The latest 2021 Jeep Cherokee ditches its nontraditional styling for a more familial Grand Cherokee Light design. The V6 here is still an option, but there's a hot turbocharged 2.0-liter engine as well. In proper Jeep fashion, the Cherokee remains one of the most capable compact SUVs in the segment.
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.
Delivers 31 Highway MPG and 22 City MPG! This Jeep Cherokee delivers a Regular Unleaded I-4 2.4 L/144 engine powering this Automatic transmission. VE...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1C4PJLCB1MD134928 Stock: 47589 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 09-22-2025
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.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
7.8
out of 10
We drove the 2021 Jeep Cherokee on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Cherokee drive? We're pleasantly surprised by the Cherokee's sporty nature, especially when you consider Jeep's reputation for off-road capability. The steering is nicely weighted and feels direct. It also transmits some of the road texture to the driver. The wheel is well balanced, and there's a good sense of on-center feel. Shifts feels sluggish with the nine-speed automatic, so we'd probably opt for the turbo 2.0-liter engine, which outperforms the V6.
The brake pedal makes it easy and predictable to stop smoothly in everyday driving. Off-roading is above average, too, with multiple trim levels from which to choose that offer varying levels of capability in the dirt.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the Cherokee? The Cherokee does a fine job of softening harsh roads but is less adept at controlling the ups and downs of smoother undulating roads. We found the seats to be comfortable, with nice, breathable upholstery, even if they don't provide a lot of lateral support. There's an average amount of road and wind noise, not enough to be distracting, but we wouldn't call it quiet either.
The climate control system maintains temperature well, and the controls are easy to locate and adjust. Some functions such as the seat and steering wheel heaters are located in the touchscreen, requiring an extra step, but pop up immediately when you start the car — a nice touch. The seat heaters get toasty quickly, too.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? The high-mounted cabin is easy to climb into and see out of, and there's an ample amount of headroom. The view straight back is free of obstructions, and the generous glass — including the small window at each rear flank — also helps to minimize blind spots. There's also a generous amount of seat height adjustment, which should suit a wide range of driver types. Backseat passengers will appreciate the generous legroom.
This Jeep is not only easy to use, it's also easy to figure out, thanks to a straightforward Uconnect infotainment system and large, easy-to-wield knobs and buttons. However, those who are eyesight-challenged might want to upgrade to the larger 8.4-inch infotainment screen.
Technology
8.5/10
How’s the tech? Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and the entry-level infotainment interface is nice, even if the icons are on the small side. The touchscreen menu is pretty straightforward, providing prompts that are helpful in guiding you through the available commands. You can make calls, tune to a radio station, and even set the climate control system through voice commands. There are two USB ports up front and two more for charging in the back, and the upgraded audio system delivers great sound.
Our test car did not have many driver aids, but the alerts (such as blind-spot warning) can be configured to be audible or visual only. Adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist are only available on higher trims.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? Despite the trunk's small volume dimensions, its layout is clever and useful. The adjustable load floor is handy and liftover height is manageable, but the Cherokee has one of the small trunks in the segment with 24.6 cubic feet of cargo space. There's a good variety of cabin storage options for the items people commonly bring inside.
Child safety seat anchors are clearly marked and accessible between the rear seatback and bottom cushion. Likewise, the rear tethers are easy to access on the back of the seats. For those who tow trailers, an optional tow package increases the Cherokee's capacity to a useful 4,500 pounds.
Fuel Economy
6.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? Our V6 test vehicle is rated at 22 mpg (19 city/27 highway), which is well below what competitors return. We averaged 20.9 mpg over the course of two weeks, with a best return of 25.2 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop. The optional turbo 2.0-liter is not only more efficient but makes more power.
Value
7/10
Is the Cherokee a good value? Our midlevel Cherokee model was missing some interior refinement, but things weren't all bad. The control knobs have soft detents and rubberized knurling that makes for easy adjustment. The hard plastic trim has a ruggedness to it, but it looks a bit cheap compared to what's in segment leaders.
The Cherokee has a three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which matches most rivals. Roadside assistance is covered for five years/60,000 miles, which is better than some rivals. For pure value, segment leaders offer more standard features, but many of the Jeep's add-ons are affordable, and some are not offered by competitors. Ultimately, you're paying more for Jeep capability.
Wildcard
8/10
The Cherokee is much easier on the eyes after Jeep's midcycle refresh for 2019, but its design definitely lost some of its predecessor's boldness. Couple that with the fact that it's one of the most capable off-road vehicles in the class that's also surprisingly fun to drive on-road, and it's a rig we'd be happy to drive daily.
