Given that the hardware that lies beneath the Cherokee is all new, you’ll be unsurprised to find that what’s within the cabin is a also complete change for the Cherokee.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but what is notable is that, other than the badging, there’s nothing in here to suggest that you’re in a Jeep, as opposed to any other make of car.
If this is a new start, fair enough, but given that Jeep has a premium mindset, it’s a pity that the brand’s lineage – and there have been plenty of high spots over the years – hasn’t been more clearly acknowledged.
If you climbed into any modern Land Rover, BMW or Mercedes-Benz, even without badges you’d know in an instant which brand of car you were sitting in. Given a similar test in the Cherokee, you might guess at half a dozen manufacturers before you alighted on this being a Jeep.
Still, fit, finish and the overall design are better than in any Cherokee before. For the most part, the controls are laid out sensibly, and the central TFT touchscreen is recognisable from that found in the Maserati Ghibli, with a few Jeep-specific bits.
The driving position is pretty upright. The Cherokee may be a relative of the Giulietta, but if you’re moving up from a conventional hatch, don’t expect to be able to retain a similar posture, or to find the steering wheel as widely adjustable as that in a Range Rover Evoque.
