2018 Jeep Cherokee KL 3.2L V6 9AT AWD (271 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Jeep introduced a heavily revised version of the Cherokee KL at the North American International Auto Show for the 2019 model year at the beginning of 2018.

Ever since 1974, Jeep has delighted its customers with the Cherokee. While the first generation relied on a body-on-frame solution, the second generation, introduced in 1984, came with the brilliant solution of welding the frame to the bodywork. That was the famous XJ, which became the first true compact crossover on the market. It was followed by two other generations named Liberty because Chrysler was reluctant to call it Cherokee. Then, in 2013, it dusted off the nameplate and placed it on a new generation, which was received with mixed feelings by the brand’s fans. While some features of that model were appreciated, others were not. The 2019 model year came to fix them. It was the kind of a facelift that could have passed as an entirely new generation. But FCA, the alliance’s name in 2018, was honest. The SUV was built on top of the same platform, and despite all the improvements, it was not a new vehicle.

At the front, the front fascia was entirely new. It featured new headlights resembling eagles’ eyes and integrated LED daytime running lights. Between them, the traditional seven-slat grille of the Jeep was adorned with chromed elements. At the same time, the lower bumper featured an additional air intake flanked by the available fog lamps. For the upper grades, such as the Trailhawk, the automaker installed a black lower bumper area adorned by red tow hooks.

From its profile, there were significant differences between the grades. Vehicles fitted with front-wheel drive systems sat lower to the ground than the Trailhawk version. Still, the trapezoidal-shaped wheel arches were adorned with black trims continued by same-color side sills. The body-colored door mirrors and handles gave the vehicle an upscale look. Behind, the automaker also made a clear distinction between the Trailhawk and the lower grade version of it by installing a black lower bumper with a red tow hook, while the others had body-colored ones.

Inside, the changes were massive. The automaker dramatically improved the cabin, adding soft-touch materials on the dashboard and other contact surfaces. In addition, the armrest between the front passengers featured a two-tier storage area. On the center console, in front of the gear selector, Jeep placed a USB charging port and even a tray to store the mobile phone while it was charged. Fronting the driver was the same-looking instrument cluster as before, with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer that flanked a thin TFT display for the car’s onboard computer. A nice detail was about the adaptive cruise control system, which, when approaching the vehicle in front, displayed an old 1941 Willy’s Jeep. The automaker also upgraded the infotainment system, which featured Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Under the hood, the 2019 Cherokee was available with three gasoline engines paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base model came with a 2.4-liter inline-four, followed by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot, and finally a 3.2-liter V6 featuring variable valve timing technology. For selected markets, Jeep also offered the Cherokee with a 2.2-liter turbodiesel provided by Fiat.