2021 Jeep Cherokee trim level differences
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.
Which Cherokee trim does Edmunds 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 has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 3 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #8 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#8 out of 29 among Compact SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$507/yr
vs. $465/yr for Average Compact SUV
Frequency
0.64x/yr
vs. 1x/yr for Average Compact SUV
Severity
11.7%
vs. 11.5% for Average Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
3 recalls found
Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
Recall Number:
24V516000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
71B
Number of vehicles affected:
13
Defect Description:
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the right-side curtain air bag may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Defect Consequence:
An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will secure the connector, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 71B.
Recall Number:
21V310000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
Y18
Number of vehicles affected:
18800
Defect Description:
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The transmission oil cooler hose may have been incorrectly cured, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
Defect Consequence:
A transmission fluid leak increases the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect and replace the hose, free of charge. Owners notification letters are expected to be mailed June 23, 2021. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y18.
Recall Number:
20V657000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
W81
Number of vehicles affected:
698
Defect Description:
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude and Jeep Cherokee Limited vehicles. One or both of the front lower control arms may fracture while driving.
Defect Consequence:
A front lower control arm fracture while driving may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash without prior warning.
Corrective Action:
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front lower control arms and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W81. Note: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until they have been inspected and repaired if needed.
Time for a new lease as my Tiguan went back. I looked at a new Tiguan, Subaru Outback, Jeep Cherokee and the Volvo X 40. I chose the Jeep Cherokee.
The Jeep felt the most substantial by far. I was surprised by the cheap plastic center in the Subaru and the Volvo. The Tiguan was all plastic but for 289.00 a month all in (including all taxes and fees) the Tiguan Se was the least … expensive vehicle I have ever leased. The same equipped Tiguan was 370.00 a month. I really missed the heated steering wheel from my previous BMW so it was a must for my new lease. A Tiguan with a heated steering wheel was 407.00 a month. I set out for a new compact SUV for 350.00 a month. I never thought of leasing a Jeep but in my budget it kept coming up so I test drove it. I knew instantly this would be my next vehicle. I leased a Jeep Cherokee V6 Limited with Elite Pkg. for 381.00 a month including taxes and all fees. This was the most equipped car I ever had. Cooled seats front and back it even can parallel park. I love the remote start which automatically turns on the heated seats and steering wheel. This Jeep is on par with my X3. Which was 500.00 a month a new one 700. a month to lease. Value wise this is the best vehicle you will find. It took months of tracking prices and negotiating for me to get this price.
The Jeep ride is great, acceleration is great too. The Volvo was slightly better but the Jeep was pretty close. It rides more like the X3. The info entertainment is easy to use intuitive and fast which really makes for a great driving experience. The Jeep is compact unlike the Tiguan which felt like you had so much space in the cabin. Handling is sharp seats are comfortable. Since it mainly me and one other person most of the time I can live with the snug cabin. I took Delivery at the end of November and have had no problems. Fit and finish is great so I am thinking it should be pretty reliable.
Update: I still love my Cherokee. The Adaptive cruise control is amazing. Life changing feature. The stop and go really takes the sting out of heavy traffic. The automatic high beams are amazing. The ride is great it really takes any size pot hole no problem. Well not quite the razor sharp handle of a BMW it’s much more comfortable. The ride, handling, and acceleration strike a great balance. The lane keep assist is the cars big down fall. It’s will pull slightly at the wheel for no reason. Less on the highway than around town. It feels like you hit a piece of ice. I doesn’t bother me as much now but at first it was annoying as hell. I tried to disable it but couldn’t. I just put it on the lowest setting. Hopefully they will use a lane centering on the next update. The car feels so high tech it’s quite unexpected.. I am so glad I got this Jeep. I would have never considered it, if not for the chip shortage. Inventories were starting to get tight and they had the inventory. I got this lease at such a great deal.I am so grateful as prices are skyrocketing on leases. Blown away by the luxury driving experience from a Jeep, Who knew!
Love my Trailhawk Elite
5 out of 5 stars
Pony Girl, 10/23/2021
2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (3.2L 6cyl 9A)
I wouldn't trade my 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk for anything. It is my commuter car as well as my "farm truck"--it tows my horse trailer and I use it when I need to drag round hay bales out to my horses. Snowy country roads are easy to get through. It's a quiet, comfortable ride. Safe too--my new 2019 Trailhawk was written off following a collision--it took a beating but I walked away … with only bruises; I was very impressed at how it did its job and absorbed the impact. After that I had no doubt that I wanted to replace it with the 2021 Trailhawk. I'm hooked on Jeep!
