2014 Jeep Cherokee unveiled

Jeep has revealed the new Cherokee ahead of the 2013 New York Auto Show. Built on the Fiat Group’s modular platform, the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee has a radical aerodynamic front end that is unlike any other SUV at the moment. 

To be launched with four variants on offer namely Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk, the 2014 Cherokee will be available with three different types of 4x4 systems and two engine options as of now. 

With the 2014 Cherokee, it looks like Jeep is aiming to spread the model range across a wide price band. The entry-level model will come with fewer equipment and luxuries such as cloth upholstery, manually adjustable seats, a 3.5-inch greyscale screen instrument cluster that displays vehicle information to the driver and a separate 5-inch LCD screen that displays the infotainment system’s status on the centre console, etc. Standard safety features include 10 airbags, ABS and stability control. 

Top-of-the-line models will feature leather upholstery, a park assist system, electrically adjustable seats, heated and cooled seats, a 7-inch colour instrument cluster and an 8.4-inch LCD screen for the infotainment system to name a few. 

Chrysler’s Adaptive Cruise Control Plus system that has made its debut in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, which can bring the vehicle to a complete halt using radar and video input and without driver input is also a feature worth mentioning. 

The new Jeep Cherokee will initially be introduced in international markets with a choice of two petrol engines, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine developing 186PS of power and a new 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine developing 274PS of power. Both engines will be mated to a nine speed automatic gearbox. 

The three different types of all-wheel drive system are classified into Active Drive I, Active Drive II and Active Drive Lock. 

The Active Drive I system that will be available on Sport, Latitude and Limited variants, has a single power transfer unit capable of shifting from 2WD to 4WD mode at any speed. This system negates oversteer and understeer during dynamic driving conditions. 

The Active Drive II system will be available on Sport, Latitude and Limited variants, has a two speed power transfer unit with torque management and low range allowing for greater climbing/crawling abilities. The system also allows the ride height to be raised by an inch to tackle slightly larger obstacles. 

The Active Drive Lock system that will be standard on the Trailhawk variant all the features of the Active Drive II system and adds a locking rear differential for superior low speed power to deal with severe off-road conditions. Jeep’s renowned Selec-Terrain traction control system is also standard, allowing the driver to choose the on and off-road setting for optimum performance. Five customized settings are offered by Selec-Terrain, namely, Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud and Rock. 

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All in all, the new Jeep Cherokee is a capable mid-size SUV that has a variant for every prospective customer and is in tune with the times in terms of the level of equipment, trim and safety features it offers. 

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee will make its way to India too but for that it will have to be offered with a diesel engine first. 

Also read: Jeep introduces 2014 model line-up