2018 Jeep Cherokee

Pros: Impressive off-road capabilities when properly equipped; better on-road handling and composure than other Jeeps; broad range of optional equipment and high-tech features; standard 9-speed automatic transmission

Cons: Cramped rear-seat space; radical front-end styling is off-putting to Jeep traditionalists; other compact SUVs have better cargo volume

CG Says: The 2018 Jeep Cherokee’s model lineup is shuffled. The Sport and Altitude trims have been dropped; Latitude is now the base model, and there is a new Latitude Plus model. Trailhawk and Limited gain standard equipment. Cherokee is a compact crossover SUV that is slightly larger than Jeep’s Compass, which in turn, is larger than the subcompact Jeep Renegade. Two engines are offered: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 184 horsepower and a 271-hp 3.2-liter V6. Both engines are mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive are available. Available features include heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, keyless entry and starting, blind-spot alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. For most of its trim levels, the Cherokee’s closest competitors are the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Mazda CX-5. The exception is the range-topping, off-road-ready Cherokee Trailhawk model, which has few direct rivals in the compact-SUV class. The only other vehicles in its class that come close to–or match–its level of off-road equipment are the other compact Jeeps, namely the Compass, and, for buyers interested in extreme off-roading, the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited.