Used Jeep Cherokee 2014-present review

Anything rejoicing in the name Jeep Cherokee should be as traditionally American as pumpkin pie, but underneath its elegantly proportioned skin it shares a lot of its underpinnings with a Fiat. You see Chrylser, who own Jeep, hopped into bed with Fiat in 2014, and its resulting cars have all shared platforms and engines and many other major components - poke around hard enough and you’ll discover that this car shares a version of its platform with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback.

But this fifth-generation Cherokee lives up to its butch badge and rugged SUV looks by being a no-holds-barred 4x4, ready to tackle the wilds of the New Forest one minute and then the school run through Chelsea the next. To that end, there is a good choice of engines and trims. The entry-level 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and in front or four-wheel drive. There’s also a 170bhp 2.0-litre diesel with an automatic gearbox. The 2.2-litre diesels (there are two, with different power outputs) are four-wheel drive only and are paired with nine-speed automatic gearboxes.

Longitude, Limited, Overland and Trailhawk are the four trim levels. Entry-level models get cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, rear parking sensors and a powered tailgate on the outside as standard, while inside there is dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable front seats, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system and Jeep's 8.4in touchscreen infotainment system complete with Bluetooth, sat-nav and USB connectivity. Upgrade to Limited and the Cherokee is adorned with front parking sensors, a reversing camera, keyless entry, a Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and bi-xenon headlights, while Overland models gain a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel and thick-pile carpets.

The range-topping Trailhawk model adds hill-descent control, a more rugged suspension, skid plates, numerous durable exterior bodypanels, and a full-size spare, while those after a bit more exclusivity can opt for the 75th Anniversary edition which adorns the Cherokee with a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery and Bronze interior and exterior decals.

On the road, the 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel is not particularly fast, while the 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel is fairly punchy in normal driving conditions. Unfortunately, regardless of their power output, the diesels are very noisy and coarse-sounding, while the Cherokee itself suffers from a fair amount of intrusive wind and tyre noise at motorway speeds. Around town the Jeep soaks up bumps and potholes tolerably well, feeling settled and comfortable. Body control is a little slack, however. The car leans heavily through corners and rocks about slightly as it goes over speed bumps. All in, it’s not the last word in sophistication, but things are better off-road, where the Cherokee performs admirably.

Inside, there’s plenty of space front and rear, and the driving position is reasonably good, with adjustment built into the steering wheel and the seat. Many of the materials and design details in the cabin look smart but you’ll find plenty of brittle-feeling, scratchy plastics around the gearlever and various places you regularly come into contact with. The fake wood trim on the inside of the door looks a bit tasteless and the sharp stitching on the multi-function steering wheel is rough to the touch, too. You get a colour touchscreen (5.0in on Longitude models and 8.4in on Limited trim levels) which is the focal point of the cabin and the means to control all the major functions. It’s quite easy to use thanks to its chunky icons and logically laid-out menus, although the graphics don’t look as slick as those in the best rival systems.

The boot is disappointing in terms of its outright capacity, being smaller than most rivals. You can extend the space by sliding the rear seats forward, but this leaves no leg room for rear passengers. However, the boot is well shaped and the boot lip, while high off the ground, is level with the floor. The seats fold completely flat, too, expanding the capacity.

Around £11,000 will get you behind the wheel of a Cherokee, this buying you a 2014 or 2015 car with an average mileage for the year and from a trader or an independent dealer. Up the money to between £12,000 and £14,000 and you’ll find good condition 2015 cars, and a few 2016 models, all satisfying the same mileage and history conditions, while £15,000 to £18,000 should net you a 2016 car.

On paper, the front-wheel drive only 2.0 diesel is the most economical at an official 53.3mpg, with corresponding CO2 emissions of 139g/km. The same version but with four-wheel drive will return a claimed 50.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 149g/km. The 2.2 diesel, meanwhile, will give you a high of 49.6mpg (150g/km), while the 3.2 V6 averages just 29.6mpg for CO2 emissions of 236g/km.

Cherokees registered before April 2017 pay annual car tax based on CO2 emissions, while those registered after that date pay a flat rate. Beware the Cherokees that cost more £40,000 new, though, as these could attract the supplementary luxury car tax.

Insurance costs for the Cherokee range are moderate, ranging from group 28 up to 42 for the more luxurious versions. Servicing will be more expensive than some rivals, but there are plenty of garages that will take work on since underneath the car are proven Fiat parts.

Unless you really need the off-road ability of the four-wheel drive cars we’d seek out the front-wheel drive 2.0 Multijet Limited model, which has better fuel economy and slightly better performance. It should be cheaper to buy than all the others too. Limited trim adds some goodies to the entry-level editions so we’d look for that one.

Our favourite Jeep Cherokee: 2.0 Multijet Limited 2WD

The BMW X5 is one of the firm’s largest and most expensive models, so it carries certain expectations of luxury and performance - certainly more so than the ability to do serious off-roading. For an SUV that excels in daily use, however, the X5 is a formidable machine. Part of this is because it's one of the more saloon-like SUVs to drive.

Also consider the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Time was, if you wanted a seven-seat SUV, you had to make do with something big, heavy and unwieldy. But that’s no longer the case, thanks to cars like the Discovery Sport, which crams seating for seven into a body that’s more compact, making it easier to park – and easier on your wallet, too. Reliability a bit didgy, but status high.

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