With the look of a streamlined SUV, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee doesn’t compromise on adventure or comfort. Instead, it blends the two with good results.

What’s New for the 2020 Jeep Cherokee?

While there are no major changes or facelifts with this model, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee isn’t completely without updates. An Advanced Safety Group package is now available. Uconnect 4 is also available, which includes Alexa Skills technology. Sangria and Spitfire Orange have been added to the color options, too. 17-inch aluminum wheels are available on the Latitude model as well. I guess Jeep‘s philosophy is, ‘why fix what isn’t broken?’ One of the originators of off-roading brings that same ability to the 2020 model year. That’s what Jeep customers are looking for.

2020 Jeep Cherokee - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

2020 Jeep Cherokee – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com |  Shop 2020 Jeep Cherokee on Carsforsale.com

Body Style

Starting Price

MSRP $27,335

Drivetrain

Drivetrain

FWD or 4WD

Drivetrain

Fuel Economy

23 City / 31 Hwy (MPG)

Number of Seats

Seating

Seats 5

The Breakdown

V6 and turbo engines provide power

Capable off-roading vehicle

Trailhawk trim especially adept at off-roading

Welcoming cabin materials

Infotainment system is easy to use

Cargo space isn’t massive

MPG could be better

2020 Cherokee Specs

Trims & Pricing

Latitude - $27,335
Latitude Plus - $30,285
Limited - $33,095
Trailhawk - $36,685
Overland - $38,490

2020 Jeep Cherokee Powertrain

2020 Jeep Cherokee 3.2L V6 - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee 3.2L V6 - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

This Jeep is at home on the road or on the trail. The base engine is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder that makes 180hp with 171 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is available. That engine makes 270hp with 295 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a 3.2-liter V6 with 271hp and 239 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission with FWD is standard in the base model. 4WD is available in the lower models, but standard in the Limited and Trailhawk.

It’s a firm ride, but not too firm. The handling itself is fine, regardless of the trim. If there’s a need for speed, however, the turbo or the V6 are the better options. The base engine is fine, but it isn’t meant for quick accelerations.

Towing & Payload

2020 Jeep Cherokee - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

When equipped properly with the Trailer Tow package, the Trailhawk trim and the 3.2-liter V5 can tow up to 4,500 lbs. For a midsize SUV, that’s pretty good! That 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine I mentioned earlier has a 4,000 lb. maximum tow rating, so either way, it should be able to haul some of those garage toys out to the lake, slope, or open countryside without an issue.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Fuel Economy & MPG

People won’t be purchasing the 2020 Jeep Cherokee for outstanding fuel economy. The best the 2020 Cherokee achieves is 22 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway with the 2.4-liter engine and FWD. EPA estimates vary a bit, depending on the powertrain and drivetrain. The lowest it gets is with a V6 in the Trailhawk. That model gets a 18/24 city/highway MPG estimate.

Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space

Seating is comfortable in the two-row 2020 Jeep Cherokee. The cloth upholstery is standard. With space for five passengers, the 2020 Jeep Cherokee allows for 41.1″ of legroom in the front. Back seat passengers get 40.3″ of room to stretch their legs. Headroom shouldn’t be an issue for most people in the cabin. 39.4″ is dedicated to front row.

The rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split. A total of 55 cu-ft of cargo space can be used in a variety of ways when the seats are folded. If the seats are upright with passengers in place, cargo space is limited to 25.8 cu-ft. The Cherokee doesn’t lead its class in that area, so excessive packing isn’t an option with this vehicle. Also, storage options are plentiful when it comes to accessible side or tucked away compartments.

There are decent number of soft-touch materials inside the Cherokee. The front area is organized well. The design makes sense and controls are accessible. It should also be noted that the driver has a clean view to the rear windshield. There’s a good amount of glass, making visibility better than in some other vehicles. The side windows could use a little more glass to limit the feeling of confinement.

Entertainment & Technology

2020 Jeep Cherokee - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

At 7″, the touchscreen isn’t massive, but gets the job done. The menu isn’t complicated. Voice commands allow the driver to not only make calls, but also set the temperature and select a radio station. The latest Uconnect system doesn’t add entirely new standard features, but it has better graphics and has better processing power, so the touchscreens are more responsive than before.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software are standard. So are a pair of USB ports, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker stereo. An 8.4″ touchscreen, satellite radio, navigation, a 9-speaker stereo system, and an extra USB port are all optional. Starting with the Latitude Plus, two USB ports are placed on the back of the center console so that rear passengers have easy access to connect their devices.

