Every once in a while, a single trim level on a vehicle changes your perspective on the entire model. This is the case of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited. A few months ago, I had driven the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk which was a perfect blend of new-age SUV comfort with old-school off-road performance. But frankly, I wasn’t excited about the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4X4 dropped off for review in my driveway. How could leather seats then change my view? Simple, the Limited package is more than just the upgraded seats.
What You Get
The 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited package adds 18-inch polished aluminum wheels and a luxury package that includes: Bi-Xenon high intensity discharge headlamps; power liftgate; premium leather-trimmed bucket seats; and ventilated front seats. Also, a generous helping of chrome is splashed over the exterior on the grille and the lower fascia, which from my perspective brings new vitality to the looks.
These extras come at a cost with our test model ringing up at $39,505 with destination. The base Sport model starts well below that at $24,995 in the 4X4 variant.
Besides the exterior and interior improvements, there are other goodies like keyless entry, courtesy lamps, a heated steering wheel and A/C auto temperature control with dual-zones. Sure, these are just little extras, but they add up to a big change in perception of this vehicle.
The perception is the Jeep Cherokee is the entry-level Jeep product and, as such, is a stepping stone to the more iconic Jeep Grand Cherokee model. However, Jeep has done a lot of work on the entry-level Cherokee to distinguish it. This is especially the case with this fully-loaded Limited model and its interior and exterior improvements.
Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the capable 3.2L V6 in our test model. This engine replaces the base 2.4L four-cylinder. It is mated to Jeep’s 9-speed automatic transmission (standard throughout the Cherokee lineup). The larger engine produces 271 HP and 239 lb.-ft. of torque. This is an improvement over the 2.4L four-cylinder which produces 184 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque. However, the crawl ratio of the 3.2L V6 drops to 47.8:1 versus the 56:1 of the smaller engine. This makes a difference for serious off-roaders.
For the commuter and family-toting owner, the additional power is a big boost on the road. The 3.2L V6 powered Cherokee is more fun to drive and has the extra oomph missing in the four-cylinder. Also, the 9-speed transmission is simply better suited to the larger engine.
Thankfully, the larger engine comes with a relatively small drop in fuel economy—returning a respectable 26 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city. The minimal fuel penalty for the extra power is made possible because the 2015 model uses stop-start technology that shuts the engine off at a stoplight, and wakes it up when you lift your foot off the brake.
You don’t always get what you pay for, but if you can swing it, the Limited trim on the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited is worth the extra cost.
See Jeep Cherokee 2015 Cars and Trucks for sale on eBay.
