Which 2019 Jeep Cherokee Is Right For You? TFL Expert Buyer’s Guide [Video]

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offers a wide array of options for potential customers.

Latitude. Overland. Limited. Trailhawk. Jeep split the 2019 Jeep Cherokee range into six distinct trim levels, all catering to different sets of customers. While a great many people buy into the Jeep brand for its off-road reputation, others may not need all that capability. After all, we don’t all live in the Alaskan wilderness, or indeed in Colorado, where inclement whether and a plethora of off-road trails make four-wheel drive an appealing option.

To that end, there are front-wheel drive versions of the Cherokee, as well as a few different “four-wheel drive” systems. From the base model Latitude to the Limited and the Overland, all models except the Trailhawk are available with front-wheel drive. 2019 Jeep Cherokee models are also available with three engine options. First, there’s a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter making 180 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque, as found in the smaller Compass and Renegade. In the middle, there’s the staple 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 making 271 horsepower and 239 lb-ft of torque. Finally, there’s a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Whichever engine you choose comes mated to Fiat-Chrysler’s nine-speed automatic transmission.

Jeep Active Drive system and Pricing

There are three different flavors of 4×4 system on the 2019 Jeep Cherokee. Jeep Active Drive I functions like a normal part-time all-wheel drive system. The car will disengage the rear axle when you’re on the road, making the car strictly front wheel drive. When the wheels lose grip, the rear axle engages for better traction. Jeep Active Drive II retains that functionality, but adds a low range mode. Finally, Jeep Active Drive Lock – available on Trailhawk models – adds a mechanical locking rear differential and a Rock mode to the 2019 Jeep Cherokee’s traction management system.

The MSRP for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee starts at $23,995 for a front-wheel drive Latitude, before destination charges. From there, you can build your way through the Latitude Plus, Limited, Trailhawk, and Overland up to the top-spec Trailhawk Elite. When fully equipped, 2019 Jeep Cherokee models top out around $40,000. The Trailhawk Elite starts at $36,315 before destination charges.

Find out more about the new Cherokee in our expert buyer’s guide above! Tommy Mica, TFL’s resident Jeep expert, goes through each trim level and the options available to help find the right Cherokee for your needs.

Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more expert buyer’s guides! Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow for more news, views and real-world reviews.