There was a bit of flap in the automotive blogosphere not so long ago about the 2014 Jeep Cherokee's launch date being pushed back to tweak the SUV to perfection. According to the naysayers, they took this as a sign that the new auto wouldn't live up to expectations. So far, they're being proven wrong, especially in the fuel economy end of things.
The Cherokee comes with two engine options. The first, a 2.4-liter 4 cylinder engine offers 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined while boasting 184 horsepower, and the second is a 3.2-liter V-6 engine with an ample 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined with a souped up 271 horsepower.
One of the main speculated reasons for the delay had to do with the Cherokee's nine speed transmission, the first in any production car. If there were any problems getting the fuel economy they wanted out of it, the above numbers prove that it's been ironed out.
This latest iteration of the Cherokee is intended to replace the Jeep Liberty model, and at least on the fuel efficiency end, it seems to be doing a good job of just that. To wit, the 2 Wheel Drive variant of the outgoing model only achieved 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Not terrible by any means, but the new numbers represent a definite improvement.
That just leaves one question. When will the new Cherokee hit our Meadville, PA dealership?
The answer is very soon. Keep tabs on the Griffin Motors Company blog for any updates, and to learn about the features of other new Jeep models.
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