2014 Jeep Cherokee SUV
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| 2014 Jeep Cherokee SUV - topcars-guide |
The 2014 Jeep Cherokee marks the return of a classic Jeep nameplate. Previous Jeep Cherokees were no-frills off-road vehicles that provided little more than basic transportation when you got them on the pavement. The 2014 Cherokee is wholly different. It's a small crossover SUV. And while it still has a fair amount of all-terrain ability, this new Jeep is more remarkable for its spacious and attractively furnished cabin, pleasant ride and smooth V6 engine.
Although the 2014 Jeep Cherokee has about the same footprint as the Dodge Dart sedan (with which it shares its basic platform architecture), it feels far roomier on the inside and has one of the most accommodating rear seats of any compact crossover in this price range. The downside is that prioritizing passenger space has resulted in a lower maximum cargo volume: With its rear seats folded, the Jeep has 10-15 fewer cubic feet than most competitors.
It's nice to have that go-almost-anywhere capability when you need it, but the 2014 Jeep Cherokee also comes with some new tech features that you'll probably make use of a lot more often. An 8.4-inch touchscreen interface is available in most models, and there's also an option package that bundles forward collision, lane departure and blind-spot warning systems with automatic high-beam control, adaptive cruise control and an automated parallel and perpendicular parking system. Indeed, the Cherokee is the first Jeep that will park itself, and it's an unusual feature to see in this class.
However, the small crossover SUV class is loaded with excellent choices. You'll definitely want to look at top sellers like the 2014 Ford Escape and 2014 Honda CR-V, as well as the Mazda CX-5, as all of these crossovers match up well with the Jeep and offer better performance with their four-cylinder engines. If a V6 is a must for you, the similarly sized 2014 Kia Sorento has more cargo room and an available third-row seat. Finally, if you're really interested in going off-road, you'll find that more utilitarian vehicles like Jeep's own Wrangler and the Toyota FJ Cruiser offer more capability on rough terrain. Unquestionably, though, the 2014 Cherokee is the most complete small Jeep we've driven in years, and it's worth a look if you're shopping for a small SUV.
Body Styles, Trim Levels Cherokee
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| Body Styles 2014 Jeep Cherokee SUV |
The 2014 Jeep Cherokee is a small, five-passenger crossover SUV offered in four trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk and Limited.
Standard equipment on the Sport includes 17-inch steel wheels and all-season tires; air-conditioning; power accessories; keyless remote entry; a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; a 60/40-split folding and reclining rear seat; Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity; and a six-speaker audio system with a 5-inch touchscreen interface, USB/iPod integration, an auxiliary audio input and an SD card reader. Options include a Cold Weather Group package with a wiper de-icer and heating for the front seats, steering wheel and mirrors. You can get alloy wheels, a rearview camera, satellite radio and a CD player as stand-alone options.
Standard on all 2014 Jeep Cherokees is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder
engine rated at 184 hp and 171 pound-feet of torque. Optional on all but the
base Sport is a 3.2-liter V6 that makes 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque. A
nine-speed automatic transmission is standard with both engines.
Powertrains and Performance
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| Performance Jeep Cherokee SUV |
You have your choice of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with
either engine, but Trailhawk models are 4WD only. Jeep offers two different 4WD
systems. Standard on four-wheel-drive Sport, Latitude and Limited models is the
light-duty Active Drive I 4WD system; it requires no input from the driver and
is suitable for driving in wintry conditions. Standard on the Trailhawk and
optional on other 4WD Jeep Cherokees is the more deluxe Active Drive II system,
which features low-range gearing to give the vehicle extra capability in
off-road situations. The Trailhawk also has a locking rear differential to aid
progress on rough terrain.
In addition, four-wheel-drive Cherokees feature a Selec-Terrain
dial with selectable Auto, Snow, Sport and Sand/Mud modes to optimize traction;
the Trailhawk features an additional Rock mode. Hill start assist is standard
on all Cherokees, but only the Trailhawk has hill descent control. A tow
package is available on all 2014 Jeep Cherokees, and with it included, V6
models have a 4,500-pound towing capacity.
The EPA has released fuel economy ratings for Cherokees with the
Active Drive I 4WD system: Four-cylinder models are rated at 21 mpg city/28 mpg
highway and 24 combined, which is slightly below average for this class, while
V6 Cherokees with this 4WD system rate 19/27/22: good numbers for a
six-cylinder crossover SUV.
