2020 Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep Cherokee gets a lot of its lineage from the legendary Grand Cherokee SUV, which gives the Cherokee a bit of a cult status. The 2020 Cherokee gets a lot of updates in terms of equipment and vehicle dynamics. A new Turbocharged, 2.0L, 4 cylinder motor makes its way into the 2020 Cherokee and delivers power similar to the already existing V6 but it now generates more torque than ever.

All said and done, the Cherokee, despite its favorable specifications doesn't quite match up the sales numbers of a Honda CR-V. However, come 2020, do the new additions in the Jeep add any weight to its stature in the segment? Let's move ahead and find out.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes in a lot of Trim and variants with a lot of features and engine option. The base Latitude trim gets a 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Motor while the other get a Standard 3.2L V6 which produces a lot more power than the former. For 2020, Jeep has also added a new 2.0L turbocharged motor that delivers 271HP and 291lbs-ft of Torque while returning a combined MPG of over 23.

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The Limited trim offers a lot of premium features for its price and is the most feature friendly option among the rest for the price it's offered at.

With three all-wheel-drive systems, no competitor offers the off-road prowess of the Cherokee–TheCarconnection.com

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes in a total of 3 Engine configurations with the base Latitude Trim getting the same old and dull 2.4L 4 Cylinder motor. It is a weak engine in terms of the power and performance that it occurs and isn’t very responsive to drive as well.

The Next Engine available as Standard is a 3.2L V6 that generates 271HP and 239lbs-ft of Torque. Its way more Punchier in response than the base trim and offers quicker acceleration and towing capacity as well.

For 2020, Jeep has also added a 2.0L 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Motor in its lineup as an offering to the customers who want some more power. This Engine may not be standard equipment across all trims but it is a worthy upgrade over the other motors as it offers a massive 295lbs-ft of Torque and MPG figures of 23 in the city.

All the Engines come paired to a 9 Speed Automatic transmission which is very smooth in terms of operation but may take some time of its own to respond, when there is a need to change the gears.

Acceleration

The Base 2.4L Motor is slow to accelerate and respond to throttle inputs, with the sluggish transmission and weight of the Cherokee piling on to the misery.

The Cherokee’s V6 Motor on the other hand betters the acceleration by a significant amount but is again held up by the Slow to respond transmission and the heft of itself.

Understandably, the Cherokee’s motor ranks somewhere in the middle of our comparison table in terms of the acceleration it offers. Had the Cherokee got a fast to respond transmission and a lower weight under its belt, things could have been very different.

Ride and Handling

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee offers a pleasant ride experience even if it doesn’t offer the most comfortable one. The Suspension does a good job of absorbing the less deep potholes and speed bumps with ease. The Big Potholes are where the Jeep’s suspension fails to impress as the lack of damping in the suspension isn’t enough, to sustain those bumps.

In terms of the Handling, the Cherokee surprises with its Sporty handling. The Body roll is well controlled at high speeds or while changing directions. The Chassis feels poised and balanced at highway speeds despite the Cherokee’s massive weight.

Braking

The 2020 Cherokee also comes with a good set of Brakes which perform better than most would expect them to. The Brake Pedals offer good response while not feeling much squishy and spongy in feel.

The Stopping distance of 128ft helps the Cherokee to tank among the top half of our comparison table in terms of Braking performance while out performing several lower weighted SUV’s.

One of the areas, where the heft of the Cherokee hampers its parameters is in terms of its MPG figures. The Standard 2.4L Motor on the Cherokee is one of the most lethargic motor in terms of the rivals and fails to redeem itself in the fuel economy terms as well.

With an overall MPG figure of just 21, the 2020 Cherokee ranks among the lower half of our comparison today. One of the redeeming points for the Cherokee is its Turbocharged 2.0L Unit that delivers an excess of 23 MPG in terms of the overall MPG figures.

The Cherokee’s Interior materials are a notch above the competition and Jeep has updated the look this year with contrasting lighter colors on lower panels–TheCarConnection.com

Seating and Comfort

The Jeep Cherokee can seat 5 People with the Cabin being easily accessible to most people for access. There is a generous amount of Headroom and Legroom on offer for both the Front and Rear Passengers. Taller Passengers will more so appreciate the good amount of Headroom on offer while other will like the good amount of Glass Area that elevates the roominess of the Cabin.

The Seat Cushioning is mostly Soft for the most part while the padding on them being adequate for most passengers. People will also appreciate the Quality of the Materials used for the Seats which adds to the plushness of the overall dull cabin.

Infotainment

Jeep has comprehensively updated the Infotainment System of the Cherokee for 2020. The Infotainment System is one of the Most Intuitive and Responsive Systems in the segment with good graphics and connectivity.

