2019 Jeep Cherokee Pros vs Cons

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offers off-roading enthusiasts the ruggedness and capability of a Jeep, but it also offers a refined interior and advanced technology to make it just as capable on the town and city streets. The 2019 Jeep Cherokee has a fresh new look and a great standard infotainment system with a seven inch touchscreen display. The Cherokee also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Cherokee also offers great driving and safety capabilities in any situation with advanced four wheel drive systems to suit any needs. These four wheel drive systems all offer multiple driving modes for safe travels over any terrain. The Cherokee also offers all the best driver assistance technology in one package. The Jeep Cherokee has a lot to offer in 2019, and should be considered a leading compact SUV for drivers with a taste for adventure.

What's New for 2019

The Jeep Cherokee has a lot of new additions in 2019. The exterior is redesigned with a distinctive grille and tailgate. The 2019 Jeep Cherokee comes standard with LED daytime running lights and LED fog lights. It also has new taillights and a redesigned tailgate configuration. Also standard on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee is the new seven inch touchscreen and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Finally, Jeep offers a new 2.0 liter turbocharged engine upgrade.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Jeep Cherokee – The Pros

1. Three four wheel drive systems

Buyers of any Jeep will benefit from its ruggedness and ability to handle tough terrain. The 2019 Jeep Cherokee is no exception. It can be equipped with three progressively more aggressive 4x4 systems. The first option is the Active Drive 1 4x4 system. It features four terrain centered driving modes. Drivers can select different modes for snow, sport and sand/mud as well as the standard auto drive mode. The Jeep Active Drive 2 mode adds low range and a neutral option for towing behind an RV. Finally is the Active Drive Lock system. This system adds mechanical locking rear differential and rock driving mode.

2. Optional Accident Mitigation Features

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee allows buyers to upgrade their Cherokee to include blind spot warning, lane departure warning, full speed forward collision warning and rear cross traffic alert. The optional technology package is available in the Cherokee Limited and Overland trims. Features also include adaptive cruise control and rain sensing wipers.

3. Parking Features

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee is just as comfortable on the city streets as it is in the back woods. Each Cherokee comes standard with a backup camera. Also available are optional park assist and automatic parking features. Park assist will alert the driver of potential contact with another vehicle when parking. The automatic park feature will locate a suitable parking spot for the driver and steer the vehicle to maneuver it into the spot. These features are also part of the technology group and available on the Limited and Overland.

4. Excellent Standard Infotainment System

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude, Latitude Plus and Altitude all come with a seven inch touchscreen infotainment system. They also include the Uconnect infotainment system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Bluetooth capability and a six speaker audio system also come standard.

5. Three Engine Options

The base engine for the Cherokee is the 2.4 liter Tigershark MultiAir 2. It gets 180 horsepower and 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Buyers can step up to the 3.2 liter Pentastar V6 with 271 horsepower and 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The V6 ups the towing capacity of the Cherokee from 2,000 lbs to 4,500 lbs. Jeep has also introduced a turbocharged four cylinder for the Cherokee Latitude Plus and above. It gets 270 horsepower and 23 mpg in the city and 31 mph on the highway. It is also equipped with auto stop and start capabilities for added efficiency.

6. Cold Weather Package

The cold weather group of options is available at any trim level. It includes a block heater to warm the engine and oil for a smooth start. Also in the package are heated seats and steering wheel, wiper de-icer and a vehicle remote start system.

7. Distinct Interiors for Every Trim Level

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee has a refined interior with chrome and metal accents. The design brings attention to the center console and its seven inch touch screen display. The Cherokee Latitude Plus adds a leather trimmed black interior with blue stitching. The Limited trim level features heated and ventilated seats with black Napa leather trim. The Overland offers a black and ski gray interior and a black and tan interior for added variety.

8. Redesigned Exterior

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee has larger window openings for better visibility. It also includes standard LED headlights and fog lights. The lighting has been redesigned for both front and back of the Cherokee for an added element of style. The new design still holds on to Jeep tradition with signature grill and wheel wells.

9. Upgraded Technology Options

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offers an optional 8.4 inch touchscreen and Uconnect 4C Nav capabilities. The upgraded infotainment system includes navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Sirius XM radio. Also available is a digital instrument cluster that allows the driver to configure the instrument panel to their needs.

10. Sirius Guardian

The buyers of upper trim levels also get access to Sirius Guardian technology. Sirius Guardian includes a mobile device app that allows users to remotely start and stop their Cherokee. It also offers GPS parking reminders to help the user find the Cherokee with their mobile device.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Jeep Cherokee – The Cons

1. Lacks Cargo Space

Buyers of the Jeep Cherokee may end up wondering where they can put all their gear. The Cherokee offers 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the seats folded down, Cherokee owners will have 54.7 cubic feet of space. While the cargo space of the Cherokee has improved over the 2018 model, it trails the competition.

2. Poor Fuel Economy

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee is not a fuel efficient vehicle. With just 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, most buyers looking for an efficient vehicle will have to look elsewhere. The turbocharged four cylinder does get slightly better ratings and features auto start and stop capabilities for added efficiency.

3. Not Enough Emphasis on Highway Driving Capabilities

There is little debate over which SUV offers the best off road experience. The Cherokee has made a tremendous amount of advancements in off road driving. The on-road driving can feel a little neglected. The base engine has barely enough power for capable highway driving, and the handling is less than exciting when taking curves at moderate and high speed.

How it stacks up to the competition:

The Jeep Cherokee has the off road ability of a good compact SUV. It offers three different four wheel drive systems and it has all wheel independent suspension. It is most likely the best off road compact SUV available. When it comes to its utility as a every day family SUV, it trails the competition in some key areas. Compared to the Honda CRV, the Cherokee gets worse fuel economy, has much less cargo space and a less comfortable interior and ride. The Jeep does offer a standard seven inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which the CRV does not. Compared to the Toyota Rav4, the Cherokee again trails in cargo space, fuel efficiency and ride comfort. The Rav4 only offers one powertrain option, while the Cherokee offers three engines and more available horsepower and towing capacity.

Conclusion:

The Jeep Cherokee offers a wonderful mix of off-road capability and over the road comfort and convenience. Buyers are offered three four wheel drive systems on the Jeep Cherokee. This is a feature that is unmatched in the compact SUV category. The Cherokee offers amazing ruggedness and terrain control. The four additional driving modes make it a safe vehicle in all conditions. The Cherokee also offers a great standard infotainment system with lots of normally optional features. It also features a new exterior redesign with standard LED headlights and fog lights. The interior is thoughtfully laid out with lots of design details. It also offers a variety of engine options for upgraded acceleration and towing capacity. In all, the Cherokee can take buyers wherever they want to go. For the more luxurious oriented buyers, the Cherokee offers great upper trim levels like the Cherokee Limited and Cherokee Overland. The Trailhawk is also a very upscale edition with all the features Jeep has to offer. For the more budget minded buyers, the lower trim levels are also very desirable. Standard equipment and add on packages can help buyers get exactly what they want from an every day SUV without breaking the bank.