Truck Trend Pre-Owned: 2014 to 2018 Jeep Cherokee
Pre-Owned
We should say this up front: Buying a pre-owned Jeep Cherokee is not as straightforward as something like, say, a Honda CR-V. But it could be far more interesting. This is a compact crossover/SUV that resurrects the famous Cherokee name. And thanks to its illustrious maker, there's an element of off-road ability baked in, which is more than can be said for its rivals.
This generation of Cherokee has the kind of refinement and ease of driving more often associated with cars than SUV/crossovers. The ride quality is comfortable, although the suspension is not particularly adept at taking corners; the upside to that is a less jarring experience on rutted dirt roads. The Cherokee is also roomy for rear passengers, while the rear seat slides and reclines, and splits and folds in the usual 60/40 way.
With the rear seats in place, luggage area is 24.6 cubic feet. That's below the class average by around 5 cubic feet. Fold those seats down and cargo space expands to 54.9 cubic feet. Most of the competition can offer an extra 10 cubic feet. The towing situation is healthier, though. With the right equipment, a Cherokee with the V-6 can pull 4,500 pounds.
The Cherokee received a face-lift for 2019, so we're focusing on the first four model years, which also means there will be a selection of used Cherokees available through the company's certified pre-owned (CPO) program.
Trims started out with Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited. Sport is the entry level, with 17-inch steel wheels, a 5-inch infotainment touchscreen (the higher trims have an 8.4-inch touchscreen), and a six-speaker audio system. Latitude brings 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, roof rails, and LED cabin lighting. It's also eligible for more options.
Trailhawk is the most off-road capable, sporting a dedicated suspension, all-terrain tires, all-wheel drive with a locking rear differential as standard, a low-range reduction gear, and underbody protection. It's not as hard-core as a Wrangler, but that could be a good thing.
Limited is the luxury model, bringing dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, real leather upholstery, and a heated steering wheel.
A rearview camera became standard in the 2015 Latitude model, along with an engine stop/start feature for the V-6, plus the option of forward-collision mitigation. A new range-topping Overland trim was introduced in 2016 that included heated/ventilated front seats, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a powered tailgate.
In 2018, Sport trim was discontinued, leaving Latitude as the entry level, while a Latitude Plus trim was introduced as the next step up. Standard and optional equipment also received something of a shake-up at this time.
