Used 2023 Jeep Cherokee

The 2023 Jeep Cherokee is the iconic brand’s offering in compact SUVs. It aims to deliver true Jeep character in the form of a practical SUV that you can drive every day. The Cherokee achieves this goal, but it hasn’t received a full redesign since this generation came out in 2014, and it’s showing its age. It’s down to just two trims for the 2023 model year, one of which is the rugged Trailhawk model.

The compact SUV segment is full of good alternatives, even if you’re looking for a good off-roader with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). We recommend cross-shopping the Cherokee with the Subaru Forester, Ford Bronco Sport, and Mazda CX-50.

In our testing, driving the Cherokee with the base engine was uneventful. Even if rip-roaring performance isn’t a priority for you, the power from the standard engine is a bit sluggish. We had to be patient when getting on an on-ramp or passing in traffic with this engine. The 9-speed automatic transmission works okay, but we found it a bit slow to shift sometimes.

The driving character changes when you upgrade to the Cherokee Trailhawk with the turbocharged engine. We noted a significant improvement in performance with quicker acceleration and more confidence on the highway. It uses the same occasionally imprecise transmission as the base engine, but again, it gets the job done.

Where the Cherokee shines is in off-road driving. The standard Altitude Lux is suitable for light off-roading like any SUV with all-wheel drive, but the Trailhawk is the star of the show. We genuinely enjoyed taking the Cherokee Trailhawk off-road thanks to its extra inch of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, and Active Drive Lock AWD system with Rock mode.

Although the Cherokee Trailhawk is undoubtedly a good off-roader, it’s not alone in the niche of compact SUVs with serious off-road chops. The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands can give the Trailhawk a run for its money with lower starting prices.

The inside of the Jeep Cherokee is reasonably comfortable and well-appointed. Still, we can’t help but wish we were sitting in one of its more modern rivals or the recently redesigned Grand Cherokee. The cabin is functional, if a bit unrefined, and it’s generous with standard features like navigation and heated seats helping to justify its lofty starting price.

The seating space in the Cherokee is about average for this class. We found decent legroom in the back for adults, so these seats are plenty accommodating for kids. However, the cargo space is tight for an SUV in this class.

Since it hasn’t been fully redesigned in almost a decade, the aesthetic of the Jeep Cherokee is getting a little stale compared to newer competitors. That said, it has that rugged Jeep attitude thanks to squared wheel arches and the iconic seven-slat grille. The Trailhawk trim adds a taller stance, skid plates, red tow hooks, and black wheels.

Standard AWD
The Cherokee lives up to the off-road credentials of the Jeep brand with standard all-wheel drive on every model. It’s great for snowy roads and ready for adventure when the pavement ends.

Rugged Trailhawk model
The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is a versatile SUV that blends on-road comfort and off-road capability with little compromise. Off-road features include the Jeep Active Drive Lock AWD system with a 2-speed transfer case and Rock mode, extra ground clearance, an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and skid plates.

Available turbo engine
The turbocharged engine powering the Trailhawk model brings a significant boost in performance over the base trim. The extra power and quicker acceleration make it fun to drive on-road and off.

Lux Elite Package
The Lux Elite Package available for the Altitude Lux trim makes the Cherokee a more premium SUV with a sunroof, a hands-free power liftgate, a memory driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, and an Alpine premium audio system.

Premium Leather Package
The Cherokee Trailhawk gets nicer with the available Premium Leather Package. It adds leather seats, as you may have guessed from the name, plus ventilated front seats, a memory package, and a hands-free power liftgate.

Uconnect 4C infotainment system
The Cherokee boasts one of our favorite infotainment systems in this segment. The standard Uconnect 4C system has an intuitive 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The base Altitude Lux trim is powered by a 4-cylinder engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s a bit underpowered compared to most of this segment. Although it’s the more fuel-efficient choice in the Cherokee lineup, we’re unimpressed with the fuel economy.

Jeep replaced the old V6 in the Cherokee Trailhawk with a punchy turbocharged 4-cylinder. It brings a significant upgrade in performance with only a slight fuel economy penalty. At $3 per gallon, the much more powerful Trailhawk only costs an additional $13 more per month at the pump. This is a big part of what makes us recommend the Trailhawk over the Altitude Lux if it works for your budget.

The turbo engine in the Trailhawk uses the same transmission as the base engine. The Cherokee Trailhawk boasts a best-in-class tow rating of 4,000 pounds when equipped with the optional Trailer Tow Group.

Cherokee Altitude Lux
2.4-liter 4-cylinder
180 hp @ 6,400 rpm
171 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy: 21/29/24 mpg

Cherokee Trailhawk
2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
270 hp @ 5,250 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy: 20/26/22 mpg

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Jeep Cherokee is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is par for the course in this class.