Category: Small 4x4s 
Price Range: £20,095 to £24,595
Lots of standard equipment, easy to drive and compact.
A bit too compact - it feels cramped inside.
Good value, but long in the tooth.
The Cherokee is not too big for a 4x4, and feels very nimble and manoeuvrable - plus you've got that lovely high driving position, giving you a great view out. Off-road it is just as easy to manage, too. Almost the perfect combination. Handling is excellent, providing a very car-like experience. The steering is sharp - unusual for a 4x4 - the brakes are good, and there is little body roll on corners. Off-road, too, it's accomplished enough to let you have some muddy fun.
The smallest of three engine options is a sluggish 2.5-litre petrol, which only just manages to keep up with the traffic, though it cruises well enough on the motorway. The 4.0-litre, however, turns the Cherokee into one of the quickest 4x4s on sale, although fuel consumption suffers. The unrefined and slow 2.5-litre diesel is probably the best option.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Jeep Cherokee
wrote on 19 07 2006