2015 Jeep Cherokee Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The re-emergence of the Cherokee brand for the 2014 model year officially ended Jeep’s ill-starred romance with its disappointing Liberty...

The re-emergence of the Cherokee brand for the 2014 model year officially ended Jeep’s ill-starred romance with its disappointing Liberty offering. The 2015 version of this ultra-capable 5-seat compact sport ute is slated to maintain its next-gen profile, posh and power, with new engine stop/start capability tossed in this coming year for some added fuel efficiency out of the available V6 powerplant.

Trims, meanwhile, are expected to remain the base Sport, the up-featured Latitude, the ruggedly handsome and terrain-taming Trailhawk and the top-shelf Limited. Again all trims except the Trailhawk will be delivered with standard front-wheel drive (FWD), with a pair of 4-wheel drivetrains (4WD) proffered as optional equipment. The Trailhawk, in keeping with its rock-climbing nature, comes only with 4WD.

Said 4WD systems, by the way, can be had in either the all-wheel-drive-like Active Drive I or the more bushwhacking Active Drive II offering. The former is an automated system that cruises in FWD while standing ready to throw torque from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip on slippery roadways. The latter configuration remains a traditional part-time 4-wheel drivetrain flaunting a 2-speed transfer case and locking rear differential. Active Drive I is again delivered standard on all trims but the Trailhawk, which of course boasts standard Active Drive II. The more off-road-oriented Active Drive II is again optional for those other trims, while each 4WD system is slated to return boasting driver-selectable Auto, Snow, Sport and Sand/Mud modes. The Trailhawk, meantime, adds a Rock mode to the list, as well as standard hill descent control.

The standard powertrain for the 2015 Cherokee lineup once again consists of a 184-hp 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine and Jeep’s unique 9-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Look for 171 lb-ft of torque from this rather tame 4-banger, with mileage numbers expected to again run 22 mpg city/31 highway in FWD versions and 21/28 in 4WD trims.

Optional for all Cherokee iterations but the base Sport trim is a competently potent 3.2-liter V6 powerplant that again sports the 9-speed shiftable automatic to manage 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque. Mileage numbers in 2014 were a tepid 19/27 with the Active Drive I 4WD configuration, but the aforementioned auto engine stop/start technology (driver-selectable) is expected to bump those numbers up a bit (about 3%) for 2015 trims with any drivetrain. Oh, and installing the available tow package allows this peppy 6-banger to haul up to 4,500 pounds of trailer.

Looking to appearance, comfort and convenience bling, depending on the trim selected, this trail-savvy ute boasts 17- or 18-inch steel or alloy wheels, cloth or leather upholstery, full power accessories, reclining rear seats, air conditioning, cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering. An AM/FM stereo with 6 speakers and auxiliary audio input comes standard in the lower trims, as does Bluetooth hands-free technology, and all of it continues to be integrated into Chrysler/Jeep’s popular Uconnect 5.0 touchscreen display.

Higher trims, meanwhile, sport such additional luxuries as roof rails and a folding front passenger seat that adds a few extra cubes to the somewhat cramped 54.9 cubic feet of cargo space available with the rear seats folded. Expect higher Cherokee trims to also add stuff like Uconnect 8.4 (with satellite radio and an 8.4-inch display), a rear-view camera, heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat to the inventory of standard features, along with dual-zone climate control and keyless entry/ignition.

In keeping with its terrain-taming moniker, the 2015 Cherokee Trailhawk dons many of the posh-factor-enhancing bells and whistles delivered with the Latitude and Limited trims, as well as adding skid plates, 17-inch extra-wide all-terrain tires, beefier suspension tuning and unique exterior and interior appointments and badges.

As is traditional, lower Cherokee trims remain eligible for much of the standard equipment in higher trims as options, while a couple of packages add extras like a power rear liftgate, ventilated front seats, hard-drive-based navigation and premium leather upholstery. Remote engine start is also available to all Cherokees except the Sport, as are a pair of power sunroof configurations.

Safety-wise, look for all 2015 Cherokee variations to again boast 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, side-mounted and head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection and a post-collision safety system. Additionally, the Latitude and higher variants are again slated for standard daytime running lights and front fog/driving lights, while the Limited and Trailhawk editions will doubtless return with a remote antitheft alarm. Select the upper-echelon Limited or the Trailhawk trims, finally, and become eligible for the available Technology Package with forward-collision alert and lane-departure warnings, as well as blind-spot and rear cross-path monitoring.