Love it!
5 out of 5 stars
Lp6781, 03/11/2021
2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4dr SUV (3.2L 6cyl 9A)
This is my second Jeep Cherokee. I am totally blown away with this SUV. I love the color, the interior, the v6 the features, I could go on and on. I previously had a 4 cylinder and thought that it was way under powered. I recommend everyone I know to test drive a Jeep Cherokee, they will be hooked as I am.
I purchased the limited edition 80th anniversary Jeep Cherokee because I loved the look, handling and the price was right with factory employee discount. Less than 1500 miles on the vehicle and it's been in twice for service the last two days, today the vehicle won't stay started. I was told last evening that there was a bad relay sensor, which was replaced. This morning the car … started, but turned off almost immediately. Not good for a brand new "showroom" vehicle.
Top 10 Best Compact SUVs | Ranking the Best Small SUVs of 2021
At Edmunds, we are big fans of the compact SUV. With enough room and comfort for passengers and good fuel economy, compact SUVs are a great choice for shoppers looking for an SUV that can do just about anything. In this video, Ryan ZumMallen from Edmunds presents our ranking of the Top 10 Best Compact SUVs and what makes each one different. From the popular Toyota RAV4 to… the off-roading Jeep Wrangler, Ryan runs down our list of what we consider the best small SUVs you can buy. This is our ranking of the Top 10 Best Compact SUVs.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="1200" height="588" fill="none" preserveAspectRatio="none"%3E%3Cmask id="b" width="1200" height="588" x="0" y="0" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" style="mask-type:alpha"%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23a)" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cg mask="url(%23b)"%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23c)" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23d)" fill-opacity=".15" d="M581.718 62.893c42.993 1.53 86.281 5.888 129.704 13.204 311.828 52.485 552.538 242.016 657.698 483.656-149.97-147.971-450.891-226.33-789.375-232.079-338.534.839-640.434 74.572-792.746 220.292 108.75-240.047 352.255-425.97 664.832-473.803a1041.548 1041.548 0 0 1 129.887-11.27Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23e)" fill-opacity=".5" d="M611.247 209.93a1458.84 1458.84 0 0 1 139.573 27.692c333.61 83.239 577.16 267.208 668.67 475.188-148.93-138.63-468.279-241.218-835.209-290.421-367.6-43.915-702.265-24.445-881.281 72.561 140.567-178.524 422.355-295.817 766.181-293.074 47.867.484 95.274 3.212 142.066 8.054Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23f)" d="M735.039 879.394c48.524-6.62 97.023-16.967 145.3-31.2C1227.03 746.059 1475.76 472.327 1564.28 145c-151.17 209.633-482.23 344.436-865.05 388.31C315.515 568.571-35.93 504.564-227 330.342-73.333 632.61 226.169 849.617 586.429 878.604c50.15 3.871 99.74 4.07 148.61.79Z" opacity=".3"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23g)" d="M694.222 783.712c50.956 12 103.317 20.27 156.946 24.578 385.102 31.013 738.232-146.76 952.062-439.434-231.22 151.216-613.24 158.795-1012.047 55.796C394.784 312.716 68.643 114.101-55.211-133c37.44 360.528 253.087 691.895 601.449 858.946 48.557 23.091 97.963 42.302 147.984 57.766Z" opacity=".9"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23h)" fill-opacity=".5" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3ClinearGradient id="a" x1="1005" x2="989.087" y1="23" y2="552.522" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23007EE5"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".333" stop-color="%231561D4"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%230A4AAB"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="c" x1="1005" x2="989.087" y1="23" y2="552.522" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23007EE5"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".334" stop-color="%231561D4"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="d" x1="675.999" x2="879.999" y1="648.999" y2="120.999" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23fff"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%23fff" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="e" x1="656.5" x2="637.602" y1="213" y2="622.259" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop offset=".115" stop-color="%23fff" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".944" stop-color="%23017D8D"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="f" x1="398" x2="737" y1="599" y2="387" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%2300ABB5"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%2300A0B5" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="g" x1="1051.5" x2="271" y1="567" y2="575" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%230098C2"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%23033E96" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="h" x1="1005" x2="986.038" y1="23" y2="587.43" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop offset=".813" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".972"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3C/defs%3E%3C/svg%3E)
