Engine Type

Prospective buyers interested in the 2020 Cherokee have the option to choose from seven different trims: Latitude, Latitude Plus, Altitude, High Altitude, Upland, Limited, and Trailhawk. Jeep no longer offers the Overland trim. The 2020 Jeep Cherokee buyers have the option to choose between two drivetrains, either front-wheel-drive or 4x4. A 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 engine is standard on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, Altitude, High Altitude, and Limited trims with 180 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. The Trailhawk trim offers a more powerful option with the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 engine, it generates 239 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine remains an available upgrade on every trim for the 2020 model year with its 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. All engine options are mated to a standard nine-speed transmission.

4x4 Systems & Towing

Standard on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee is the Active Drive I system, a full-time 4x4 system that distributes torque to all four wheels depending on driving conditions. As the top-tier trim, the Cherokee Trailhawk is equipped with the brand’s  Active Drive II system instead as it's the most off-road oriented trim in the lineup. Active Drive II includes everything that Active Drive I offers, plus an additional neutral mode with a lower range for added capability. The 2020 Cherokee Trailhawk also comes with  Active Drive Lock 4x4, complete with a mechanical rear axle lock and an exclusive Selec-Terrain Traction Management system. Towing figures vary across trims and are dependent on the engine choice. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine is rated to tow up to 4000 pounds, while the classic Pentastar V6 engine is the best option with a capacity of 4500 pounds. The Tigershark engine comes in last with its capability of 2000 pounds, but a towing package can increase that figure.

Exterior Features

The 2020 Cherokee model carries over the revamped front fascia that did away with the slanted headlight design. Standard features include: heated exterior mirrors, LED daytime running headlamps, fog lamps, automatic on/off headlamps, and solar control glass. A CommandView dual-pane panoramic sunroof is available on all trims except the base Latitude trim. High-tier trims such as the Limited and Trailhawk trims offer buyers high-end features such as exterior heated mirrors complete with memory positioning and turn signals and automatic high beam headlight control.

Interior Features

All 2020 Cherokee vehicles have the following features as standard: manual six-way adjustable driver and front passenger seats, a day/night rearview mirror, 60/40 folding split recline seats, an overhead console, a floor console, rear-seat heat ducts, and an active noise-control system (except on the Latitude trim). The Limited trim remains the only luxury-oriented trim and offers high-tier features such as a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, memory settings for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors, and a power liftgate. The only Cherokee vehicle equipped with Jeep's power eight-way driver seat is the Latitude Plus trim.

Entertainment

 All 2020 Jeep Cherokee SUVs come standard with the latest-generation Uconnect 4 infotainment system, complete with Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities, and integrated Bluetooth voice command. The 2020 Cherokee Latitude, Latitude Plus, and Altitude trims offer buyers a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen display. Jeep conserves its larger 8.4-inch touchscreen display for the high-tier Trailhawk and Limited trims. Navigation is standard on the Altitude trim and an optional upgrade beginning with the Latitude Plus and up. A six-speaker audio system is standard on the Cherokee Latitude, Latitude Plus and Limited trims, while the Cherokee Altitude comes with a nine-amplified speaker system with HD radio.

Safety Features and Warranty

Standard safety features of the 2020 Jeep Cherokee include a multistage front airbag system, additional airbags strategically placed throughout the cabin, stability and traction control systems, an enhanced accident response system, and a ParkView rear backup camera. Advanced safety features can be bought as package upgrades, but also come standard on high-tier trims. Remote start, Blind Spot and Rear Cross Path Detection, Full-Speed Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning System, and keyless passive entry are among the advanced safety features included. 

All Jeep vehicles are covered by a 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, a 5-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, roadside assistance for five years or 100,000 miles, and rust-through coverage for five years or 100,000, respectively whichever comes first. The 2020 Jeep Cherokee has a starting MSRP of $25,740 (plus destination fee).