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2023 Jeep Cherokee

2023 Jeep Cherokee Review: Old Dog Still Has Tricks

By the time you read this, production at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois would already have come to an end, making the 2023 Jeep Cherokee we review here the last model year of a car that has been on sale in the USA for a decade. It’s been showing its age, and although most of the Jeep Cherokee’s competitors are far more modern compact crossovers, such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Jeep does have a trick up its sleeve in still offering a proper off-road model, something few rivals have. The Ford Bronco Sport in Badlands guise is an excellent alternative to the Cherokee and a far more modern car — and it’s cheaper to boot. But, although it hasn’t changed much over the years, the Cherokee still looks smart and the run-out model is as capable off the beaten track as it ever was. The current model lacks any kind of hybrid version, but that will be fixed in the next model, which will likely feature electrification prominently.

Read in this review:

• Exterior Design 6 /10
• Performance 6 /10
• Fuel Economy 8 /10
• Interior & Cargo 7 /10
• Infotainment & Features 10 /10
• Reliability 7 /10
• Safety 8 /10
• Value For Money 7 /10

2023 Jeep Cherokee Changes: What’s The Difference vs The 2022 Cherokee?

The biggest news is that the 2023 Cherokee is the last model year. The nameplate is not being discontinued and Stellantis has promised that a new Jeep Cherokee SUV will be coming in the future, but for now, this is the end of the line for the current model. For its last foray, the number of Jeep Cherokee trims in the range is cut down to two: Altitude Lux and Trailhawk. Both are 4WD, with no FWD models available anymore. In January 2023, Jeep announced that the 3.2-liter V6 engine will not be available for the new model year, so all the models are four-cylinders this year — a 180-hp naturally aspirated 2.4-liter for the Altitude Lux and a 270-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter for the Trailhawk.

While an 8.4-inch touchscreen became standard across the board recently, the system gains navigation and SiriusXM this year. The Altitude Lux has remote start, Nappa leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, black 17-inch alloys, and a seven-inch digital driver-information display. The Trailhawk trim gains additional standard features, namely automatic high beams, a garage-door opener, a security alarm, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Standard on all trims this year are adaptive cruise control with stop & go, front and rear parking sensors with automatic reverse braking, and perpendicular & parallel parking assistance. The 2023 Jeep Cherokee’s starting price in the US is $37,695.

Pros and Cons

• Solid towing credentials
• Proper off-road model available
• Many standard features
• Trailhawk’s engine is powerful
• Absorbent ride

• Uncompetitive fuel economy
• Small trunk
• Altitude Lux’s engine is lethargic
• Expensive next to rivals

What’s the Price of the 2023 Jeep Cherokee?

The price of the 2023 Jeep Cherokee Altitude Lux 4×4 is $37,695 and the Trailhawk 4×4 will cost you $41,295. Keep in mind that these are the Jeep Cherokee’s MSRPs and they exclude any packages, options, or the destination fee of $1,595.

Best Deals on 2023 Jeep Cherokee

2023 Jeep Cherokee Trims

See trim levels and configurations:

2023 Jeep Cherokee Handling and Driving Impressions

Even after all these years, the Cherokee still makes a good impression when the wheels start rolling. In contrast to most soft-roader rivals, it feels like a serious SUV from behind the wheel and sits four square on the road, riding with a solidity that makes it feel bigger than it is. It absorbs shocks before they reach the cabin and never feels floaty or lapses into harshness, exhibiting excellent damping and body control, while resisting lean very well. All the control are nicely tuned and the brake feel is positive and progressive, although the somewhat numb steering is par for the course in this class. Considering it’s so well-behaved on the road, its off-road ability will come as a pleasant surprise, especially in the extremely capable trail-rated Trailhawk. Sadly, the 180-hp engine in the Altitude is asthmatic and labors to get up to speed, merge, or overtake as the dimwitted and slow-shifting nine-speed autobox tries to keep it on the boil. The punchy 270-hp turbocharged engine in the Trailhawk is undoubtedly the one to have but it’s also a bit hamstrung by the same transmission that can’t seem to make up its mind.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Jeep Cherokee A Good SUV?

For an authentic, solid-riding Jeep feel in the compact class, there is still little that can touch the Cherokee. Its suspension setup makes it a capable SUV that is nice to drive, on the road or off it. The Trailhawk in particular, is powerful, comfortable, and impressively off-road capable, with excellent towing capabilities. It will do hard work better than most rivals, and the Jeep engineering shines through brightly. However, it seems most people don’t need all that ability in this class, and the Jeep has no answers for its rivals’ fuel economy and available hybrid options. The off-road-ready Bronco Sport Badlands does more than enough for most people in a more modern and cheaper package. People’s requirements have changed, and the Cherokee no longer fits the bill the way it once did.

What 2023 Jeep Cherokee Model Should I Buy?

Which of the Jeep Cherokee trims you should buy depends very much on what you want to use it for. The Altitude Lux is well-equipped and more than off-road capable enough for the vast majority of people, but we simply cannot recommend it due to its weak engine. That leaves only the Trailhawk, which emphatically addresses the power problem, but comes with way more off-road chops than you may need — and at a higher price. If you don’t mind shelling out more than $40k for a compact SUV, the Cherokee Trailhawk is the real deal — a proper trail-rated Jeep that’s good at what Jeeps are known for, while being nice to drive and able to tow a decent load behind it. If you don’t need any of that, you’re better off with a Honda CR-V.

