2023 Jeep Cherokee Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Jeep Cherokee compact SUV lineup is trimmed to just two higher-end options for the 2023 model year.

Jeep’s moves toward electrification raise questions about some of its models’ futures, including the Cherokee. Though the automaker announced that it would close the Belvedere, IL, factory where the SUV is built, the compact SUV will remain in production at other locations.

What’s New for the 2023 Jeep Cherokee

Changes to the Jeep Cherokee for 2023 center around the trim offerings. Jeep cuts the lineup to just two trims, Altitude Lux and Trailhawk.

Design

The 2023 Cherokee does a decent impression of the previous-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, but its smaller proportions can look awkward with the faux-muscular styling. The good news is that Jeep did away with the entry-level trims, so the higher-level Cherokee variants on sale feature nicer exterior accents, larger wheels, and tasteful chrome. The SUV comes standard with 17-inch gloss-black wheels.

Powertrain

The 2023 Cherokee Altitude Lux comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. The Trailhawk gets a turbocharged inline-four making 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic comes with both engines, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. The Trailhawk trim also adds a two-speed transfer case, off-road suspension, and an active-locking differential.

Interior

Jeep equips leather upholstery as standard for the 2023 Cherokee, but buyers can upgrade with unique cloth or Nappa leather in the top Trailhawk model. Heated seats are also standard, and an eight-way power driver’s seat comes by default. The Jeep Cherokee offers a more spacious interior than most rivals do, but it’s a dark and cavernous cabin that doesn’t feel as roomy as it reads on paper. Cargo space isn’t as generous as some of the competition’s, and small-item storage isn’t as plentiful or as conveniently located as it is in other SUVs in the class.

Technology

An 8.4-inch touchscreen comes standard, running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Jeep parent company Stellantis’s UConnect interface is one of the best out there, with intuitive navigation, easy-to-read menus, and colorful displays. The Cherokee also gets SiriusXM services, which include traffic, weather, and radio stations. An Alpine stereo is available, and buyers can upgrade to a display with navigation.

Safety

Jeep equips the Cherokee with a long list of standard safety equipment, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, forward collision warnings, hill-start assist, lane-departure warnings, a parking-assistance system, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

Though it’s well-equipped, the Cherokee missed out on a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It earned “Good” scores in all crash test categories, but the model was let down by its headlights, which earned “Acceptable” or “Marginal” scores, depending on the trim. The upside is that the SUV earned a “Good+” score for car seat LATCH system ease of use, the highest available rating.

Pricing

As of this writing, pricing for the 2023 Jeep Cherokee starts at $39,290. Buyers have a few upgrade options, including the $3,195 Lux Elite package for the base trim that includes a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, an upgraded Alpine stereo, a hands-free power lift gate, and ventilated front seats.