These are the list of Features available from the infotainment system of the 2020 Cherokee

• Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
• 4” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Navigation
• SiriusXM Radio and Travel Link with 5 years Subscription
• 9 Speaker Music System with Subwoofer
• FM/AM Radio connectivity with HD Radio
• USB and 3.5mm Jack Aux connectivity
• Bluetooth with Integrated Voice Command
• Steering Wheel Mounted Controls

Interior Features

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes loaded with a host of features to keep you relaxed on the inside. We have already discussed about the features inside the Infotainment System above and will now be enlisting some of the Important Interior Features.

• Heated Front and Second Row Seats
• Front Seat Active Headrests
• Height Adjustable Front Shoulder Belts
• Memory for Radio, Driver Seats settings
• 8 way Power Adjustable Driver Seats and Lumbar Support
• Leather Seating and Upholstery
• 60/40 Split Folding Rear Seats
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Start/Stop System
• Ambient LED Lighting
• Sun Visors with illuminated vanity mirrors
• 12V Power Outlet in Instrument Panel and Cargo Area
• Dual Zone Auto AC Climate Control

Cargo Capacity

The 29.1 cu. Ft. of Cargo Capacity in the Cherokee is one of the smallest cargo spaces in the entire segment. This reduces to just 24.6 with the rear seats pushed all the way back.

The Cherokee has Split Folding Rear Seats that adds to the Cargo Capacity of the Compact SUV and a Cargo Management System allows handy luggage to be tied down to 8 hooks present in the SUV.

The funky, separated lighting that gave the Cherokee a sleepy face is gone–TheCarConnection.com

Design

Jeep got mixed responses when they first showcased the 2020 Cherokee to the public because of the unconventional use of Plastics around the front bumper and the weird design of the Headlamps.

This design however now looks very similar to the Grand Cherokee and that is a good thing. The Rear also has some unique elements like clear lens tail lamps and skid plates that accentuates the character of the SUV.

Exterior Dimensions

The Jeep Cherokee ranks amongst the most compact SUV’s in the segment in terms of its dimensions. This yields it advantages while parking in tight spaces or moving through crowded spaces.

The Cherokee also has one of the Best Ground Clearances in the segment of 8.7inches. This gives it edge over the competition in terms of water wading abilities and lower possibilities of damage to the underbelly of the SUV.

Exterior Features

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes with a host of Exterior features that separates it from the competition in terms of the looks. Some of those features include 19” Aluminum Wheels, Off Road Wheel Flares, Roof Rails and more. Some of the other noteworthy features include

• Automatic Front LED Headlamps with Led Daytime Running Lamps
• Front LED Fog Lamps
• LED Tail Lamps
• Powered Exterior Mirrors with Turn Indicators, Courtesy Lamps, Memory Function and Heating Element
• Rear Window Defroster with Wiper and Washer
• Windshield Wiper De-Icer
• Acoustic Windshield
• Front Suspension Skid Plate
• Fuel Tank Skid Plate shield
• 3 Tow hooks (2 Front and 1 rear)

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee comes with a good amount of Safety features which consists of 10 Airbags, Anti-Lock Brakes with Electronic Brake force Distribution and more. The IIHS and NHTSA have not rated the SUV yet but the 2018 Ratings suggest that the SUV matches the other SUV’s in its class in terms of Safety Performance.

Some other Safety features include

• Rear View Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Trailer Sway Control
• Blind Spot Monitors
• Rear Cross-Path detection
• LATCH Child Seat Anchor Points
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Jeep Cherokee vs Honda CR-V

There is no denying the Fact that the Honda CR-V is one of the Best SUV’s in the segment. It flaunts an easy to understand infotainment system and best in class storage space. The CR V additionally has a rich lodge that offers two lines of seating and has enough space to oblige grown-ups. The Cherokee however is a more practical Off-Roader of the 2 as it offers 8.4” of Ground Clearance, Superb 4WD Setup and a very intuitive and easy to use infotainment system.

Jeep Cherokee vs Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the most Sportiest SUV’s in the segment. The Mazda offers one of the Best 2^nd Row Seating arrangement in the class as well. When it comes to the off road ability, both the SUV’s are nearly matched and have potent 4WD systems. The Cherokee however manages to match the Mazda in terms of the Riding Dynamics and the Off-Roading Ability. The Jeep also beats the Mazda when it comes to the infotainment system and its usability.

Jeep Cherokee vs Chevrolet Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox is one of the popular choices for people who want an American Crossover SUV in the market. It offers an Amazing Engine, Great Infotainment System and a Stylish Exterior. The Cherokee however comes with the pedigree of the Grand Cherokee and manages to beat the Equinox in terms of the Off Road Ability and the Infotainment System as well. The Cherokee also has many functional exterior components that aid while doing off road stuff like multiple tow hooks, Skid Plates and a high ground clearance.

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee has got a lot of updates for 2020, to keep it fresh among the rising heat from competitors. The Standard Motor doesn’t pack a lot of punch but the V6 and Turbo 2.0L Motor pack in a whole lot of punch. It offers good ground clearance and has got some of its SUV lineage directly from the legendary Grand Cherokee. So, if you want a Proper SUV but in a compact proportion, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee is definitely, one of the Top Contenders to be checked out.