Our 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4X4 test car.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
- The Jeep Cherokee is one of the most iconic names in the automotive industry.
- The original Jeep Cherokee SUV debuted back in 1974 while current fifth-generation model debuted in 2013.
- For 2019, the Cherokee received a new front-end design and some technology updates.
- The Jeep is available with two four-cylinder and one six-cylinder engine options.
- The 2019 Jeep Cherokee starts at $24,195 while our well-optioned Cherokee Limited 4X4 started at $33,620. With options and feels included our as-tested price came to $40,040.
- We were impressed by the Cherokee’s powerful V6, well-designed cabin, and solid infotainment system. However, we weren’t quite enamored with its ponderous 9-speed automatic transmission and uncomfortable driving position.
These days, crossovers and SUVs are ubiquitous. They can be found on every street in every town in America. However, the modern SUV as we know is a rather recent development in the automotive landscape.
According to Merriam-Webster, the term “sport-utility vehicle” wasn’t used until 1969 and didn’t appear in a car advertisement until 1974.
The SUV advertised in that ad was none other than the original SJ-series Jeep Cherokee.
Over the years, the Cherokee has become one of the iconic nameplates in the automotive industry with its off-roading street cred recognized from the streets of Beijing to the canyons of Utah.
But the Cherokee of today bears little resemblance to its spiritual ancestor. What started out as a rough and tumble two-door off-road wagon is now a polished crossover built on an Italian passenger car platform.
The current fifth-generation Cherokee debuted in 2013 and received a refreshed front fascia ahead for the 2019 model year.
Recently, Business Insider had the chance to spend a week with a Billet Silver Metallic 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4X4.
For 2019 Jeep Cherokee is available in six different trim levels ranging from the base front-wheel-drive Latitude which starts at $24,195 to the four-wheel-drive Overland with a starting price of $37,775.
Our well-equipped six-cylinder Cherokee Limited 4X4 started at $33,620 with options and fees pushing the as-tested price to $40,040.
Here’s a closer look at the refreshed 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4×4:
The Cherokee’s 2019 facelift does away with the controversial front fascia that has graced the KL since 2013. Jeep’s signature seven-slot grille remains, but the pre-facelift KL’s narrow headlights have been replaced with more conventional units.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The Cherokee’s side profile remains effectively unchanged. The long front overhang and short rear overhang mirrors that of the pre-face lift design.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
So, what’s it like to drive?
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The Cherokee proved to be a bit of a mixed bag to drive. On the plus side, the experience was quiet, comfortable, and drama free. On the wet, slippery, pothole-riddled roads of New Jersey, our test car handled every obstacle it encountered with aplomb.
The Pentastar V6 delivered its 271 horsepower effortlessly to all four wheels.
However, there were some gripes. The biggest being the Cherokee’s nine-speed automatic transmission, which really muted the V6’s power delivery. The nine-speed tries to get as quickly as possible to the over-drive gears at the top of the range. However, it tends to get stuck there and isn’t able to downshift quick enough to keep up with the engine under acceleration. As a result, there is a pronounced lag between the time you stop on the gas and the time transmission can deliver power. This is especially evident while passing on the highway.
Sport mode helps the transmission overcome this issue, but also inexplicably automatically turns off the traction control.
In addition, the Cherokee rolls a bit much in the corners and its handling isn’t the quickest. Although the ride was soft and comfortable.
Our verdict.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
After a week behind wheel, we came away impressed by our 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited.
However, there were parts of the Jeep that also really bugged us.
Its styling, while more straight edge post facelift, is still a bit funky and doesn’t quite fit it with the handsomely restrained look of Jeep’s other offerings. Its driving position is a bit awkward and its transmission still could use some time at a finishing school.
While far from perfect. It’s also really easy to love.
The cabin is well designed, it’s loaded with tech that actually works, and it’s quite fun to drive on rough terrain.
The Jeep Cherokee is a bit of an odd duck in that it’s at once an Italian passenger car-based crossover and a rugged American off-roader.
In a market dominated by four-cylinder car-based crossovers, old-school truck-based SUVs with serious off-roading ability are becoming a rarity these days. Especially if you’re looking for anything smaller than a Chevy Tahoe.
But the Cherokee is truly unique, and I don’t use that word lightly, in that it’s a compact crossover that can go whether its fellow crossovers simply can’t. It has a stout V6 engine with power its rivals simply can’t deliver. This is especially true when the Cherokee is decked out in its hardcore Trailhawk edition.
These simple facts set the Cherokee apart from the masses. Plus, Jeeps are just really cool.
