Published:
8 March 2022When we last had a Cherokee in the UK, it was accepted that the way a 4x4 drove was a fairly hefty compromise over the way a conventional hatchback drove.
Today, with the advent of crossovers and a general blurring of market lines – which the Cherokee itself embraces by employing lighter-duty architecture than it once did – the differences are less excusable. It’s a shame, then, that this Cherokee is less pleasing to drive than most of its immediate rivals – be they from the mainstream manufacturers or premium ones.
Once, Jeep’s people would have shrugged their shoulders and accepted that this was a price to pay for the go-anywhere capability. But if the Land Rover Freelander has taught us anything, it’s that, today, that’s no longer an excuse.
Compared with its rivals, the Jeep rides too choppily, yet at the same time fails to keep sufficient control of its body movements over more undulating roads. Despite the newness and car-derived nature of its architecture, it still fees like an old-school 4x4 in the way it moves.
The electrically assisted steering is accurate but retains a heft that’s uncommon in modern cars. Moreover, there’s no great benefit as a result, because it gives no greater indication than that of any other SUV as to what the wheels are up to. To that extent, the Jeep DNA has been retained. Unfortunately, in this case, we don’t mean it as a compliment.
