2021 Jeep Cherokee

When considering the 2021 Jeep Cherokee, keep in mind that it has five available trims: Latitude, Latitude Plus, Latitude LUX, Limited, and Trailhawk. The Latitude LUX is a new trim for 2021. There are also two sub-trims available, which include the Altitude and 80th Anniversary Edition. The Trailhawk is the Cherokee's off-roading superstar, as it includes protective plating, tow hooks, and specialized off-road tires. If you find yourself in difficult terrain, this trim can maneuver through 20 inches of water and get through drifts of snow.

Power for the 2021 Cherokee comes from three different engine options. The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine produces 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, while the midlevel 3.2-liter V-6 engine gets 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque. The 2.4-liter engine comes standard on the Latitude LUX, Limited, and Trailhawk trims. There's also a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that achieves 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. All engines are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The 2021 Cherokee offers three different four-wheel-drive setups, all of which include the Selec-Terrain traction management system. When properly equipped, the SUV can tow up to a class-leading 4,500 pounds. Most others in its class can tow up to 2,500 pounds.

When it comes to gas mileage, the Cherokee gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with the base engine. Moving up to the turbo-four engine gets you 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. With the V-6 engine and front-wheel drive, you should get about 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, while all-wheel drive lowers these numbers by about 2 mpg.

The base trim of the 2021 Cherokee has cloth upholstery, but other trims add vinyl and napa leather upholstery. The Latitude Plus comes with a heated steering wheel and front seats as well as an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Latitude LUX includes a power-adjustable passenger seat, and the Limited trim adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

For infotainment, the Cherokee comes standard with the Uconnect system attached to a 7-inch touch-screen display. It also includes a USB port, six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. You can upgrade to receive an 8.4-inch touch-screen display, a Wi-Fi hot spot, HD and satellite radio, extra USB ports, navigation, and a nine-speaker premium audio system.

Jeep added several standard safety features for the 2021 model year, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available upgrades include adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and front and rear parking sensors.