When it replaced the Liberty in 2013, Jeep decided to bring back the Cherokee name, which it had discontinued in 2001 in the U.S. The first Jeep to ride on the FCA Compact Wide platform, the KL-generation Cherokee shared underpinnings with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. But similarities with European cars didn't stop here. Unlike its predecessors, the Cherokee dropped the traditional boxy design in favor of a more streamlined look. Some approved Jeep's decision to step out of the box and offer a bolder design, but FCA also received a lot of heat for the scrunched up headlamps, the narrow grille, and the somewhat generic rear end. I'm not a big fan of it either, and I think it looks like it's sucking on lemons. Well, Jeep just unveiled the mid-cycle facelift and I'm happy to see that the Cherokee's face is no longer sour.

Whether Jeep reacted to criticism or just wanted a fresh look remains unknown, but it's good to the Cherokee move closer to its American roots design-wise. The main grille is now a bit taller, the slats are wider, and the headlamps are significantly bigger. Granted, the changes are by no means radical, and the Cherokee still looks out of place among other Jeeps, but it's a big improvement over the outgoing model. Not that Jeep could have made it worse, but I can at least look at the new Cherokee without feeling sick.

Beyond fixing that terrible front end, Jeep made a few other improvements too. Around back, the crossover has new LED taillights with clear lenses and red accents, a repositioned license plate (not on the tailgate), a more upscale-looking bumper, and chrome-tipped exhaust pipes. The front bumper was also redesigned, together with the grille between the vents. All told, these changes are more than what I usually expect from a mid-cycle facelift (just look at the BMW i8).

There isn't much information as to what changes inside the cabin and under the hood, but we should get some new technology and maybe a new engine. Whatever happens, the revised front fascia makes up for everything.

References

Jeep Cherokee

Read our full driven review on the 2015 Jeep Cherokee.

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