Jeep Could Put the Wrangler JL's 2.0-liter in the new Cherokee

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Dec 7, 2017

That's a welcome addition on top of the new headlights setup

The refreshed 2019 Jeep Cherokee is going to look different from its predecessor. That’s good because the current Cherokee is a sight for sore eyes. Mercifully, Jeep is doing away with the horrendous headlights setup of the current model, opting instead to go with a more conventional design that should be more pleasing to look at. But the headlights aren’t the only things changing with the new model as reports show that the Cherokee will also receive a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that we saw in the next-generation Jeep Wrangler when it debuted at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The new powertrain isn’t a conventional one. It also makes use of a 48-volt mild hybrid system that should help in the departments of acceleration and fuel efficiency. The output numbers play out nicely too as the powertrain gets 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, one less horsepower than the Cherokee Overland trim, but 56 more pound-feet of torque.

If the reports are true, the 2019 Cherokee will now have three engines at its disposal. The old 2.4-liter four-cylinder will still chug along, producing 184 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, while the bigger 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 will offer 271 ponies and 239 pound-feet of twist. That’s a decent lineup of engines to choose from, though it is worth mentioning that at some point, Jeep may need to fit another engine, maybe with a hybrid system, which can produce in excess of 300 horsepower.

Regardless, the Jeep Cherokee remains one of the company’s best-selling models, even when you take into account the horrid look of the incumbent model. I’d venture a guess that when the Cherokee goes back to looking like a proper SUV, it’s going to attract a lot more buyers. Expect the model to hit dealerships early next year, or at least a few months after making its debut at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show.