2019 Jeep Cherokee Overland: More Luxurious with a Host of Improvements [Review]

WHAT’S NEW

The new 2019 Jeep Cherokee stable has adopted a more premium design quality that still manages to stay true to Jeep’s iconic styling heritage. At the same time, it serves up an enhanced driving experience both on and off-road. There are five different trim levels available. The base model Latitude, Latitude Plus, Limited and Overland are all available as front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The off-road prepared Trailhawk is, naturally, available only as a four-wheel drive model. Base pricing ranges from $23,995 to $37,775, not including the $1,195 destination charge.

In terms of its visual appeal, the new 2019 Jeep Cherokee sports an all-new front fascia, hood, LED headlamps, daytime running lamps and fog lamps. There’s a new lightweight, hands-free power liftgate, five new wheel designs, including premium 19-inch wheels unique to the Overland model.

Engines include an all-new 2.0-liter turbo that makes 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. For those who prefer it, the 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine carries over, delivering 271 horsepower along with 239 lb-ft of torque. That one also is rated to tow 4,500 pounds. Finally, there’s the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter, rated at 180 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. None of these engines have to lug as much weight around, as the new Cherokee is 150 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. All engines are mated to nine-speed automatic transmission.

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

FCA has updated the Cherokee Overland’s cabin, as well as the other trim levels for 2019. Satin Chrome tracer accents display a custom look around the center stack and gearshift bezels. The electric park brake button is now enclosed around the shifter bezel for easier operation.

They’ve also worked on the front seats, as they feel more supportive than in the old Cherokee. The available 60/40 split second-row seats adjust improved passenger comfort and cargo versatility, depending on what you need. FCA’s also made the cargo area three inches wider, now providing more than 27 cubic feet of space with the seats up. That allows more room to accommodate the whole family’s gear.

The top-spec Jeep Cherokee Overland gets FCA’s fourth-generation Uconnect system, with enhanced processing power, faster start-up times and high-resolution display. The Cherokee Overlan has an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard. Base Latitude models start with a 7.0-inch touchscreen instead. All models support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Active and passive safety and security features include ParkSense Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, which help maneuverability in tight areas. There’s also Adaptive Cruise Control-Plus, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. Finally, there’s Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Path Detection, plus eight standard airbags and the usual passive safety features.

PERFORMANCE

The Jeep Cherokee Overland comes standard with the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6. However, for $500, you can get the 2.0-liter instead. My test model had the 2.0-liter engine. As such, this particular Cherokee Overland had 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The entire lineup of this latest Jeep Cherokee is not only more attractive and modern looking with its updated styling. All models have advanced in terms of performance as well, both on and off-road. There’s less dodging and darting over washboard surfaces, and there’s also an increased stability over challenging, twisty back roads. The Cherokee had responsive acceleration, and its handling characteristics have definitely improved over the previous model.

TFLCAR’S TAKE

In serious rock crawling scenarios, the new Cherokees were surprisingly capable. The 2019 Jeep Cherokee Overland, as well as its lower-priced stablemates, is now a more viable choice when contemplating off-road sojourns. It strikes a good balance between the plush, more expensive Grand Cherokee and the off-road focused Wrangler.

The base price for this Cherokee Overland was $38,275. Destination charges and optional equipment bumped the final price up to $41,780. Options on this car included the Technology Group, which included Adaptive Cruise Control, Advanced Brake Assist and Automatic High Beam Control. You also get Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation, LaneSense, and the parallel and perpendicular parking system. A dual-pane sunroof was a $1,295 option.

Check out the video below for all the ways the Cherokee has improved. While you’re there, subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow for more news, views, and real-world reviews!

SPECIFICATIONS: 2019 Jeep Cherokee Overland

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