Cherokee: This beloved nameplate returns for 2014, eschewing its right angles and double live axles for a sleek unibody structure and all-independent suspenders adapted from the Alfa Giulietta–based Dodge Dart. The modern styling may be an affront to what many purists expect of the rough-and-tough Cherokee badge, with a funky headlight arrangement and a unique take on Jeep's seven-slot grille that flows up over the hood. But all that should make it a cinch to spot in a parking lot full of Ford Escapes and Honda CR-Vs. Engine choices include a 184-hp, 2.4-liter four and a 271-hp, 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6, both backed by Chrysler's first use of ZF's new nine-speed automatic gearbox [see Tech Tidbit below]. Front-wheel drive is standard on Sport, Latitude, and Limited trims, but there are three available four-wheel-drive setups with varying degrees of capability. The top-level, 4x4-only Trailhawk comes standard with a locking rear differential and is the only variant to earn Jeep's trail-rated badge for off-road use. All Cherokees employ a strut-type front suspension and a multilink arrangement out back, with a maximum of 8.6 inches of ground clearance. Towing capacity is rated up to 4500 pounds with the V-6, and EPA highway fuel economy is expected to beat 30 mpg with the 2.4. See first drive »
Compass: Small changes reduce interior noise and boost refinement, and a new six-speed automatic joins the transmission lineup. See official photos and info »
Grand Cherokee (shown above): A refresh in mid-2013 brought redesigned front and rear fascias, along with new technology and refinements inside. An eight-speed automatic is now standard across all models, including the 470-hp SRT, and an EcoDiesel version is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 [see Tech Tidbit below]. See V-6 and SRT tests »
Patriot: As with the Compass, a new six-speed automatic joins the range; the CVT is now oddly limited to models equipped with the optional Freedom Drive II off-road package. See official photos and info »
Minor trim changes: Wrangler
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TECH TIDBIT
NINE TIMES
The world's first nine-speed automatic transaxle, the 9HP from ZF, has four planetary gearsets and six shifting elements nested together so compactly that this gearbox fits transversely between the front wheels. A 9.8:1 spread between first and ninth gears is a boon to fuel efficiency and quiet highway cruising. An optional four-wheel-drive power takeoff can be decoupled on demand, and stop-start capability is standard. The 9HP is adaptable to hybrids by replacing the torque converter with an electric motor. It will first appear in the Jeep Cherokee and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.
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TECH TIDBIT
ITALIAN MULE
The 3.0-liter turbo-diesel arriving this fall in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 is a 60-degree V-6 manufactured in Cento, Italy, by VM Motori, a company jointly owned by Fiat and General Motors. This is a second-generation common-rail design with an iron block, electronically controlled fuel delivery, and up to eight injections per combustion cycle. A single variable-geometry turbocharger sits between the aluminum cylinder heads. Peak output is 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet. The new diesel option gives 4x2 versions of the Grand Cherokee 30-mpg-highway bragging rights.
