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The 2021 Jeep Cherokee will be the last edition of the fifth generation. The compact crossover was redesigned in 2019. The crossover for 2022 is going to be all-new, and the 2021 MY is not suffering any changes. So, the vehicle will use the same engines and trim levels. The next-gen Cherokee will introduce hybrid units and new styling.
Compact crossover class is the best-selling one in the entire market. Compass achieves 200k and more sales in the last couple of seasons. However, Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4 are sitting above 400,000. FCA will try to get closer to its rivals. Still, there is a lot more competition, including Ford Escape, Chevy Equinox, Hyundai Tucson…
2021 Jeep Cherokee Specs
Under the bonnet of the 2021 Jeep Cherokee is a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine. The four-cylinder unit is capable of producing 180 horsepower. After the facelift, Cherokee is pairing all the engines with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This one is improving fuel economy, but drivers are not too happy with its response. The engine returns 26 mpg combined if you select the front-wheel drive, while the AWD drops the rating to 24 mpg.
The new Cherokee introduced a 3.2-liter V6 engine. This unit is the most capable of towing, with a capacity of 4,500 pounds. It produces 270 hp and 240 lb-ft, and you will find the V6 unit under the hood of the Trailhawk edition. Of course, increased consumption is the cost you pay for extra power. For the off-road edition, the mpg drops to 18/24 mpg. Again, FWD is standard, while the AWD is optional.
A turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-l unit matches the power output of a V6. But, the turbo version is adding more torque, 295 lb-ft total, and improved fuel economy, up to 31 mpg (standard model, FWD). The same transmission is distributing power to wheels. The towing capacity of the Cherokee 2.0 is 4,000 pounds, which is an excellent result for the compact crossover.
Diesel
Outside the US the Compass crossover is available with a pair of diesel engines. Although engineers are achieving a lot of improvements in the emission sector, we doubt the new model will have a diesel unit. A smaller displacement is able to return 170 hp and 260 lb-ft, while the maximum outputs of this MultiJet II engine are 180 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. If you choose a bigger mill, 2.4-liter, then you get 15 ponies and 45 pound-feet as a bonus. Well, these two are not part of the FCA’s portfolio for the US, while overseas these engines are quite popular.
Hybrid Engine is Coming
This is certain. However, we still don’t know if the 2021 Jeep Cherokee is going to bring the new technology. The hybrid engine will come out definitely with the next-gen crossover. We believe this is the missing piece of the puzzle since most opponents are electrifying their models. It will be harder for the FCA to keep pace with Nissan, Toyota, Ford, and Honda.
A 2.4-liter engine seems to be perfect for the further build. Mated to a hybrid system, it will definitely improve the fuel economy and power outputs. Current leaders in the segment are Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4, with 42 mpg respectively.
2021 Jeep Cherokee Redesign
The new model will be mostly unchanged. The new generation, arriving in 2022 or 2023 will introduce more modifications. The latest facelift is from 2019. So, only a couple of years after it, we don’t believe Jeep will change its Cherokee.
That means we will see the same trim levels, with possible updates with special editions. Even without these, the lineup will be wide, with at least nine models. The base version is Latitude, and we can say that Latitude Plus, Altitude, and Upland belong to the first tier. All of them cost under $30,000. If you are willing to spend more, Jeep will offer Limited Edition right above this mark, or High Altitude, Trailhawk, and Overland around $35,000. Trailhawk Elite is the most expensive version.
2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
The hottest model in the lineup will still be the 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. It comes with a 3.2-liter V6 engine as the standard drivetrain with a 4×4 system. 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires are added. The center of the Uconnect infotainment system is an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Of course, you will get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. Fuel economy suffers and the Trailhawk will return only 20 mpg combined.
Release Date
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee is going to be released in the second half of 2020. Without too many changes, we don’t expect a big premiere. The FCA will save tricks for the upcoming new generation. Well, if it gets a hybrid unit, there won’t be a need for a lot of marketing. Compact crossovers are very popular, and such changes won’t be unnoticed.
