2022 Jeep Cherokee Review: Compromised Compact Off-Roader

The Jeep Cherokee has been around, in one shape or another, for close to fifty years in the USA and is currently in its fifth generation. Now a compact SUV, it provides a seven-slotted alternative to rivals like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, except unlike those, this has genuine off-road chops and a class-leading towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. In its mission to beat the best, Jeep sells the Cherokee with two engine options, including the 271-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 and an available 2.0T four-banger rounding out the range with 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic is standard across the range and you can select either front- or all-wheel-drive, with the Trailhawk model using the latter to make it one of the most capable off-roaders in the compact crossover realm. With a broad selection of trims, the Cherokee follows the philosophy that there's a specific trim for every type of buyer, but with wayward handling and a clumsy gearbox, it's not the most complete vehicle in the segment.

What's the Price of the 2022 Jeep Cherokee?

This year, the Cherokee lineup has been streamlined and consists of just four models. The cheapest Cherokee vehicle is the X at a starting price of $33,995. At exactly the same price is the Latitude Lux in FWD guise. These are followed by the Trailhawk at an MSRP of $37,045 and the Limited at $38,745. All models are 4x4 as standard but the Latitude Lux can be upgraded from 4x2 to 4x4 for $1,500. The price of a new Jeep Cherokee excludes a destination charge of $1,595 and other fees you'll likely have to pay when looking at Jeeps for sale at your local dealership.

2022 Cherokee Exterior

Dimensions

2022 Cherokee Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

When Jeep facelifted the Cherokee for 2019, it went about shaving weight. This was a smart move as it makes the Cherokee handle much better. It corners flatter than one would expect, because of this, while retaining a softly-sprung nature that bodes well for comfort. On that side of things, revised dampers, bushing, and anti-roll bars have all improved the way it handles. Previously, there was a vagueness to the front end that bordered on scary, not just on-road but off it, too, where the front felt like it could wash out at any moment. With the V6 engine, the front still feels a little wayward, but the 2.0T feels far tighter, keener to turn in, and better tied down.

The brakes feel strong, too, with good feel through the pedal and a good amount of stopping power, no doubt aided by having less weight to bring to a halt.

There are better compact crossovers on-road, but the Cherokee is much improved now. However, where it truly shines is off the beaten path. The Trailhawk is built with this in mind, endowed with a specific suspension tune, all-terrain tires, and even Jeep's Active Drive II AWD system. The latter is an important bit of information as it has a locking rear differential, a four-low mode, and dedicated rock-crawling driving modes. It's no Wrangler on the rocks, but there's no other compact quite this capable - except for maybe the Ford Bronco Sport. Even in Trailhawk guise, though, the Cherokee is composed on the road.

2022 Cherokee Interior

2022 Cherokee Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2022 Jeep Cherokee A Good SUV?

The Cherokee name has been around for nearly five decades on the back of a Jeep product, but while some have been large and some have been small, none have been as accomplished an all-rounder as the 2022 Cherokee. Prior to the 2019 facelift, this was one of our least favorite compact crossovers, but Jeep worked hard to improve its faults and many of them have been addressed. However, there are still some issues. The gearbox is our biggest gripe, as it lets down every engine option, no matter how much promise it has. We'd go so far as to say it stops us from fully enjoying even the range-topping engines. The lack of cargo space is another gripe we have, as even the smaller Compass has similar capacities with far better access. The Cherokee is not the most refined crossover on-road, but the enhancements that have been made make it a better companion. There's plenty to like, though, like a good V6 engine and best-in-class towing capacity. Higher trims also have really pleasant interiors, and the infotainment across the range is easy to use and has tons of functionality. But the biggest selling point is the Trailhawk trim's off-road ability. If you want a compact SUV with real off-road clout, this is it. But, if you spend more time in the drop-off at your kids' school than you do on dirt trails, we'd recommend looking elsewhere.

What New Jeep Cherokee Model Should I Buy?

This year, Jeep has made shopping for a new Cherokee a lot easier with a simpler, more sensible trim selection. That said, our choice hasn't changed from last year. The Cherokee Trailhawk is the ideal Cherokee, capitalizing on the larger-displacement V6 engine to be able to tow, getting standard 4WD and off-road suspension to climb rocks, and getting most of the necessary equipment you need. We'd slap on Hydro Blue paint and throw in the $1,345 Technology Group for the on-road driver assists. The Trailer-Tow Group makes sense, too, at $995. All in, this capable Cherokee will cost just over $41,000.

2022 Jeep Cherokee Comparisons

2022 Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep's naming convention gives away the core difference between these two models. The Grand Cherokee is the larger brother to the Cherokee, occupying the two-row midsize SUV segment. But it's not just bigger; it's more capable too. While the Jeep Cherokee crossover is a semi-off-roader, the Grand Cherokee is massively capable thanks to available air suspension and better 4x4 drivetrains. This is largely down to the platform's RWD basis. It also gets access to more engines, including V8 options, all with way more power than the Cherokee, and the eight-speed automatic gearbox it has is a more intuitive partner. It can out-tow the Cherokee by a healthy margin with up to 7,200 lbs towing capacity. It has a larger trunk, by around 11 cubic feet. The downsides are a thirst that needs a big bank account to keep up and a higher asking price - the Grand Cherokee starts at $40,325, which is more than the price of the Cherokee Limited. It's also not as easy to pilot on-road and parking is a bit tricky because of its size. The all-new 2022 Grand Cherokee is a better vehicle in nearly all respects and we'd stretch to it if we could.

2022 Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Compass

With the growing popularity of crossovers, a number of manufacturers have two or more vehicles per segment, including Jeep. The Compass is also a compact SUV, albeit a smaller one than the Cherokee. Pricewise, it's over $7,500 cheaper, and specification-wise, you get a lot of the same stuff. However, you only get the 2.4L Tigershark engine with no V6 and turbo option, which limits its towing capacity to just 2,000 lbs. It has a shorter wheelbase, but more base cargo volume. The trade-off? Less rear-seat space by a couple of inches. You might think it's a small price to pay, given the actual price, but for us, it's a problem for the Compass. It makes it even smaller than rivals like the RAV4 and CR-V, and there's no real benefit elsewhere. The Cherokee isn't perfect, but at least you have access to the bigger engines and greater towing capacity. This makes it the better of the two, in our eyes.