Browse over 9,000 car reviews
Cherokee Sport: am I missing something here? When it comes to automobiles it's not beyond expectation that the tag 'Sport' indicates something special; over and above the ordinary.
Jeep, with its latest Cherokee, has done the reverse with the KL Sport nomenclature being slapped on the entry-level, four-cylinder two-wheel drive variant, while better-off siblings – Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk – enjoy the advantages of a V6 engine and four-wheel drive, hence sportier performance.
Saving grace is the nine-speed automatic transmission the Sport shares with other family members and the design and quality fitout which matches its more expensive mates. Then there's the price; $33,500 for the entry-level 4x2, as opposed to $40k-plus for the others. A big difference which puts the Sport within reach of a lot more buyers.
Designers have done a real Italian job on the new Jeep Cherokee. The sharp corners of old have been knocked off the exterior to be replaced by thoroughly up-to-date, mid-size sport utility vehicle styling.
However, traditional styling cues are allowed to shine through with the signature Jeep seven-slot radiator grille. The body has taken on a more aerodynamic profile without losing the tough, go-anywhere character Jeeps are famous for.
The latest LED technology is used throughout the all-new Jeep Cherokee. Up front, lighting features a distinctive new daytime running lamp shape, giving the impression of a slim headlamp.
Projector headlights almost disappear below the DRLs, which are positioned high for optimum use while water fording. LED tail lamps are designed to kick air off the side of the body which, together with lightweight aluminium wheels, add to aerodynamic efficiency.
The cabin interior is all soft touch surfaces and quality material upholstery with contrast stitching. Once again sculpted surfaces take the place of flat areas throughout, although there is still room for the odd nod to traditional Jeep trapezoidal shapes in the instrument and centre stack surrounds.
Standard features on the Sport model are a Jeep Uconnect 5-inch touchscreen media centre with Bluetooth and a media hub that offers USB, SD and auxiliary ports and charging capability, plus a 3.5-inch TFT grayscale reconfigurable instrument cluster which allows the driver to check speed, fuel economy and take note of safety warnings.
Guidelines are not part of the reversing camera image but audible warnings give notice when approaching obstacles.
Dismiss the word 'Sport' straight away. The entry-level Cherokee Sport is powered by the Jeep 2.4-litre Tigershark four-cylinder engine which musters only an average 137 kW at 6400 rpm and 232 Nm of torque 4600 rpm.
Good news is the new nine-speed automatic transmission that makes the best of the paltry power while producing a claimed 33 per cent reduction in fuel consumption over its predecessor.
High-strength steel body panels and seven airbags, some multi-stage, that inflate with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact, cocoon occupants, while four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control and traction control help prevent an accident in the first place.
The Cherokee Sport runs out of puff on steep inclines and ensures the tranny is kept hard at work when you have a full house of passengers and their gear on board. Manoeuvrability is a breeze with electric power steering delivering the goods.
Our test vehicle recorded fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres in highway driving and 13.6 litres per 100km in city traffic, on the high side of the ledger, no doubt due to the close-to two tonnes the four-cylinder motor had to push around.
Space and comfort come up to scratch for a mid-size SUV but the Cherokee shows its left-hand drive origins with the absence of a driver-steadying left footrest in the right-hand drive version Australia receives.
Forget the 'Sport' moniker and this Cherokee is a modern mid-size two-wheel drive SUV at home in the urban landscape. To onlookers it has all the Jeep off-road capabilities. But we know better.
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport (4x2) | 2.4L, ULP, 9 SP AUTO | $13,860 – 18,260 | 2014 Jeep Cherokee 2014 Sport (4x2) Pricing and Specs |
| Longitude (4x4) | 3.2L, ULP, 9 SP AUTO | $14,520 – 19,140 | 2014 Jeep Cherokee 2014 Longitude (4x4) Pricing and Specs |
| Limited (4x4) | 3.2L, ULP, 9 SP AUTO | $14,850 – 19,580 | 2014 Jeep Cherokee 2014 Limited (4x4) Pricing and Specs |
| Trailhawk (4x4) | 3.2L, ULP, 9 SP AUTO | $18,480 – 23,430 | 2014 Jeep Cherokee 2014 Trailhawk (4x4) Pricing and Specs |
$9,500
Lowest price, based on 117 car listings in the last 6 months
