Dealmaker: Unrivaled Off-Road Chops

The Cherokee is one of the only compact SUVs to offer a legit off-road model, and it’s called the Trailhawk. This vehicle has standard 4×4 with Active Drive Lock, basically Active Drive II with a locking rear differential that helps you claw over rocks and roots alike. Though it doesn’t have the silky smooth ride of the the rest of the lineup, its off-road capability is undeniable. Besides, if you’re in the market for such a vehicle, you’ll likely expect the off-road models to ride rough. The Trailhawk is quite a beast.

Dealmaker: The Tech, But Not the Scores

There are two major safety organizations that test road cars and publish scores. They are the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). NHTSA scores vehicles out of five stars, while the IIHS scores on a scale of Poor, Marginal, Acceptable, and Good. Additionally, the IIHS offers “Top Safety Pick” recommendations, as well as “Top Safety Pick +” for vehicles with advanced crash avoidance and mitigation features.

The IIHS also affixes a crash avoidance technology rating for vehicles. Top Safety Pick+ vehicles have “Superior” crash avoidance ratings, mid-range scores are “Advanced,” and the minimum crash prevention tech is considered “Basic.” If a vehicle is not a Top Safety Pick+, we’ll include any subsequent crash prevention technology.

Crash Test Safety: Four Stars

The Jeep Cherokee earns a Four Star overall crash test rating from NHTSA, putting it in the middle of the pack for the safest vehicles from a crash test standpoint.

Crossover    NHTSA Overall Crash Results
Toyota RAV4    5 Star
Subaru Forester    5 Star
Ford Escape    5 Star
Hyundai Tucson    5 Star
Kia Sportage    5 Star
Nissan Rogue    4 Star
Jeep Cherokee    4 Star
Honda CR-V    N/A
Mazda CX-5    N/A
’18 Chevrolet Equinox    N/A
’18 GMC Terrain    N/A
The lead pack consists of the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage as 5 Star crash-test vehicles. Right behind that lead pack is the Jeep Cherokee, earning a 4 Star crash test rating, and is joined by the Nissan Rogue. The Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and 2018 GMC Terrain are all so new that they have not been tested by NHTSA. When these vehicles have been tested, we will update our safety tables accordingly.

IIHS Test Results

Crossover           IIHS Results/Awards
Toyota RAV4       Top Safety Pick+
Nissan Rogue      Top Safety Pick+
Subaru Forester   Top Safety Pick+
Hyundai Tucson   Top Safety Pick (Superior)
Kia Sportage        Top Safety Pick (Superior)
Jeep Cherokee     None (Superior)
Ford Escape        None (Basic)
Honda CR-V         N/A
Mazda CX-5         N/A
’18 Chevrolet Equinox    N/A
’18 GMC Terrain            N/A
The Cherokee does not earn a Top Safety Pick accolade, however its crash prevention technology is rated as “Superior.” But the Cherokee falls behind the group of vehicles that earn a Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. The Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and 2018 GMC Terrain are all so new that they have not been tested by NHTSA. When these vehicles have been tested, we will update our safety tables accordingly.

The Cherokee comes standard with front and side impact airbags, LATCH child seat anchoring system, hill start assist, and electronic stability control. It does not come standard with a rear view camera, which is disappointing.

Crossover    IIHS Results/Awards
Toyota RAV4      Top Safety Pick+
Nissan Rogue     Top Safety Pick+
Subaru Forester   Top Safety Pick+
Hyundai Tucson   Top Safety Pick (Superior)
Kia Sportage        Top Safety Pick (Superior)
Jeep Cherokee     None (Superior)
Ford Escape        None (Basic)
Honda CR-V         N/A
Mazda CX-5         N/A
’18 Chevrolet Equinox    N/A
’18 GMC Terrain            N/A
The Cherokee does not earn a Top Safety Pick accolade, however its crash prevention technology is rated as “Superior.” But the Cherokee falls behind the group of vehicles that earn a Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. The Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and 2018 GMC Terrain are all so new that they have not been tested by NHTSA. When these vehicles have been tested, we will update our safety tables accordingly.

The Cherokee comes standard with front and side impact airbags, LATCH child seat anchoring system, hill start assist, and electronic stability control. It does not come standard with a rear view camera, which is disappointing.

Safety Tech: A Full Array of Safety

The Cherokee is available with forward collision warning and avoidance, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, blind spot monitoring system, and front and rear parking sensors. The Cherokee also has one of the best self-parking setups available in the compact SUV segment, allowing for both parallel and perpendicular self-parking.

Reliability: Falling Behind

The Cherokee is one of the worst scorers when it comes to J.D. Power Predicted Reliability scores. This score is given if Vehicle Dependability Studies are not available for that vehicle. It earns just 2.5 out of 5 bubbles, which puts it between “About Average” and “The Rest,” which is quite low for this segment.

Tiebreakers: Comparing the Jeep Cherokee to the Competition

The Cherokee is one of the few options in the compact SUV market that still hold true to the “SUV” part of the name. It has a strong engine and available off-road capabilities. It is also one of the most luxurious options in the segment, but where does it stack up compared to its rivals? Read on to find out.

Ford Escape (MSRP $23,750-$31,000)

The Escape is one of the performance-oriented and upscale options. It has sharp handling, strong turbocharged engines, and an upscale cabin. It also has great SYNC3 infotainment technology. But its cabin lacks the storage options.

Ford Escape vs Jeep Cherokee:
• Tight handling and strong engines (Certain Cherokee models have good handling)
• Impressive SYNC3 infotainment (Uconnect still better)
• Strong fuel economy on certain engines (Cherokee lacking in MPG)

Learn more about the Ford Escape here.

Nissan Rogue (MSRP $$23,820-$31,310)

The Rogue pushes the definition of “compact,” with three rows of seating, tons of cargo space, and plenty of cabin space for occupants. The Rogue also has a smooth ride, and is one of the few options in this segment with a hybrid variant.

Nissan Rogue vs Jeep Cherokee:
• Only three-row compact crossover
• Large cargo area (Cherokee has tight cargo area)
• Rogue Hybrid Option (No hybrid option on Cherokee)

Learn more about the Nissan Rogue here.

Subaru Forester (MSRP $22,595-$34,295)

The Forester is one of the most affordable options in the compact SUV segment. And you get a lot for that low starting price. It has standard all-wheel drive, some of the most cargo space and passenger space in the class, and outstanding visibility. You can also get the fantastic EyeSight safety technology system.

Subaru Forester vs Jeep Cherokee:
• Low starting price (Cherokee can get pricey)
• Large, upright cargo area (Cherokee lacking in cargo)
• Standard all-wheel drive (Subaru only to offer standard AWD)

Learn more about the Subaru Forester here.

Toyota RAV4 (MSRP $24,910-$36,150)

The RAV4 has a good reputation for reliability, easy-to-use infotainment, and is even available as a hybrid mode. The RAV4 also has plenty of rear seat space, making it a great option for carpooling.

Toyota RAV4 vs Jeep Cherokee:
• Standard high-tech safety gear (need to shell out for safety tech)
• RAV4 Hybrid model (No Cherokee Hybrid option)
• Surprisingly spacious rear seats (Cherokee has tight rear seats)

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