Jeep Cherokee Limited 2018 Review

You have got to have some sympathy for the folks at FCA Australia. Having put up with the Jeep Cherokee medium SUV’s polarizing looks for four years, it finally gets its hands on a much more orthodox facelift, throws a heap of equipment at it, keeps the pricing pretty much stationary and launches it to the media.

And on that very day, a product safety recall is issued by the ACCC for the Jeep Cherokee weeks before it even goes on sale on October 1. As if we need reminding of the US off-road brand’s dubious reputation for reliability that’s undermined sales for years now.

It’s not like the local arm of Jeep builds the Cherokee, or has control over the timing of a warranty recall. And it’s not like it hasn’t tried to repair its image, introducing a five-year warranty, lifetime roadside assist and capped price servicing, as well as a bunch of backroom initiatives to improve customer relations and dealer service. Yep, it’s a shit sandwich and Jeep Australia is chowing down.

Get past the distasteful entre and the updated Cherokee is indeed a better looking and better value offering than its predecessor.

We’ve gone through the fundamentals of the Cherokee’s overhaul at its Detroit motor show reveal last January driven it in the USA and detailed the local model line-up here.

But in essence, the four-model Sport, Longitude Limited and Trailhawk line-up remains the same, as do the drivetrains: 2.4-litre, front-wheel drive, nine-speed auto in the Sport; 3.2-litre V6 Active Drive I on-demand all-wheel drive, nine-speed auto in the Longitude and Limited; and V6, Active Drive II 4x4 with low range and diff lock, nine-speed auto in the Trailhawk.

A significantly boosted standard safety pack led by AEB is the biggest equipment change, while the latest fourth generation Uconnect infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Jeep estimates content value is up a minimum $3500 (Trailhawk), while pricing rises no more than $1000 (Limited) or drops as much as $1500 (Trailhawk again). The entry-level Sport holds its pricing at $35,950.

Here we’re focusing on the Limited, which adds a claimed $6500 in content, while rising just $1000 from $45,950 to $46,950.

If you examine the Cherokee range in comparison with its rivals you can see it marches to the beat of its own drum. There’s no entry model at or below $30,000, no turbocharged engines, no diesel, no third-row seating.

Jeep argues seven-seaters are worth about 25 per cent of the segment, so it’s not a mortal wound for Cherokee. Still you’d rather one than not, surely – we’ll have to wait for one of the other emerging options, I guess.

There are turbo engines available with Cherokee and an Alfa-sourced 2.0-litre petrol is the most likely for Australia, although it would cost more than the V6. Diesel has been tried and failed but isn’t entirely off the agenda.

And the pricing? Jeep argues it doesn’t want to do a base model where the safety gear would probably be optional and it also doesn’t want to cut across the smaller Compass, which is priced from $28,850.

On the flipside, Cherokee’s the only vehicle in the segment that offers serious off-roading ability, courtesy of the Trailhawk. Jeep estimates that models delivers about 10 per cent of Cherokee sales, or in 2017 terms, about 105 per year.

Learn more about the next-generation Jeep Cherokee

No point delivering a weighty dissertation about the styling of the new Cherokee. Personally, I think it’s better, but then you don’t have to look at the front-end from the driver’s seat… Speaking of which; the Cherokee drive experience is only marginally changed from its predecessor with some incremental firming of the independent suspension, which is attached to a car-like monocoque platform.

The Limited weighs in (tare) at 1806kg so it sits pretty heavy on the road. The ride quality is acceptable, tending to smother out the smaller inputs while getting a bit noisy and reactive on the bigger hits. Body control is decent, the steering weighty and handling tight and responsive enough to get along neatly.

Transfer to the Trailhawk with an off-road suspension tune, more travel and taller sidewall tyres and the whole things gets a bit more wobbly and softer-riding. Go seriously off-road and this model can conquer just about any challenge aside from Mt Ridiculous.

The Limited and the rest of the range are frankly more suited to gravel roads and bitumen than traditional Jeep territory.

With the Pentastar V6 engine producing its 315Nm torque peak at a high 4300rpm, there is plenty of emphasis on engine revs and obvious gearchanges when looking for performance.

I’d be disinclined to rev the engine toward its redline near 7000rpm given it starts making plenty of noise and some vibration from 5000rpm onwards. Nor is the torque number strong, so performance feels a bit thin.

Lower the revs and the expectations and things make more sense because step-in throttle response is crisp and engine behaviour quieter and smoother. The 10.1L/100km claimed fuel consumption figure is a worry though, as its likely to spiral upwards in the real word.

The cabin of the new Cherokee Limited is a lot like the old Cherokee. The Uconnect system is updated, but the touch screen remains the same 8.4-inch unit in the Limited.
Controls are broadly familiar, which means a combination of analogue and digital displays in the instrument panel and no shortage of buttons and dials spread across the steering wheel and dashboard. The easily locatable USB input on the centre console gets a big thumbs up.

There’s some piano black trim that makes things seem that bit more upmarket.

Storage is good around the cabin and controllable air-conditioning vents are mounted in the centre console for rear-seat passengers with two USB ports below them.

Seating is a mixed bag. There is a noticeable lack of support from the front buckets, which are also pretty soft. But in the rear you sit nice and high with a good view out. Space in the rear is also good, apart from headroom for 180cm-plus passengers because of the $2200 optional panoramic sunroof fitted to the test car.

The rear seat is 60/40 split folding and slides fore-aft. Boot space has been improved from 697 to 781 litres with row two in place, but drops from 1555 to 1549 litres with it down. Jeep Australia doesn’t know why that drop has happened and has promised to find out. When we get the answer, we’ll update this review.

Jeep’s done a good job updating the Cherokee. Some flaws have been addressed and the improvement in safety equipment is commendable.

But the big V6 is marching out of step with modern motoring and the Cherokee really does need a seven-seat option – especially now that the smaller Compass is in the market.

And then there’s that underlying issue of reliability and build quality. As Jeep itself knows, some mud just sticks.

How much does the 2018 Jeep Cherokee Limited cost?
Price: $46,950 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrol
Output: 200kW/315Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed auto
Fuel: 9.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 228g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)