Jeep Cherokee review

The Cherokee name was etched into SUV lore in the '80s, when sport-utility vehicles were rapidly gaining popularity. That original model was a good off-roader, but it was also rough and cramped. For 2002 the Cherokee was replaced by the Liberty. Now  Jeep has resurrected the name for a new compact SUV that's based on the same platform as the Dodge Dart sedan.

After Chrysler's success in our road tests with other recent redesigns, such as the Chrysler 300, Ram 1500 pickup, and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs, we expected more from the new Cherokee than it delivers. Though it has notable strengths, it comes off as a work in progress, failing to get a lot of the day-to-day basics right. Overall, the Cherokee didn't score well enough in our tests to be recommended.

We tested two Cherokees: a Latitude version with a 184-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, and a more upscale Limited with a 271-hp, 3.2-liter  V6. Both have Chrysler's new nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

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Though more gear ratios in a transmission usually improve fuel economy and response—most competitors have six-speed automatics— the results from our four-cylinder model were dismal. It took a long 10.9 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is about 2 to 3 seconds slower than competitors. And its gas mileage was a mediocre 22 mpg overall, 2 to 4 mpg less than most competitors. Overall, this underpowered four-cylinder feels overworked by the heavy Cherokee. Moreover, the unrefined transmission shifts roughly and is reluctant to downshift.

Opting for the $1,495  V6 rewards you with much better performance and refinement, while delivering 21 mpg overall. But you still need a fairly heavy foot on the throttle to get much out of it. Although our vehicles had  Jeep's basic  Active Drive I all-wheel-drive system, we were surprised by the pronounced front-wheel spin when driving in snow, especially with the V6, before power was transferred to the rear.

The Cherokee's ride is compliant, isolating most pavement flaws, but it is choppy, with short, quick hops, especially in the Limited version with 18-inch tires. Handling is not particularly responsive, though it's secure enough. Even when the Cherokee was pushed to its handling limits at our track, it proved to be stable and predictable.

The steering has nice weight but doesn't transmit much feedback. The optional LaneSense lane-departure warning system makes small tugs on the steering wheel if you begin to drift out of your lane, but that system further dilutes any real steering feedback.

One highlight is how quiet the Cherokee is inside, especially with the more refined and relaxed  V6. But the four-cylinder engine sounds rough and busy.

Optional park assist helps the Cherokee maneuver itself into either parallel- or perpendicular-parking spots. When the system finds a space that's large enough, you pull ahead of the spot, shift into reverse, and take your hands off the wheel. But we've found that it takes a long time to analyze parking spaces.

Inside, the cloth seats are too squishy and lack support, and they have no lumbar adjustment. Our Limited's leather seats, with power adjustment, are much better. The rear seat is roomy.

The Limited offers such luxury features as a heated steering wheel and a power liftgate. Jeep's Uconnect 8.4 touch-screen infotainment system combines top-level connectivity with a friendly interface. Versions without the system use a smaller touch screen that's a long reach away and has only four visible radio presets. Adjusting the temperature on cars without automatic climate control is infuriatingly cumbersome, requiring a lot of button-tapping.

Serious off-roaders might be interested in the Trailhawk version, which comes with off-road-oriented tires and suspension, extra ground clearance, underbody skid plates, and electronic features such as hill-descent control and low-range gearing. We tried a Trailhawk on our rock hill and were impressed with its capability. But its tires and added height make on-road handling more ponderous and less agile.

When the Cherokee is equipped with the V6 engine and $495 Trailer Tow Group, it boasts a hefty 4,500-pound towing capacity.

The Cherokee is pricey. Even basic versions, costing $27,000, lack features that many lower-priced rivals offer as standard.

Best version to get. If you get a Cherokee, go for a Limited (for the more comfortable leather seats) with the  V6 and the big Uconnect 8.4 touch-screen system. That puts you right around $32,000 with AWD. It's too bad that adding blind-spot monitoring requires a $2,155 package on top of that. Whichever Cherokee you get, be sure to get the optional backup camera.