Cherokee delivers smooth V-6 power
Extroverted Trailhawk boasts look that stands out from a crowded sport-utility field
It must be galling to Jeep to see almost every auto manufacturer essentially overrun the sport-utility market with soft-riding, car-based crossovers.
The Wrangler (nee CJ, YJ, TJ, etc.) has many fans, and ditto the Grand Cherokee. I respect them both. But when it comes to the Cherokee, I’ve been a confirmed fence-sitter. Frontwheel-drive “Sport?” Seriously? The 4x4 versions powered by the 2.4-litre MultiAir four-cylinder? Nope! Even the turbo 2.0-L four — an engine configuration popular with numerous automakers — leaves me cold, though its 270 horsepower and 295 poundfeet of torque numbers are impressive.
Yet unlike the bulk of its softer competition, there’s a rare V-6 option for the Cherokee: the 3.2-L Pentastar. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic and puts out a robust 271 hp and an adequate 239 lb-ft of torque. Call me old school, but I like smooth, easy, uncomplicated power. The Pentastar feels right at home, especially in the Trailhawk, the most macho and off-road-capable of the eight trim levels offered.
The V-6-powered Jeep’s acceleration won’t leave you breathless. In Trailhawk trim, the rig weighs 1,928 kilograms, so it takes about 8.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. By comparison, the significantly lighter Mazda CX-5, with its optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-L four-cylinder engine, will accomplish the same feat in a tick over six seconds. The Mazda is a sporty soft-roader, though, while the Trailhawk is burly and capable. It can also tow up to 4,500 lbs.
I’m drawn to the extroverted look of the Trailhawk, or at least my tester ($41,795 before options) with its bright, bold Spitfire Orange paint job, the matte-black hood topping, the black plastic moulding, the tow hooks, and the aggressive Firestone Destination A/T tires. Jeep certifies the Trailhawk as “Trail Rated,” meaning it will tackle off-road trails that will leave much of its competition marooned. Its 4x4 setup comes with the Selec-Terrain traction-control system, complete with a nifty console-mounted controller that allows up to five customized settings of Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud, and Rock.
With this tough look, it might be expected the Trailhawk will deliver a rough driving experience. Yet, unless you expect Lexus-like solitude and smoothness, everything comes together fairly cohesively.
Yes, it has legit off-road bona fides, but it is still a carbased sport ute, with a ride that’s firm but forgiving enough to absorb the impacts of potholes and frost heaves without punishing driver or passengers. And its handling, with well weighted steering — albeit a little wooden in the feedback department — is competitive with most of its rivals.
Even with automatic stop/ start, fuel economy isn’t the Trailhawk’s strength among other crossovers in its class, not with its V-6 and stout weight. NRCan rates the Jeep at 12.9 L/100 km in the city, and 9.7 on the highway. I averaged a far thirstier 14.6 L/100 during my week with the sport ute, with a 50/50 mix of highway and city commuting.
The dash area is laid out simply and logically, with the major controls front and centre. The optional 8.4-inch Uconnect multimedia screen dominates the middle portion, controlling the audio, climate, navigation, Bluetooth, heated/ventilated seats, and more. It’s extremely user friendly, with large, easyto-read graphics.
A reworking of the Cherokee’s list of standard features for 2021 sees the Trailhawk add a heated steering wheel as well as heated front seats, along with remote start and windshield wiper de-icer. The list of standard safety and security features also gets upgraded to include blindspot monitoring and rear cross-path detection, fullspeed forward-collision warning with active braking, LaneSense lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and rain-sensing wipers.
The tester was generously kitted with about $7,500 worth of bundled options to make life simpler, more comfortable, and more comprehensively connected. Personally, the only option I would choose is what FCA calls Uconnect 4C NAV with 8.4inch display, for $920. This includes a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, SiriusXM Guardian subscription, SiriusXM Travel Link, SiriusXM Traffic, OffRoad Information Pages, and GPS navigation.
Those occupying the front seats won’t have much to complain about, with plenty of headroom and legroom. That said, and because I happen to be particularly leggy, I found the optional leather-covered, ventilated bucket seats (part of the $2,295 Customer Preferred Package 27L) a little skimpy in their thigh support. Also, I had my seat back in its tracks, which would seriously compromise the knee- and legroom of anyone occupying the rear seat.
There’s a usable 782 L of cargo space with the 60/40split rear seats in their upright position. With both seats folded flat, luggage capacity increases to 1,549 L.
To say the compact crossover segment is crowded and competitive would be an understatement, but there is a sameness, an interchangeability to the top sellers. The Cherokee, in Trailhawk garb, is far more distinct, bolder, and has trail-conquering Jeep machismo and smooth V-6 power.