Ken Gratton•8 Aug 2014
REVIEW
Jeep Cherokee Sport 2014 Review
Distinctive looks will be just one of the hurdles facing Jeep's entry-level CherokeeJeep Cherokee Sport
Road Test
The catchcry for Jeep designers seems to be 'vive la difference'. They're unapologetic for the latest Cherokee's confronting style. The new SUV has finally reached Australia, fully 18 months after the first unflattering press pics of the new model washed up on the Internet. This entry-level model tested (priced at $33,500 plus on-road costs) lacks some of the niceties of its rivals – and that may now be more of a sticking point than its quirky styling, we suggest.
Most mid-sized SUVs priced above $30,000 drive through all four wheels. And even so, many undercut the front-wheel drive Cherokee Sport at entry level. The cheapest variant in the new Cherokee range lacks the V6 engine and the four-wheel drive of the other models in the range. More importantly, perhaps, it also lacks comfort and convenience features we've come to expect in rivals at around the same price.
Consider, for instance, the audible chime to alert you the headlights are still operating after the engine has been switched off – because the Cherokee doesn't feature auto-on/off headlights.
Or there's the ignition key lock barrel in the dash – without illumination, so you're left to flounder around in the dark finding it.
And there are no guidelines in the display for the reversing camera.
How about remote audio controls on the steering wheel? Cruise control, phone and trip computer switchgear can be found on the left and right spokes of the wheel, but not tuning, tracks or volume control for the audio system.
Furthermore, a graduated temperature scale for the climate control system is almost meaningless without numbers to represent degrees Celsius.
Yet the Cherokee is not without its charm. The styling that some will continue to hate will endear itself to others. For me it has an assertive, shark-like look, but the squared-off wheel arches still don't cut it. And despite the Cherokee Sport being front-wheel drive only, it came with a full-size spare on a standard alloy wheel, plus the projector beam headlights on low beam were very effective and shone well into the distance.
Inside, there was abundant head/knee and legroom in the rear, as yet another example. The seats were very comfortable, well shaped and trimmed in an interesting two-tone material that is both durable and stain-resistant. While the driving position was not perfect (could do with a footrest), it was pretty darn good.
The infotainment screen was tiny – and located an arm's length away from the driver in the centre fascia – but it delivered high-resolution graphics and simple, self-explanatory operation. Plus the audio system reproduced sound very well, and music could be sourced from Bluetooth, via a USB cable or from an SD card – which tends to compensate for the overlooked features listed above.
As a driving proposition the Cherokee Sport was frustrating and pleasing in equal parts. The brake pedal was firm to the point you could be excused for thinking the Jeep's braking performance was in a permanent state of fade. It took a while to get used to it, but once I was familiar with the system, the brakes proved strong and dependable whenever required. Stopping would have been more easily modulated too, if not for the automatic transmission.
Slowing to a halt the Cherokee felt like the engine was pushing the car forward against the brakes. This was likely a combination of the firm brake pedal and possibly a low-stall torque converter. The nine-speed automatic transmission turned out to be one of the more annoying units of its type encountered in recent times. It was slow to shift down and wouldn't change up at the redline, unless it was in a lower gear because you'd already kicked it down, in which case – and somewhat confusingly – it would select a higher gear.
Want a low gear for engine braking? Plan for the right gear a long way in advance, because like it or not you'll have to swap cogs four times. That's one of the glaring problems with having nine gears – and the transmission defaulting to the highest possible gear for reduced fuel consumption and low NVH. But the nine-speed automatic, which is a ZF design built under licence by Chrysler, was not satisfactory, even just dawdling around town. Leisurely acceleration was accompanied by a sickening lurch as the transmission shifted up a gear. How did it ever come to this – that a ZF transmission could be so ornery?
In mitigation of all that, however, many Cherokee owners may not even notice the transmission's unresolved issues. They are more likely to note the Jeep's firm ride quality, if they've traded in a Japanese or Korean SUV for the Cherokee.
There was some initial compliance over smaller bumps, and that's as likely as not due to the tyres rather than the suspension. Around town the Cherokee was no buckboard, however, and it did soak up some pretty hefty bumps out in the sticks.
Unexpectedly capable in corners, the Cherokee handled flatly and with a neutral attitude on a trailing throttle. Front-end grip was tenacious and body control was very good for a vehicle of this type, with the steering more communicative than the system in our long-term test X-TRAIL driven the week before.
The Cherokee's cornering ability was backed up by a decent turn of performance from the 2.4-litre petrol engine, which was refined but sporty sounding. It had a bit of a snarl to it and produced willing torque and power across the rev range up to its 6000rpm redline. Fuel consumption for the week was 12.0L/100km, which was nothing spectacular, given the X-TRAIL bettered that figure by a significant margin the week before – and did so with a slightly larger engine and extra drivetrain components.
So where does that leave the Cherokee Sport? Basically it shapes up as an interesting new entrant in the medium SUV segment. There's plenty to appreciate in its packaging and driveability – notwithstanding that it's let down by the automatic transmission – but it doesn't quite compare with rivals that offer more of what people want at a lower price.
2014 Jeep Cherokee Sport pricing and specifications:
Price: $33,500 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 137kW/232Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 193g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Tags
Jeep
Cherokee
Car Reviews
SUV
Family Cars
Written byKen Gratton
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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