Jeep Cherokee

Jeep Cherokee generations at a glance

The Cherokee name has been used on six generations since 1974, and the KL marked the move from a body-on-frame or rugged unibody off-roader to a car-based crossover. The brand's story is told in the history of Jeep, and the range, from the Jeep Wrangler to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, is in the Jeep catalogue.

Design and body

The KL's design divided opinion when it appeared. Its slim upper lights with LED daytime running lights sit above the main headlights in a three-level arrangement, combined with Jeep's seven-slot grille. The body is clearly more urban than earlier Cherokees, though off-road ability was kept. The Trailhawk adds a raised suspension, reinforced bumpers with extra protection and wider wheel-arch extensions. The 2019 facelift, revealed in Detroit on 16 January 2018, brought a more conventional front with a lower grille, LED lights with integrated indicators and the Uconnect 4 infotainment system.

Interior and practicality

The cabin is well laid out, and testers praised the sound insulation, although some criticised the weak side support of the front seats and parts of the build quality. The rear seat comfortably takes three adults and can slide and recline. The glovebox is small. Boot space is 412 litres, rising to 1,266 litres with the rear seats folded. Equipment includes a nine-speaker audio system, navigation, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, push-button start and a panoramic roof; heated and ventilated front seats with electric adjustment were optional.

Engines and gearboxes

According to the old 1cars text, the 3.2 V6 reaches 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds, while the 2.0 diesel takes 10.3 seconds and uses about 5.8 L/100 km; the 2.4 uses about 8.3 L/100 km combined. Early software problems with the nine-speed automatic delayed the 2014 launch, and in August 2016 ZF recalled 505,000 vehicles with this gearbox.

Four-wheel-drive systems

All three systems include Selec-Terrain driving modes and a rear-axle disconnect that saves fuel when four-wheel drive is not needed. The suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle. The Trailhawk, sold only with four-wheel drive and marketed as "Trail Rated", adds the locking rear differential, skid plates, recovery hooks and a full-size spare wheel.

Dimensions

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the KL in 2013, when it scored 93% for adult occupants, 79% for children, 67% for pedestrians and 74% for safety assist. A 2019 test of a diesel version produced 80%, 78%, 56% and 69%. In July 2015, Fiat Chrysler recalled about 1.4 million vehicles, including the Cherokee, after a wireless hacking vulnerability was discovered in its infotainment system.

Sales and the end of production

Global sales grew from 31,330 in 2013 to a peak of 355,402 in 2016, and US sales peaked at 239,437 in 2018. Production at Belvidere ended on 28 February 2023, and the Cherokee returned in 2025 as the sixth-generation KM, a hybrid built in Mexico.

Rivals: how the Cherokee compares

The Cherokee KL competed with the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan. Its strengths are genuine off-road ability, especially as a Trailhawk, a comfortable rear seat and good refinement; its weaknesses are a small boot, early gearbox problems and divisive styling.