The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986. The manufacturer has introduced a good number of Jeep Wrangler series so far. The Jeep Cherokee is a series of SUVs from the same manufacturer but focuses more on daily driving, comfort, fuel efficiency, etc.
The most noticeable difference between the Jeep Wrangler and the Cherokee is off-road capability. Jeep Wrangler provides absolute performance when off-road driving. However, the Jeep Cherokee comes to the top for comfort and luxury. Plus, there are differences in price, features, and more.
Jeep Wrangler vs Cherokee
When differentiating two top-notch SUVs, key factors like engine power, performance, fuel efficiency, comfortability, price points, features etc, come into play.
| Differentiate Factors | Jeep Wrangler | Jeep Cherokee |
| Engine Power | More horsepower | Less horsepower |
| Size and Convenience | Bigger than Jeep Cherokee | Smaller than Jeep Wrangler |
| Off-road Capability | Impressive off-road capability | Not satisfying off-road capabilities |
| Exterior | Luxury daily driver | Military-themed exterior |
| Exhaust | Single exhaust | Dual exhaust |
| Features | It offers a bunch of off-road features. | It offers a bunch of features for comfortable driving. |
| Driving Comfort | Provides average comfort | More comfortable than Jeep Wrangler |
| Cargo Space | Decent cargo spaces | Insufficient cargo spaces |
| Interior | Comes with a bit of vintage interior design. | Modern daily drive interior design |
| Fuel Mileage | Less economical | More economical |
| Price | Expensive than Jeep Cherokee | Less costly than Jeep Wrangler |
Engine Power
The Jeep Wrangler is specially made for off-road driving. And off-road vehicles have to develop mighty engines with decent horsepower and torque to deal with extreme road conditions. Without a powerful engine, it becomes hard for the SUVs to go over the obstacles.
So, most Jeep Wranglers offer a horsepower of 270@5250 rpm. On the other hand, the Jeep Cherokee sticks with a horsepower of 180@64000 rpm. However, the horsepower of both the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee depends on the series and trim levels.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 has a 6.4-litre v8 engine with a horsepower of 470 @ 6,000RPM. The Jeep Cherokee Altitude X comes with a horsepower of 293 @ 6,400 RPM. But, regardless of the models, the series of Jeep Wranglers have more powerful engines than the Jeep Cherokee.
Size and Convenience
The Wrangler has a length of 188 inches. On the other hand, the length of the Cherokee is 182 inches. In addition, the height of the 2023 Jeep Wrangler is 72 inches, and for the Jeep Cherokee, it is only 62 inches. And the difference takes place due to the large tire size and massive cargo space of the Jeep Wrangler.
Compared to the Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Cherokee doesn’t step above in size and convenience. But parking your Jeep Wrangler won’t be as convenient as the Jeep Cherokee due to the bigger size, especially in tight spots. The same goes for highway driving.
Off-road Capability
Even though the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee come with a 4×4 system, the Jeep Wrangler is more off-road capable. And this is because of the strong engines and modern off-road features of the compact SUV. For example, the Jeep Wrangler has Tru-Lok® Electronic Locking Differentials, making it off-road capable.
The vehicle’s engine should produce enough power to drive over the terrain or other obstacles when driving off-road. And that’s what you will find in the series of Jeep Wrangler. Thanks to the advanced Trail Rated® capability of Jeep Wrangler that ensures smoothing off-road driving along with some other technologies.
Beyond that, the Jeep Wrangler can generate more ground clearance as it comes with massive tires. The latest Rubicon 392 offers 33-inch off-road tires, allowing impressive ground clearance and the traction required for off-road driving. Moisture-resistant body openings will enable you to drive smoother to cross creeks.
The Jeep Cherokee is a luxury daily driver SUV with limited off-road features, so the ground clearance is not up to the mark. So, driving over extreme terrain or obstacles can be a great choice. The Jeep Cherokee doesn’t come with the highly impressive Tru-Lok® Electronic Locking Differentials made for off-road driving.
Moreover, off-road driving can be possible with the Jeep Cherokee, but the vehicle is made for that purpose. And that’s why it has less powerful engines and off-road features than the Jeep Wrangler.
Driving Comfort
The Jeep Wrangler has heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. And this will give you immense comfort while in cold weather. Besides, there are many top options available with the Jeep Wrangler that make driving enjoyable. But there is not enough interior space, which might cause the drivers and passengers discomfort.
The Jeep Cherokee is a luxurious mid-size SUV with Black Nappa Leather-Trimmed seats with 16 adjustment options. Besides, a comparatively bigger inner space makes the vehicle even more comfortable while driving. The CommandView® Dual Pane Panoramic sunroof will allow you to enjoy the scenery of the sun and stars.
