2013 Jeep Cherokee KL 2.4L FWD 9AT (186 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Jeep introduced the fifth generation of the Cherokee at the 2013 New York Auto Show as the 2014 model year, with sales starting in the fall of same year, and it was a radical change for this nameplate.

After two generations of the Liberty (the KJ and the KK), Jeep brought back the Cherokee nameplate for the KL generation. Unlike those, the new model came with a completely new design approach. It was also a turning point for the interior features, which were richer than before. It looked like Chrysler tried to move the Jeep brand into the premium segment, or at least to make it family-friendly. The American automaker and Fiat co-developed a new platform for the crossover and shared it with the Chrysler 200, which was a sedan. Despite criticisms from hard-core fans, the Cherokee finally exceeded the 200,000 sales mark in the U.S. alone in its first production year. In addition, since the car was available worldwide, it reached the 355,000 units milestone in 2016.

At the front, besides the seven-slat grille, the 2013 Jeep Cherokee KL had no visual connection with any of its predecessors. It featured a pair of eyebrow-like daytime running lights positioned above the bumper. Below, inside the rectangular scoops, were the headlights. At the same time, on the lower side of the bumper, flanking a secondary air intake, the automaker placed the round fog lamps. The unusual design was emphasized by the hood, which sported a power bulge in the middle.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee left behind the flat panels and the rugged appearance, even though it could still tackle some difficult off-road trials. To emphasize the SUV’s origins, the automaker kept the design idea of trapezoidal wheel arches and adorned them with narrow black plastic moldings with matching-color side sills. Depending on the grade, the car could also boast a set of metallic skid plates, which make it look more appropriate to the brand’s origins. At the back, instead of the vertically corner-mounted taillights, Jeep preferred a set of horizontally LED ones, which stretched from the quarter panels onto the tailgate.

Customers found a comfort-oriented cabin that resembled an elegant hatchback. Right off the bat, Jeep offered the 2014 Cherokee in four grades: Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited. Later, three others joined the list: Altitude Edition, Overland, and X. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster that housed the speedometer and the rev counter, flanking a color TFT display that showed additional data from the car’s onboard computer. At the same time, integrated into the upper side of the center stack, the automaker introduced an 8.4″ touchscreen for the infotainment system that featured navigation and had onboard storage for media. The cabin was upholstered with fabric for the lower grades, while the upper ones featured a leather-wrapped interior. Up front, the 2014 Cherokee featured two bucket seats, while in the back, there was a split-folding (60/40) bench seat for three adults.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a choice of gasoline engines for the North American market, while in other countries, the Cherokee was fitted with turbodiesel engines as well. Power went to the front or in all corners, and not all versions were available with a low-range transfer box. Depending on the grade and options, a disconnectable rear axle transmission was available, which reduced fuel consumption.