Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee has been a longtime presence in the Jeep family tree. The original dates back to the mid-1970s, though the most recent version arrived on the scene for the 2014 model year. While production ended in 2023, a new Cherokee should be arriving for the 2026 model year. Highlights of this compact SUV are its all-terrain prowess and go-anywhere character. Unlike many of its compact SUV rivals, the Cherokee is truly capable of serious off-road driving adventures. This is especially true for the Trailhawk version. It comes equipped with features like all-terrain tires, low-speed gearing, and a strengthened suspension.
Explore the evolution of the Jeep Cherokee
Get our expert take on used Jeep Cherokee models, or view year-by-year changes.
Second generation Jeep Cherokee
The Cherokee is something of a middle child in the Jeep lineup. For its final model year, it was positioned in terms of size and price above the Renegade and Compass and below the larger and more opulent Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer. With seating for five, the 2023 Cherokee was available in two trims, the Altitude Lux and Trailhawk. The former emphasized luxury with touches like leather upholstery and heated front seats. The latter was the wild child thanks to its off-road hardware.
Under the hood of the Altitude Lux is a 180-horsepower four-cylinder. Providing considerably more grunt is the 270-horsepower turbo four-cylinder available on other trims, or the V6 that came with most years of the Trailhawk. The Cherokee uses a nine-speed transmission, and four-wheel drive comes standard across the range. During road testing, the Cherokee impressed with its suspension balance and acceleration, particularly with the turbo engine. Less appealing was its above-average asking price compared to many other two-row compact SUVs.
Model highlights
Standard four-wheel drive
Choice of turbocharged four-cylinder and V6 engines
Rugged Trailhawk model
Many standard features
User-friendly infotainment system
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2014 - 2023
2023 Jeep Cherokee
Highlights
New Altitude Lux trim level
All other trims except Trailhawk discontinued
V6 engine is no longer available
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2022 Jeep Cherokee
2021 Jeep Cherokee
Highlights
Latitude Lux and 80th Anniversary Edition added
More standard driver aids, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic emergency braking
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2020 Jeep Cherokee
2019 Jeep Cherokee
Highlights
Upgraded infotainment system
Newly available turbocharged four-cylinder
Updated exterior styling
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2018 Jeep Cherokee
2017 Jeep Cherokee
2016 Jeep Cherokee
Highlights
Overland model added
Models with available 8.4-inch touchscreen got Siri® Eyes Free compatibility
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2015 Jeep Cherokee
Highlights
Automatic emergency braking became available
Models with V6 engine got standard stop-start fuel-saving feature
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the Jeep Cherokee an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Jeep Cherokee 8th out of 29 among Compact SUVs.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Jeep Cherokee is $507, compared to an average of $473 for Compact SUVs and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Jeep Cherokee owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.6 times per year, compared to an average of 1.0 times for Compact SUVs and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 12% for the Jeep Cherokee, compared to an average of 13% for Compact SUVs and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Nick Kurczewski has been writing about cars for more than 20 years, and his enthusiasm for journalism has led him to cover auto-related stories around the world. From blasting down the German autobahn to covering every major auto show, his stories have appeared in the New York Times, Car and Driver, U.S. News & World Report, Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com and the New York Daily News, where he served as head editor. Having once aspired to be a Formula One racer, Nick discovered sharing his passion for cars as a journalist is just as thrilling as dreaming of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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