2017 Jeep Cherokee 4x4

To our knowledge, the Cherokee Nation has never officially contested the use of its hallowed name on five generations of the Jeep Cherokee. The model name has been around since 1974 and has even been used in Europe. Whatever cultural appropriation issues it might raise today, the badge is at least worn on a vehicle native to this continent. The Toledo, Ohio–built compact crossover holds its own against more than a dozen domestic, Asian, and European competitors and has become the Jeep brand’s best-seller, topping both the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee through October of this year. Fiat Chrysler hammered the modern crossover nail dead center when the current Cherokee design was launched for the 2014 model year. Sharing a unibody platform with the Dodge Dart, Chrysler 200, and Chrysler Pacifica, the Cherokee was off and running with a size, style, and price proposition in perfect sync with America’s hop aboard the crossover express. The Cherokee’s key attributes are integral to its architecture. Mounting the engine and transmission transversely and raising the roof to an attractive height enables efficient packaging for passengers and their gear. Although the Cherokee casts a shadow 5 percent smaller than the Honda Accord’s, it offers almost identical interior room, so there’s plenty of useful space inside. Drivers also appreciate the Cherokee’s 28.9-inch-high seating position; for most people, entry is a straight slide in, with no climb up or drop down to the seat required. Loaded with Leather and Electronics Customers also are drawn into Jeep showrooms with a Cherokee price range that begins at $24,590 for the four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive Sport edition. At the top of the scale is the lavishly equipped Overland reviewed here, introduced midway through the 2016 model year. With a 2017 base price of $38,690 with four-wheel drive, this leather-lined flagship sports upgraded seats, a premium Alpine audio system, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen programmed with navigation, Bluetooth, SiriusXM travel link and traffic, and Chrysler’s Uconnect connectivity system. Our test car added to that most of the available option groups. A $1645 Technology package includes collision warning, parking assist, automated emergency braking, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control that is capable of slowing the vehicle to a stop in traffic. The $1205 Active Drive II system powers the front wheels most of the time, engaging the rear axle automatically when slippage occurs. Low-range gearing for off-road use can be selected at the touch of a button. Lastly, a $435 Heavy-Duty Protection group adds four large skid plates and a full-size spare tire. In light of our $41,975 total, shoppers with tight budgets should exercise care in checking the options boxes. A 3.2-liter V-6 rated at 271 horsepower and mated to a nine-speed automatic provides the impetus to move this densely packed machine (it weighed 4332 pounds on our scales). There’s sufficient punch to pass two of our favorite crossovers—the Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5—but the Cherokee’s 7.5-second zero-to-60-mph time, its 15.8-second quarter-mile performance, and its top-gear acceleration figures all trail the Ford Escape powered by an EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder.\ Home / Reviews / Jeep / Cherokee / 2017 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 - Instrumented Test VIEW 67 PHOTOS INSTRUMENTED TEST 2017 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 A proud American. NOV 2016 BY DON SHERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS AMOS SHARE TWEET To our knowledge, the Cherokee Nation has never officially contested the use of its hallowed name on five generations of the Jeep Cherokee. The model name has been around since 1974 and has even been used in Europe. Whatever cultural appropriation issues it might raise today, the badge is at least worn on a vehicle native to this continent. The Toledo, Ohio–built compact crossover holds its own against more than a dozen domestic, Asian, and European competitors and has become the Jeep brand’s best-seller, topping both the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee through October of this year. Fiat Chrysler hammered the modern crossover nail dead center when the current Cherokee design was launched for the 2014 model year. Sharing a unibody platform with the Dodge Dart, Chrysler 200, and Chrysler Pacifica, the Cherokee was off and running with a size, style, and price proposition in perfect sync with America’s hop aboard the crossover express. VIEW 67 PHOTOS The Cherokee’s key attributes are integral to its architecture. Mounting the engine and transmission transversely and raising the roof to an attractive height enables efficient packaging for passengers and their gear. Although the Cherokee casts a shadow 5 percent smaller than the Honda Accord’s, it offers almost identical interior room, so there’s plenty of useful space inside. Drivers also appreciate the Cherokee’s 28.9-inch-high seating position; for most people, entry is a straight slide in, with no climb up or drop down to the seat required. Loaded with Leather and Electronics Customers also are drawn into Jeep showrooms with a Cherokee price range that begins at $24,590 for the four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive Sport edition. At the top of the scale is the lavishly equipped Overland reviewed here, introduced midway through the 2016 model year. With a 2017 base price of $38,690 with four-wheel drive, this leather-lined flagship sports upgraded seats, a premium Alpine audio system, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen programmed with navigation, Bluetooth, SiriusXM travel link and traffic, and Chrysler’s Uconnect connectivity system. Our test car added to that most of the available option groups. A $1645 Technology package includes collision warning, parking assist, automated emergency braking, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control that is capable of slowing the vehicle to a stop in traffic. The $1205 Active Drive II system powers the front wheels most of the time, engaging the rear axle automatically when slippage occurs. Low-range gearing for off-road use can be selected at the touch of a button. Lastly, a $435 Heavy-Duty Protection group adds four large skid plates and a full-size spare tire. In light of our $41,975 total, shoppers with tight budgets should exercise care in checking the options boxes. A 3.2-liter V-6 rated at 271 horsepower and mated to a nine-speed automatic provides the impetus to move this densely packed machine (it weighed 4332 pounds on our scales). There’s sufficient punch to pass two of our favorite crossovers—the Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5—but the Cherokee’s 7.5-second zero-to-60-mph time, its 15.8-second quarter-mile performance, and its top-gear acceleration figures all trail the Ford Escape powered by an EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder. VIEW 67 PHOTOS The Cherokee lands midpack in terms of braking and cornering. The good news is that the brakes are capable of stopping this crossover from 70 mph in 175 feet during repeated use (although the first stop with cold brakes was a longish 184 feet). Cornering performance is impeded by a stability-control system that intervenes at only 0.80 g for safety’s sake—the potential for a rollover incident is one no modern automaker dares to ignore—even though the 18-inch Continental Pro Contact TX all-season tires have grip to spare. The Escape scored a more impressive 0.85 g in this 300-foot skidpad test. A curb weight 500 to 700 pounds greater than the aforementioned competitors also keeps the Cherokee from achieving exemplary EPA mileage. The Honda and the Mazda return 29 or more mpg on the highway versus a 26-mpg rating for the Cherokee. This Jeep’s active grille shutters, stop/start engine operation, and a class-exclusive nine-speed automatic can’t overcome the ill effects of its mass, even though the transmission provides an impressive 9.8:1 ratio spread (first gear divided by top gear). With a light foot on the throttle, it is possible to top 20 mpg in all-around driving; we averaged 18 mpg and recorded 24 mpg while cruising at 75 mph.