DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Jeep tones down Cherokee

Jeep has revealed a heavily toned-down version of its controversial Cherokee as part of a midlife facelift that will make its global debut at next month's Detroit motor show.

As spy shots taken in mid-2017 indicated, the 2019 Cherokee eschews the current mid-size SUV’s polarising ‘double-decker’ front-end design for a more traditional corporate face.

Gone are the existing model’s super-narrow headlights stacked on top of larger fog lights; in their place are larger split-level headlights above smaller, more conventional fog lights – again flanking Jeep’s signature seven-slot grille.

From the four images released overnight it seems changes at the rear are less extensive, including a less fussy bumper with a cleaner look, while interior revisions appear almost non-existent.

No technical details were provided, Jeep saying only that the 2019 Cherokee “boasts a new, authentic and more premium design, along with even more fuel-efficient powertrain options”.

Therefore expect upgrades for the 2.4-litre four-cylinder and 3.2-litre six-cylinder engines when the new-look Cherokee arrives in Australia around the middle of next year.

Alternatively, Jeep could fit the next Wrangler’s new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine instead of, or as well as, the naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre powerplant.

It’s also been suggested a seven-seat version may materialise and there are also persistent rumours of a high-performance, road-oriented Trackhawk model to sit above the bush-focussed Trailhawk variant -- pictured here with black body cladding and red tow hooks.

Sales of the fifth-generation Cherokee have been lacklustre since its launch in 2014, with registrations slumping by more than 47 per cent Down Under so far in 2017.

To November this year Jeep Australia has sold fewer than 1000 Cherokees – in a segment that’s up more than 15 per cent thanks to the popularity of models like the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, all of which will notch up more than 20,000 sales this year.

Stand by for more details from the Detroit show on January 15.