BEHIND THE WHEEL: Pound the pavement harder with the 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4X4
If you want to get out and pound the pavement just a little harder you have come to the right place with the 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4X4.
For 2021 there is an 80th Anniversary Edition that coincides with the Latitude LUX trim so expect a little extra on that option.
One noteworthy standout is that the Jeep Cherokee has upped its safety game and some optional safety features that were higher-end are now standard. I found there were more option for comfort features too.
Where the 2021 Jeep Cherokee stands out from the crowd no matter the trim level is it is not just any ‘ol compact crossover. In fact, take a look at how it leads the pack in towing capabilities.
The competition includes the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4. There is less cargo capacity than some of the competition, but the Cherokees’ rugged off-road capabilities are a good trade off.
TRIM LEVEL
No matter the Cherokee trim you opt for it will have all-wheel drive and a variety of engine options. The Trailhawk is likely the best one for some serious mud kicking, but I went with the Latitude Lux trim and it has a nice feel for naughty and nice.
A five-seat SUV the trims on the Jeep Cherokee are Latitude, Latitude Plus, Latitude Lux, the rugged Trailhawk and the range-topping Limited.
The Latitude Lux I drove had leather upholstery and all the basic goodies with the 80th Anniversary subtrim also offering dark gray or black styling accents and wheels. Also, air-conditioned front seats, heated rear seats, hands-free liftgate, an integrated navigation system, a trailer tow package, a class III receiver hitch, a seven-pin wiring harness and an upgraded engine cooling system.
UNDER THE HOOD
The Latitude Lux has a 3.2-liter V6 engine with 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet or you can opt for the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet.
The standard engine is the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or an optional 3.2-liter V-6 and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder.
SAFETY FIRST
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee added features to enhance safety this year. These inclusions range from automated emergency braking, to blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 Cherokee a five-star crash-test rating.
Other key safety features include standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning, child seat anchors, rear view camera and pre-and-post collision safety system, to name a few.
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR HIGHLIGHTS
The front and rear cup holders are convenient and always appreciated in my over-the-top “need coffee bad” kind of world. The front seatback storage is also a plus as is the overhead console and heated mirrors. There is the split folding rear seatback and the maximum cargo capacity is 54.7 so it is a good ride for a road trip or just to run around town.
ALONG FOR THE RIDE
The ride in the 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux is solid. The feeling I always appreciate when behind the wheel is as if I am owning the road and not floating above it. Mission accomplished here!.
The Jeep Cherokee also has a 70-mph-to-zero emergency-braking performance and that is worthy of mention as is the 7.0 inches standard touch screen measurement with an optional 8.4 inches.
SHOULD YOU NEED TO KNOW
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux towing capacity is a maximum of 2,000 pounds.
MILES PER GALLON
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4X4 had combined miles per gallon of 22 broken down with 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
COST
The 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux 4X4 price tag with some options was $36,355, but the base price is $31,625.
Rita Cook is a member of Women’s World Car of the Year and Texas Motor Press. You can follow her at @ritatheroguewarrior on instagram and @ritacook13 on twitter.