2023 Jeep Cherokee Popular Comparisons

The most popular competitors of 2023 Jeep Cherokee:

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2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Of Jeep’s many SUV offerings, none so effortlessly blends the brand’s off-road ethos with refined road manners quite like the Grand Cherokee. To accommodate every lifestyle, Jeep offers a wide variety of Grand Cherokee models, from the affordable Laredo to the classy Summit trim. The standard V-6 should suit most buyers’ needs, but for those who want a little more grunt, Jeep offers a potent 360-hp V-8. Those with adventure on their minds should consider the Trailhawk, which comes with a two-speed transfer case, an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential, hill-descent control, Kevlar-reinforced tires, and an air suspension that provides additional ground clearance. Inside, the Grand Cherokee offers a comfortable cabin with room for four adults over two rows of seats. A touchscreen infotainment system and plenty of connectivity features help the GC feel current, but Jeep’s driver-assistance tech is mostly optional, even though several of its rivals offer such features as standard. Looking for a third row of seats? Check out the Grand Cherokee L, which we review seperately.

What’s New for 2021?

With a new model coming for the 2022 model year, this iconic mid-size two-row off-roader receives only minor changes for 2021. An 80 th Anniversary Edition model based on the Limited trim level comes standard with all of the Grand Cherokee’s available driver-assistance features plus leather upholstery, Light Tungsten–colored interior accents, special 18-inch wheels, and 80 th Anniversary badging. A new Laredo X model joins the lineup and provides in-dash navigation, an 8.4-inch infotainment display, remote start, a power-operated liftgate, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The mid-range Limited trim now can be ordered with a Sun and Sound package consisting of a panoramic sunroof and a nine-speaker stereo, and the Limited X gains gloss-black exterior trim.

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2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review | What’s new, price, photos, fuel economy

Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee’s variety and overall excellence keep it competitive

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When Chrysler, or whatever they’re calling it these days, gets a vehicle right, it has no problem letting it ride for as long as possible. Updates and additions are the name of the game rather than clean-sheet redos. That’s exactly the case with 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which represents the 10th year of a generation that got things right from the very beginning. Timeless style, well-rounded on-road manners, real-deal off-road capability, and a broad array of diverse models have kept it fresh, distinctive and competitive ever since. Key updates have helped, too, though there’s been nothing significant in the past two years.

The result is a midsize SUV unlike any other. The Grand Cherokee can just as easily compete with suburban-bound midsize crossovers like the Chevrolet Blazer or VW Atlas Cross Sport as it can the off-road-warrior Toyota 4Runner, luxurious Land Rovers and Lincolns, or the ultra-high-performance BMW X5M.

Of course, there’s no escaping that the Grand Cherokee is indeed 10 years old. Its various subpar safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety definitely show its advanced age, while its interior materials, design and technology aren’t up to Chrysler’s latest standards seen in the Wrangler, Ram 1500, Chrysler Pacifica and, most notably, the all-new three-row 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Although that definitely previews what’s in store for the next-generation two-row version, it’s considered a separate model, so we’ll be reviewing that separately once we get a chance to drive it. So for now, this review covers the current two-row Grand Cherokee that remains competitive if a tad long in the tooth.

What’s new for 2021?

As the new three-row Grand Cherokee L is considered a separate model, there are no major changes for the regular, two-row ’21 Grand Cherokee. The new Laredo X (pictured above in the lead slide) adds some extra luxury features at a reasonable price to the standard Laredo and there’s an 80th Anniversary Edition, based on the Limited, which comes with dark gray trim inside and out along with special badging (obviously) and the ProTech II package of driver assistance tech. You know, just like the Jeeps G.I.’s drove 80 years ago.

What are the Grand Cherokee interior and in-car technology like?

The Grand Cherokee’s interior is a bit of a mixed bag. In top-level trims like the Summit, it’s swathed in luxurious leather and wood trim, and in SRT and Trackhawk guise, its heavily bolstered seats and track-focused technology package feel like they were borrowed from high-performance Challenger models (because they were). But Grand Cherokee Laredo models at the lower end of the spectrum can feel plasticky and bare – a natural result when the model line is stretched across seven trim levels plus special sub-trims and packages.

Most Grand Cherokees bought by consumers will fall into the middle of the range. A 7-inch screen featuring Jeep/Chrysler’s excellent Uconnect infotainment system is upgraded to 8.4 inches around the point the vehicle crosses the $40,000 price threshold. This system also includes, and performs well with, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

How big is the Grand Cherokee?

Size-wise, Jeep’s two-row midsize SUV is a bit of an odd duck. In terms of interior roominess, it lines up against style-first crossovers like the Chevy Blazer and Nissan Murano. In terms of functionality and likely cross-shoppers, the Toyota 4Runner is a better comparison, and the Grand Cherokee compares favorably with that SUV in headroom, shoulder room and legroom. However, its cargo space falls considerably behind the Toyota 4Runner, which also offers optional third-row seating.

In the real world, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee seats four adults in reasonable comfort and has adequate cargo space for that quartet to pack enough stuff for a week away. That said, buyers who plan to take extended road trips and/or put a priority on cargo space might be better served by the 4Runner as well as more spacious crossovers like the Honda Passport and the three-row Kia Telluride.

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