After a 10-year hiatus, the American automaker finally pulled the cover off the latest Jeep Cherokee Limited at the 2013 Detroit Auto show, putting an end to speculations about its new striking silhouette, well-appointed interior and improved engine efficiency. Cosmetically, the new off-roader took a radical-styling direction, swapping the Jeep Liberty’s old boxy styling for softer and more fluid lines. A sporty undertone runs uninterrupted from Jeep’s trademark seven-slot one-piece hood grille to the rear bumper. Also available in Singapore is the Trail Rated 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk edition, which comes in exclusive exterior and interior colours, Jeep signature red front tow hooks, and skid plates for a more rugged appearance.
Inside, the Jeep Cherokee is equally impressive with up-market styling options including the premium quality nappa leather seats designed with ergonomic sensibility, leather-wrapped steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and wireless charging pad. The 60/40 split second-row seats adjust fore and aft for increased passenger comfort and cargo flexibility.
At the heart of the off-roader are two efficient and high-performance engine variants -16-valve 2.4-litre MultiAir 2 Tigershark I-4 engine (comes standard in the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee) and 3.2-litre Pentastar V-6 engine. The 2.4-litre engine produces 184hp with 171 lb.-ft. of torque and a driving range on a tank of gasoline of 800km – an improved fuel economy of up to 7.5 per cent. The 3.2-litre Pentastar V-6 engine on the other hand produces 271hp with 239 lb.-ft. of torque of torque to achieve a 30 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the outgoing V-6 engine.
The compact crossover/SUV category is a burgeoning segment of the market. The industry has seen an increasing number of competent entries from around the globe. Whether it is too late in the game for Jeep to put a dent in this competitive segment now depends on the response at the showroom. So far, brand loyalists and critics are giving it a thumbs-up!
