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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie Car2022 Jeep Cherokee Review: Fun, But Out of Date
What do our experts think of the 2022 Jeep Cherokee? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels and more. Find out our thoughts here.
What’s New for the 2022 Jeep Cherokee?
Jeep has decided to narrow down to five trim levels. Added is the X model which adds a little 1-inch lift and larger tires. You also get a screen upgrade with previous years offering a 7-inch touchscreen. You now get a wider and more robust 8.4-inch touchscreen.
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The Breakdown
Good at towing
Still a good off roader for price
Comfy handler
Bulky exterior doesn’t lend to interior space
Fewer trims mean options are packed in more
Base engine is less than exciting
Could use a refresh and more interior space
2022 Jeep Specs
- 270 horsepower from base engine
- 257 lb-ft of torque base
- 5 available trims
- 37.7 cu-ft of cargo space
- 70.8 cu-ft of cargo space with seats down
- Towing capacity of 4,500 lbs
- 3 year / 36,000 mile limited warranty
- 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty
- Many standard safety features including lane keep assist
2022 Jeep Cherokee Powertrain
The 2022 Jeep Cherokee has two available engines: A standard 270hp capable of 257lb-ft of torque and a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of 390ft-lb of torque. We found the 2.0-liter turbo charged engine quicker and more responsive. The 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine gets amongst the worst fuel mileage ratings in its class too, especially compared to the likes of the Honda CR-V. You’ll potentially note that, unlike previous years, they’ve eliminated the 2.4 liter base engine.
There is a purpose to this difference: towing capability. The 6-cylinder can tow up to 4,500 lbs while the 4-cylinder has a different attitude toward towing with 2,000 lbs. The turbo is meant to take a smaller load, but go a bit faster while the heftier 3.2 liter 6-cylinder can bring tows.
Jeep does offer the Cherokee in both 4WD and FWD with FWD only for Latitude Lux packages. Jeep is well known for its legendary 4WD capabilities. You might also want to learn a little more about the difference between 4WD and AWD.
Regardless of engine and drivetrain, the Cherokee is paired to a 9-speed transmission. The transmission is nice and smooth – though we wonder if the number of speeds is what keeps the Cherokee from getting even worse mpg.
The Cherokee is certainly a fun vehicle to drive and capable off-roading. Overall riding characteristics are akin to small SUVs though options and settings are available in the Cherokee that stiffens the ride if you need them.
Towing & Payload
The good news for Jeep is that it’s one of few small to midsize SUVs with decent towing. 4,500 lbs with the 3.2 liter 6-cylinder engine is no slouch. Many other SUVs in the same size range as the Cherokee offer under 3,000 lbs of towing, if they tow anything at all.
The 2.0 liter has less towing capacity at 2,000 lbs, which is closer to the average for the class. If you do want more towing capacity from a Jeep, consider the Grand Cherokee.
2022 Jeep Cherokee Fuel Economy & MPG
We talked a bit about MPG earlier, but the 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine is more capable with up to 23/31 mpg. Even the turbocharged engine struggles compared to competitors, with the base engine getting 19/26 mpg which isn’t a lot better than much larger SUVs like a GMC Yukon.
We do have to note that the Jeep is designed a bit heavier 4WD on every vehicle isn’t light – and the weight does add to a nice ride.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
We can speak highly of the Cherokee from the standpoint of a good refined turbocharged engine and towing – but the interior just isn’t that great. We’ll give Jeep this: the interior is comfortable and the controls are easy to use, including an on-point touch screen within reach. The cargo space is behind that of the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V.
What makes it small? The Cherokee has small windows, so the overall vehicle feels small on the inside.
That aside, it seats five relatively comfortably. The biggest thing you’ll sacrifice is cargo space when trying to pack five people and their stuff. Just over 70 cubic feet of space with the seats folded down isn’t great. The Jeep Cherokee simply looks bigger on the outside than it feels on the inside.
Entertainment & Technology
Like much of the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM lineup, the infotainment system works well for the price. The system offers lots of choices without making you feel overwhelmed by menus. The 8.4-inch screen is big enough to easily see without leaning your head all the way over – pending your own eyes.
Jeep also has standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which seems like it’s very common now. The apps make it easy to access your phone apps, like calls, navigation, and music, on the road with Google and Apple’s interfaces.
Safety Features
The 2022 Jeep Cherokee balances out not the greatest safety test ratings at 4 out of 5 on the NHTSA crash tests with better standard features to keep you out of a crash. Noting also, that getting a perfect crash test rating isn’t an easy thing to do!
You’ll now get standard forward-collision and automated emergency braking, along with lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and blind-spot and rear monitoring. That’s a good set of standard safety features.
2022 Jeep Cherokee Trims & Pricing
X: $32,635
Jeep’s newest trim is here! This is actually effectively a good combination of entry level 4WD and towing. The X starts with the heftier but not as quick 6-cylinder engine. The difference between your X and the Altitude are a few missing features. They remove heated seats, adjustable seats, and a few more options that people who are focusing on towing and 4WD might care less about. You also get the Selec-Terrain system which is good for people who want to select gear modes.
Want to know more about previous Jeep trims? Read our 2021 Jeep Cherokee review here.
Latitude Lux: $33,195
The Latitude is more of an upgrade to the Altitude. A few notable amenities include the option for leather seats, a power adjustable passenger seat, and a power rear liftgate. The Latitude Lux trims adds the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine which is quick, handy, and more fuel efficient if you aren’t towing. To us, this is the most well balanced and desirable trim with more options.
Limited: $37,495
The Limited is more of an upgrade directly to the Latitude Lux. Add Selec-Terrain as standard, as well as high beam assist and adaptive cruise control. You also get memory front seats, parallel and perpendicular parking assist, along with the option for a sunroof. Within Limited, you also have the option for navigation, 19-inch wheels, and a heated second row seat.
Trailhawk: $37,795
We’ve got off-roading on the menu – real off roading. You’ll get Active Drive Lock, which ensures that it has a 4-low gear and a locking rear differential to keep wheels at the same speed. You won’t get leather seats like the Latitude Lux and an adjustable passenger seat, but it does add vinyl seats, a better skip plate, and hill descent control.
Warranties
Jeeps come with a standard warranty of 3 years, 36,000 miles for limited, and 5 year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty.
What we think
2022 Jeep Cherokee – jeep.com | Shop 2022 Jeep Cherokee on Carsforsale.com
While the X model is a good entry level vehicle to get 4WD, we would still select the Latitude Lux simply because of the addition of features like the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. More serious off-roaders will want to check out the Trailhawk to get more off-road flexibility.
The Jeep Cherokee ultimately provides decent value and a nice engine, though it isn’t terrible competitive with other makes and models for interior space or quality. If you are thinking you want a bigger jeep with bigger windows, consider used instead.
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