2014 Jeep Cherokee

PREVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Two engines are offered: a 2.4L 4-cylinder with 184 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque and a new 3.2L V6 making 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque. 2. Both engines come paired to an industry-first 9-speed automatic transmission. 3. Fuel economy ranges from of 22/31 MPG (city/highway) to 19/27 MPG. 4. All models are equipped to tow 2,000 lbs with a max rating of 4,500 lbs. 5. Pricing starts at $23,990.

If you're old enough to drive, you're old enough to remember the Jeep Cherokee, a boxy off-roader that helped usher in the SUV craze in the late 1980s.

Despite its cramped cabin and agricultural attitude, the old Cherokee won our hearts with incredible ability off-road and surprisingly good handling on-road. Jeep replaced the Cherokee with the Liberty in 2002, but now the Cherokee is back -- and it's aiming to do its '80s-era namesake proud.

EXTERIOR

The new Cherokee's front-end styling has been the subject of controversy; as we've said before, it looks much better in person, where one can appreciate the 3-D effect of the jutting seven-slot grille. Ironically, Jeep's stylists seem to have been so exhausted from designing the front that they forgot about the back -- it's easy to mistake the Cherokee's rump for that of a Kia Sportage.

The entry-level Cherokee Sport is the most austere, with blacked-out window trim and plastic wheel covers. The Latitude adds roof rails, alloy wheels and extra brightwork, while the top-of-the-line Limited model gets even more adornment. Coolest of all is the Trailhawk, its black bumpers punctuated by bright red tow hooks (which can support 150% of the Cherokee's weight), plus knobbly tires, underbody skid plates and a matte-black hood panel, which compliments the dechromed grille.

INTERIOR

Inside, all Cherokees feature a soft-touch padded dash smartly detailed with high-quality trim bits. Knobs and dials work with precision, except for the four-wheel-drive control knob, which feels stiff and clunky.

The Cherokee's interior is awash in storage cubbies and we were pleased to find audio and power ports on the center stack as well as inside the center console. All Cherokees get Chrysler's Uconnect touch-screen interface for the stereo, Bluetooth and (optional) navigation system; Sport and Latitude models get a 5-inch screen, while a big 8.4-inch display is optional on Latitude, standard on Limited and Trailhawk. Uconnect is one of the more intuitive infotainment systems on the market and we were able to use stereo, phone and nav with minimal attention and effort.A clearly-marked speedometer and tachometer flank a user-configurable display; lesser trims get a monochrome screen while nicer Cherokees get a 7-inch color display. Our one issue with the design is the contrasting-color stitching atop the dash, which reflects in the windshield and puts a double-dotted line right in the line of sight.

                                  

UNDER THE HOOD

The Cherokee offers two engines: A 2.4 liter four-cylinder producing 184 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque and a 3.2 liter V6 that puts out 271 hp and 239 lb-ft. Both are mated to a new nine (!!) speed automatic transmission. The extra gears are supposed to improve both acceleration and fuel economy; the Cherokee's EPA ratings range from 22 MPG city and 31 MPG highway in four-cylinder front-wheel-drive configuration down to 19/27 MPG for the V6 4x4.

Both engines are noisy, but the four-cylinder's constant drone is particularly annoying. As for fuel economy, we averaged 19.3 MPG in a four-cylinder 4x4 and 18.9 MPG in a V6 4x4. Even taking into account the big hills and fast curvy roads on our drive route, we were less than impressed.In real-world driving, the Cherokee is hobbled by its two-ton curb weight. Acceleration from the four-cylinder is tepid, and the nine-speed transmission has to do a lot of shifting to keep up the pace. Likewise, the V6-powered Cherokee isn't the rocket ship we were hoping for, though at least it allows for confident passing on two-lane roads.