The distinct style of the Jeep Cherokee – its seven-slot grille and slit running lights which pass as headlights to most observers, as well as its high-riding rectangular taillights at the rear – makes it easy to notice the multitude of those models driving the roads of the Front Range.
The Cherokee 4X4, perhaps more than other popular compact crossovers Escape, CR-V, RAV4 and Forester, fills the pleasing role of smooth, comfy family cruiser in the one lane and with the push of a button or twist of a dial meets the demands of the rugged offroad bruiser in the other lane.
In its year and a half of sales in these parts, the Cherokee has made its presence known.
It outsells the bigger, more luxurious Grand Cherokee. Through the first four months of this year, Jeep has sold 67,285 Cherokees. Other totals for the make are Wrangler 60,967, Grand Cherokee 59,407, Patriot 39,162, Compass 18,530 and the new, small Renegade 5,157 in its first month.
In the Colorado market in the past year, the Jeep ranked sixth, outsold only by Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Honda and Chevrolet. A million Jeeps were sold worldwide last year, including 692,348 in the U.S.
On a recent warm afternoon following a previous week of 4 inches of rainfall, while on a soft, sticky trail of a road I chose the “sand and mud” setting of the Cherokee’s Selec-Terrain system. This adjusted the throttle and delayed shifts to keep the wheels spinning through the gooey surface. Other terrain sets, besides sand and mud and the normal automatic, are those for snow, sport and rock. These are dialed in, and 4wd Low can be engaged with push of a button.
The Cherokee performs somewhat brisk with its 271-horsepower, 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s a smooth operation; shift points are nearly imperceptible. Base engine for the crossover is a 184-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, also mated to the 9-speed.
The Cherokee Limited review model averaged 22.7 miles per gallon for the full week; 18 months ago I averaged 21.7 with the more rugged Trailhawk edition using the same powertrain. The Cherokee Limited averaged in the 25s on an easy drive to Denver and back.
“Stop and remove hands from steering wheel” was the message when I tested Jeep’s ParkSense assist system for parallel parking. When I obeyed, the steering wheel turned slightly every couple of seconds as it guided the vehicle into the available space. I maintained control of the accelerator, shift lever and brakes during the maneuver. I’d prefer to do the full park myself, in most situations.
Pairing indigo blue and Jeep brown on the nappa leather seats, company officials say, “mirrors the evening hues of Italy’s Mt. Vesuvius.” A bit of zebrano wood trim is added to the interior’s doors. Handy are a 12-inch-deep glove box and a covered bin over the audio screen atop the dash.
Cheaper than the Limited and Trailhawk are Sport and Latitude versions of the Cherokee.
The Limited’s V-6 and 9-speed, adaptive cruise, park assist and UConnect with Bluetooth and navigation pushed sticker price to $39,505. Also included are a stop/start system, hill-descent control, lane-departure warning, power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, offroad suspension and rain-sensitive wipers.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4X4:
- Capacity 5-passenger compact crossover
- Wheelbase 106.3 inches
- Length 182 inches
- Width 73.2 inches
- Height 66.2 inches
- Curb Weight 3,985 pounds
- Track 62 inches front, 61.9 rear
- Ground Clearance 8.7 inches
- Turn Circle 37.6 feet
- Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
- Engine 3.2-liter V-6
- Horsepower/Torque 271/239
- Transmission 9-speed automatic
- Steering speed-sensitive electronic
- Suspension independent offroad
- Fuel mileage estimate 19/26
- Fuel mileage average 22.7
- Fuel Tank 15.9 gallons, regular
- Wheels 18-inch
- Tires Continental ProContact 225/60R18
- Cargo Volume 24.6 cubic feet
- Warranty 3years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain
Competitors Ford Escape, Kia Sorento, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Equinox
Assembly Plant Toledo, Ohio
Parts Content U.S./Canadian 71%, Mexico 16%
Base Price of Lowest Model $24,500; Base Price of Review Model $30,395; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $39,505.