Jeep's facelifted Cherokee arrived at NAIAS boasting
several improvements over its predecessor, both technical as well as visual.
Starting off with what we can see, easily noticeable is the updated model's
less quirky front fascia. The old car had those controversial dual headlights,
whereas now, the design is more conventional and easier on the eye - albeit
less special.
In fact, we'll just say that if you like the Jeep
Compass' front end, the 2019 Cherokee will likely remind you of the former's
styling, although the Cherokee's Bi-LED headlights are a little thinner and
more stretched out.
The taillights include a signature
red 'Feature Light', while the redesigned liftgate comes with an integrated
light bar. The liftgate also has a hands-free feature, where you can open it by
making a kicking motion underneath the bumper.
Thanks to its all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged
4-cylinder engine, the 2019 Cherokee can look forward to some very competitive
fuel economy figures. This engine delivers 270 Hp and 400 Nm of
torque and should prove more capable than the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6, with its
271 Hp and 324 Nm of torque. The least powerful engine available on
the new Cherokee is a 2.4-liter unit 180 HP and 230 Nm.
The 2.0-liter turbo also comes with direct
injection, stop-start tech and a lightweight construction for improved
efficiency. Inside, the 2019 Cherokee's Uconnect system is now in its
fourth-generation and it includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a choice
of 7" or 8.4" touchscreen displays with pinch-and-zoom capability.
According to Jeep, the Cherokee also has over 80 available advanced safety
features.
At least three trim levels will be offered;
Latitude, Overland, and Trailhawk. The Latitude trim will be the most
affordable and should start at roughly US$ 25,000. For those looking to amp things
up, both the Overland and Trailhawk variants will cost around US$ 40,000 when
optioned with numerous accessories.