Safety Features

Advanced safety features aren’t standard on the base level of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee, but it does have a 4-star National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rating. The Jeep scored particularly well on the side crash rating, receiving five stars in all areas of that category. The frontal crash and rollover scores were down just a little, coming in at four stars in those categories.

Safety features may not be standard, but several of them are available. Blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking are all available to add to the 2020 model.

The optional features received a ‘Superior’ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The headlights received ‘Acceptable’ or ‘Marginal’ ratings, dependent on trim level, but all other IIHS crash ratings were ‘Good.’

2020 Jeep Cherokee Trims & Pricing

2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude - carsforsale.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude - carsforsale.com

Latitude – $27,335

The Latitude has 17″ wheels. It’s also got a 7″ touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as part of the Uconnect system. Standard safety features include: blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection. A rearview camera, LED headlights, heated mirrors, and cruise control are also included.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus - carsforsale.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus - carsforsale.com

Latitude Plus – $30,285

Satellite radio is standard, starting with this trim. The driver gets an eight-way power-adjusted, leatherette seat. Cloth and vinyl seating can be found throughout the rest of the vehicle. A keyless entry and push button start is also added in the Latitude Plus. Extra USB ports are added for the passengers in the rear. A rear parking assist with automatic stopping also shows up with this trim.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Limited - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee Limited - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Limited – $33,095

Seats are upgraded to leather. A heated steering wheel, power liftgate, and heated seats are other nice features. The infotainment screen is upgraded to 8.4″ as well. Three additional stereo speakers bring the count up to nine. Passengers can take advantage of the dual-zone climate control, too.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Trailhawk – $36,685

The Trailhawk is a unique trim because its’ main purpose is being a heavy-duty off-roader. To achieve that, it includes 17″ all-terrain tires and Selec-Terrain AWD with crawl control and rock mode. Hill descent and hill climb control are ready to be used in the Trailhawk trim. It also includes Active Drive II with a locking rear axle. Otherwise, many of the features are similar to the Limited trim.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Overland - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
2020 Jeep Cherokee Overland - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Overland – $38,490

Features get more luxurious with this trim. The upholstery is still leather, but it’s also a higher grade of leather. The front seats aren’t just heated, but also ventilated. Rear seats are heated now, too. The driver’s seat has a memory function as well. HD radio is the infotainment upgrade. Navigation is also present in the 2020 Jeep Cherokee Overland.

Warranties

A limited warranty on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee covers three years or 36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles. Maintenance is complimentary for four visits over two years. That complimentary maintenance comes standard in the Overland and Trailhawk models. Customers of the lower trims can pay a fee to opt into that program.

What we think

2020 Jeep Cherokee - media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

2020 Jeep Cherokee – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com |  Shop 2020 Jeep Cherokee on Carsforsale.com

It’s hard to beat Jeep when it comes to off-roading. Even without a more rugged look, it’s got the same capability. The firm suspension makes going off the traditional roadway possible. The Cherokee absorbs the impacts of going off the road, though, so it doesn’t compromise on comfortability for adventure. It does have decent cargo space, comfortable seats, and a couple of good engine options. Plus, it’ll handle towing like a champ. These things help the 2020 Jeep Cherokee make up for whatever it lacks in mileage and extra cargo space.

The Overland, at $38,490, is the one to go with if it’s at all within budget. It has too many amenities to pass up. The Trailhawk has a lot of off-roading features for the adventurer within, though. Still, the Overland can be very appealing with that list of features it has.

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Jesse Batson

Jesse Batson earned his journalism degree from South Dakota State University. No stranger to newsgathering and reporting, Jesse spent 13 years in TV news. 10 of those years were spent working in Charlotte, NC, home of NASCAR. A highlight of his time there was being able to take a lap around the Charlotte Motor Speedway. His interest in vehicles, starting with Matchbox cars, a Big Wheel, and the Transformers, evolved into taking photos of motocross events. Now, he puts his research skills to use on car culture, reviews, and comparisons.

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