topping Overland includes its own 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path alert, a power liftgate, unique body-color exterior trim, cornering lights, sound-deadening windshield and front windows, driver memory functions, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, wood steering-wheel inserts, upgraded leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable passenger seat (with four-way power lumbar), a nine-speaker audio system with a subwoofer, a navigation system and HD radio.

Some of the higher trims' features are available on lower trims via optional packages or as standalone extras. Additional options, depending on trim, include various appearance packages (including a 75th Anniversary package that comes with bronze exterior trim and "tangerine" interior accents), a towing package, a dual-pane sunroof (power front, fixed rear) and a safety-oriented Technology package (automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist, automatic wipers and — if not already specified — the upgraded exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors and an automated parking system).

Standard on most 2017 Jeep Cherokees is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 184 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. Optional on most is a 3.2-liter V6 that makes 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard with both engines.

You have your choice of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with either engine, but Trailhawk models are 4WD-only. Jeep offers two 4WD systems. Standard on four-wheel-drive Sport, Latitude and Limited models is the light-duty Active Drive I 4WD system; it requires no input from the driver, though it does come with a Selec-Terrain dial that features different terrain modes. Standard on the Trailhawk and Overland and optional on the Limited is the more rugged Active Drive II system, which features low-range gearing and a locking rear differential along with an additional Rock mode for the Selec-Terrain dial.

The optional towing package gives V6 models a healthy 4,500-pound towing capacity.

When equipped with front-wheel drive and the four-cylinder engine, the Cherokee is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined (21 city/30 highway). Surprisingly, the V6 and front-wheel drive is nearly as good with 24 mpg combined (21 city/29 highway). EPA-estimated fuel economy for 4WD Cherokees is slightly less than above, with the Trailhawk bringing up the rear at 22 mpg combined with the four-cylinder and 21 mpg combined with the V6.

In Edmunds testing, a V6-powered Cherokee Limited with Active Drive I went from zero to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, a satisfactory showing for a small crossover with an upgraded engine. A Cherokee Trailhawk, also with the V6, fell back to 8.0 seconds.