Driving the Jeep Cherokee over some of the roughest terrain the UK has to offer was a boon. The latest Jeep Cherokee was so good that the PR team hitched a caravan onto the Jeep to see how it would perform with that.
The rounded shape has been ditched and the Jeep boffins have returned to the more traditional boxy design. The die-hard fans are now once again happy as the iconic 4x4 has returned to its original shape.
On sale from September, the new Cherokee will have a starting price of £24,495 in the UK and you’ll be surprised at how much the car has changed both on the interior and exterior.
Interior of the Jeep Cherokee
Move to the inside and you’ll see that there is plenty of space in the rear for two adults and you could squeeze another in the middle if you’re on a short journey.
Loading the 4x4 should be a breeze as the boot is a great size and to add to the flexibility, there’s the standard 60/40 split fold-flat rear seats. For awkward items the front passenger seat also folds flat while the rear seats have a recline feature. This should enhance the comfort for those in the rear.
Build Quality of the Latest 4x4 From Jeep
Impressive! For 2008 the Cherokee has been updated. Nice touches include brushed aluminium on the dash, although the majority does look a bit drab as there is too much grey for some tastes.
However, Jeep has used quality materials on the seats and the plastics do look durable and all the shut lines fit neatly together and the doors shut with a quality-sounding thud.
Diesel Engine Powers Our Test Car
Our test car was powered by a 2.8-litre CRD diesel engine, which has an output of 174PS. The Cherokee drove brilliantly off-road. While on road the 4x4 behaved well and felt more suitted to tarmac roads than the previous generation.
The performance figures are respectable for this size of vehicle – Jeep claims the Cherokee with the Auto ‘box will get from zero to 62mph in 10.5 seconds while it has a top speed of 111mph.
However, a downside is that the oil burner feels a bit sluggish when moving off, there seems to be not enough oooomph when pulling away from stand-still but once in motion the 460Nm of maximum torque will get you past the majority of slow moving traffic.
Jeep Cherokee Performs Well Both On and Off-Road
Surprisingly, the new Cherokee has a well weighted steering as this is not common for 4x4's, it complements the car and makes it a pleasant motorway cruiser however it can be buffeted by side winds which can be off-putting.
Over B-roads the 4x4 works well and it doesn’t roll in corners compared to some of its rivals.
Take the new Jeep Cherokee off road and you’ll be wowed at what the American icon can do.
Our test route included ‘normal’ roads, rivers and off-road trails.
Cherokee Comes with New Hill Descent Control Sytsem
One of the best inclusions on the Cherokee is the new Hill Descent Control Sytsem. It’s so good we used it to help us pull a caravan weighing 750kg across rough terrain. The Hill Descent Control Sytsem is a brilliant piece of engineering it gives you superb downhill and uphill control in low traction conditions – You can stop anywhere on a hill, and the Jeep will pull away when in Hill Descent mode
The boffins have even made it 'fool proof '- if you accidentally put the gear stick into neutral or reverse, the Hill Descent Control Sytsem will still work and get you safely up or down the terrain you’re on.
Safety Features Include ABS and Multiple Airbags
Not happy with just that Jeep has made surer that safety is high on the new Cherokee as it has fitted All speed traction control, and ABS with ESP all as standard. The ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and the ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) should help you get stopped quickly and in a controlled manner when needed.
On the inside there’s multiple airbags - a pair of airbags up front for the driver and the passenger and there are also side curtain airbags. The car we had on test had the new Sky Slider which is optional and costs an extra £950. This option offers a full canvas roof that opens and closes at the flick of a switch – a neat addition to the gizmo’s on the Cherokee.
Jeep claims the Cherokee will return 31.4 on the combined cycle with the auto ‘box. The 4x4 emits 242g/km of CO2 emission which again is quite healthy for a car of this size.
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