The 2020 Jeep Cherokee is a compact SUV that mixes on-road manners with light trailblazing capabilities. While the Cherokee bears the rugged Jeep nameplate and has a few off-roading characteristics, it does not deliver the grunt of its larger Wrangler and Grand Cherokee siblings. It doesn’t crawl rocks, but its authentic Jeep off-road mechanicals give it a leg up against it top-selling opponents with adventurous aspirations such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. 

The Jeep Cherokee prefers the pavement but it does features light trailblazing skills way ahead of the competition. Jeep

When the fourth-generation Cherokee debuted for the 2014 model year, it wore a multitude of front lighting elements (headlights, turn signals and fog lights) in various housings located in different spots and presented a six-eyed face to the world. It looked odd. But in 2019, Jeep debuted a refresh of its Cherokee that featured a cleaner aesthetic. Now the Cherokee pleases the eye with short front and rear overhangs and the familiar Jeep family seven-slot grille. The squared-off wheel openings also echo the look and feel of the handsome Grand Cherokee. 

The current Cherokee is offered in eight different trims that suit varying needs and stay under a $40,000 price point (before layering on any extra packages). There are three engine choices: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine standard in lower trims; a 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 in the top trims; and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo available across most of the lineup. All engines are paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The Cherokee Trailhawk rugged styling make clear that it’s the most capable of the bunch. It’s equipped with off-road suspension, bigger tires, locking differential and the larger 3.2-liter V6 engine that boosts towing capacity to 4,500 pounds. Jeep

Five of the trims come with a standard front-wheel drivetrain and optional four-wheel-drive. The blacked-out Upland and more capable Trailhawk and Trailhawk Elite trims are only offered in 4×4. The pricey Limited sports higher-end chrome detailing and has the choice of an upgraded nine-speed automatic when configured as a 4×4 with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo.

The Limited and Trailhawk Elite sit at the top of the range, but the mid-grade Trailhawk layers on extra capability such as off-road suspension, bigger tires and locking differential. It also gets the 3.2-liter V6 engine and features more rugged styling, including red tow hooks in the front and rear. The larger V6 engine also boosts towing capacity to 4,500 pounds. Compared with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder under the hood of most of the Cherokee trims, the V6 offers more torque at low engine speeds for grunt off the line and immediate passing power. That’s because the smaller engine is paired to a reluctant nine-speed transmission and suffers from excessive turbo. 

The Cherokee’s 27.6 cubic-feet of cargo space is an improvement over the previous generation, but still falls short of its top-selling rivals, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4. Jeep

The nine-speed transmission—used in all Cherokee trims—pauses too long until it wakes up with a downshift. This is a common complaint and Jeep (and its parent Fiat Chrysler) have not been able to improve it despite its several-years-long run on the market. However, it works fine off-road, which is another benefit of selecting the Trailhawk.

The Cherokee’s cabin offers decent legroom in the front seats though the adjustable steering wheel doesn’t offer enough adaptability. Meanwhile, the rear seat is only moderately spacious. Other compact SUVs like Honda’s CR-V offer more rear seat legroom and headroom. The Cherokee’s high windowsills make the interior feel more cramped than it actually is, especially in the back seat. The Cherokee’s cargo space was boosted to 27.6 cubic-feet as part of the 2019 makeover, but it’s still well shy of the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4’s which offer 39 and 37 cubic-feet, respectively.

The Cherokee’s large 8.4 touchscreen runs the intuitive Uconnect4 infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board. Jeep

The Cherokee’s optional large 8.4 touchscreen that runs the intuitive Uconnect4 infotainment system remains one of the easiest to use in the class and the industry. Menus and prompts are instantly decipherable. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility also are standard across the range. 

The Cherokee garnered top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, with a Top Safety Pick rating. Adding a safety tech package that includes adaptive cruise control, brake assist and automatic high beams is available on the Trailhawk and higher trims for $1,595.