2022 Jeep Cherokee
Overview
The 2022 Jeep Cherokee is beginning to show its age but continues to be popular thanks to its lifestyle branding and off-road pedigree. Apart from the slightly smaller Jeep Compass and the Ford Bronco Sport, trail-ready versions of the Cherokee can go places most rivals cannot. It can also pull more than its peers thanks to a 4500-pound max-towing capacity. Still, the Cherokee’s interior suffers from an anonymous design and unremarkable materials compared with what’s inside snazzier alternatives such as the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson. The Jeep is available with a trio of engines, none particularly noteworthy. The 2022 Cherokee has composed handling and a smooth ride as well as an assortment of standard driver assists, but just because it wears a seven-slot grille doesn’t mean it’s automatically as desirable as more-modern alternatives from other manufacturers.
What’s New for 2022?
For 2022, Jeep slims the Cherokee’s lineup down to five distinct trim levels, including the newly introduced X model. Otherwise, the compact crossover doesn’t receive any significant changes.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We’d choose the Trailhawk model, which gets the stout V-6 as standard. An advanced all-wheel-drive system that features a locking rear differential is included, too. Other desirable standard features include an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a full-size spare tire, red tow hooks, a matte-black hood decal, an off-road suspension that increases the ride height, and 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. We’d also select the Trailer Tow package, which unlocks the Cherokee’s maximum towing capacity of 4500 pounds.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is joined by an optional 3.2-liter V-6 and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The latter makes 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque (56 pound-feet more than the V-6) and slots at the top of the powertrain pyramid. While we’ve yet to test the turbo engine at the track, we’ve spent time with it during our first drive. We found it to be lackluster compared with the V-6 due to its dull responses to throttle inputs; the four-cylinder Cherokee also has less towing capacity (4000 pounds maximum towing capacity versus the V-6 Cherokee’s towing capacity of 4500 pounds). As you’d expect from a Jeep, the Cherokee drives with heftiness and solidity, making it feel larger than its rivals. Despite its off-road abilities, the Cherokee is still based on a car, meaning it provides a comfortable ride and decent handling on the road. Relatively firm suspension tuning controls body roll in corners without compromising the ride quality. Impacts are absorbed without much excess reverberation, and the Jeep never feels floaty on the highway. We wish the steering provided more feedback from the road, but it’s nicely weighted and accurate. A firm-feeling brake pedal engenders calm in panic-braking scenarios, and the Cherokee’s 70-mph-to-zero emergency-braking performance is average for its class.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Cherokee has among the worst fuel economy in its compact crossover-and-SUV segment, according to both the EPA and our real-world testing. The most fuel efficient version features the turbocharged four-cylinder that tops out at 23 mpg city and 31 highway. While we’ve yet to subject either four-cylinder version to our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, their EPA estimates aren’t much higher than those for the V-6. Compared with the last Overland we put through our testing regimen, the latest version earned 25 mpg highway—or 1 mpg more than before. For more information about the Cherokee’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
With supportive seats and easy-to-use controls, the Cherokee’s cabin is comfortable. However, given that the Cherokee is larger on the outside than many of its competitors, we’d expect it to feel more spacious on the inside. Small windows and high windowsills contribute to the feeling of confinement. The Cherokee’s cargo area is smaller than most vehicles this size, and interior cubby storage is average at best. It’s more difficult to load items into the rear than into some of its rivals due to the Jeep’s high lift-over height. In addition, its cargo area is significantly smaller than top rivals such as the Ford Escape (34 cubes) and the Honda CR-V (39).
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Jeep’s available Uconnect infotainment system is among the best in the business, with well-organized menus and ample features. The standard touchscreen measures 7.0 inches and the larger option is 8.4 inches. Starting on the Latitude Plus trim, every model adds two USB ports on the back of the center console for use by rear-seat passengers. Every Cherokee has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot is available.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Jeep now provides an array of standard driver-assistance technology as well as several optional assists. For more information about the Cherokee’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Cherokee’s warranty coverage is average for its class. Competitors such as the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson are the only rivals that offer significantly longer powertrain warranties. However, all models do come with three years of free maintenance.
Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Three years of complimentary maintenance is included
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 4×4
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$42,525 (base price: $37,045)
ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement
198 in3, 3239 cm3
Power
271 @ 6500 rpm
Torque
239 @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.0-in vented disc/12.6-in disc
Tires: Firestone Destination A/T, P245/65R-17 105T M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.1 in
Length: 182.9 in
Width: 74.9 in
Height: 67.8 in
Passenger volume: 101 ft3
Cargo volume: 26 ft3
Curb weight: 4377 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.6 sec
100 mph: 21.8 sec
110 mph: 33.2 sec
1/4 mile: 15.8 sec @ 88 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.9 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.8 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.6 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 114 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 183 ft
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 17 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 21/18/24 mpg
More Features and Specs