The manufacturers of off-road vehicles focus more on capability rather than on comfort. The Jeep Wrangler is made for off-road driving, so it sacrifices a bit of comfort compared to the Jeep Cherokee.
Features
The Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee have cool and advanced features that make driving even more effortless. For example, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee infotainment systems have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In addition, the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee have almost the same safety features like blind spot monitoring, stability control, front-impact airbags, Automatic High-Beam Headlamps, LaneSense® Lane Departure Warning system, and more.
However, the Jeep Wrangler has more off-road features and functionality than the Jeep Cherokee, as the Wrangler is made for off-road driving. Another significant feature of the Jeep Wrangler is that you can remove the doors for a more adventurous driving experience. But the Jeep Cherokee doesn’t come with a door-removing feature.
Fuel Mileage
According to the manufacturer, the fuel mileage of the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sport is 17 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway. On the other hand, the 2023 Jeep Cherokee Altitude Lux has a fuel capacity of 21 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. However, a survey from Fuel Economy shows SUVs that are more off-road capable come with a bit lower fuel mileage.
Regardless of the model, the fuel mileage of the Jeep Cherokee is always more impressive than the Jeep Wrangler. This is due to the engine size, power capacity, weight, and aerodynamics of the off-road vehicle.
Price
The price range of both the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee depends on the models and trim labels. Purchasing a Jeep Wrangler will cost you more money than Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep Wrangler is usually expensive because of its powerful engine, customization, and off-road features.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Altitude 4dr (2.0l 4cyl Turbo 8A) comes with a starting price of $49,409. On the contrary, the 2023 Jeep Cherokee 4dr 4WD ((2.4l 4cyl Turbo 9A) comes with a starting price of $36,700.
Moreover, it will cost you more money if you want to go with more rugged construction and off-road capability—for example, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is available at $88,190. No Jeep Cherokee comes with this price level.
Why Is the Jeep Cherokee So Popular?
The Jeep Cherokee came to the market back in 1983. And since that, the series of midsize SUVs have gained wide fame all around the world among Jeep enthusiasts. There are some particular reasons why the Jeep Cherokee has always been at the top of the town.
Luxurious Design
SUVs don’t often come with luxurious designs. But in the case of the Jeep Cherokee, the scenario is different. Jeep makes the series of vehicles ambitious for every angle with unique brand styling and luxury. The roll-in style of the Jeep Cherokee makes a very good first impression and leads people to purchase one.
The interior of the Jeep Cherokee is crafted for comfort with smart design and premium comfort. Overall, the slack design and box body shape make it worthy of purchasing, especially for daily drivers who do limited off-road driving.
Elevated Technology
Jeep offers modern and elevated technology with the Jeep Cherokee. For example, the Class-Exclusive standard U-connect 4C NAV. This allows the driver to navigate smoothly with a large touchscreen display.
In addition, the remote vehicle starts and ‘WiFi ON THE GO’ feature is another key selling point of the Jeep Cherokee.
Affordable
The Jeep Cherokee is reliable compared to many other SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler. The 2023 Jeep Cherokee Altitude, with only $37,695, is a case in point. Even in this price range, the Jeep Cherokee has a luxurious design, impressive fuel economy, enough seat capacity, and absolute comfort.
Why Are Jeep Wranglers So Expensive?
The Jeep Wrangler is a compact, full-sized SUV with mind-blowing off-road capability. And when an SUV is specially made for off-road driving, it should come with a powerful engine.
The Jeep Wrangler comes with a power engine. The 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 offers a 6.4 liter V8 engine which has a horsepower of 470 @ 6,000RPM. And due to this powerful engine, the price of a Jeep Wrangler is so high.
Besides, as the Jeep Wrangler has impressive off-road capability, the off-road features need more advanced technology and materials. The new factory-installed WARN®, Trail Rated® capability, 35-inch all-terrain tires can be a case in point.
And in order to ensure the off-road setup, the manufacturer has to level up the price range of the Jeep Wrangler compared to most others. Additionally, the customization options available on the Jeep Wrangler make it more premium.
Final Words
When choosing one from the Jeep Wrangler or the Jeep Cherokee, it is essential to prioritize the purpose of use. In the case of continuous off-roading, the Jeep Wrangler is always the best option with marvelous off-road capability. But owners have to sacrifice a bit of fuel efficiency.
On the other hand, the Jeep Cherokee will be decent in daily driving with impressive fuel mileage, style, and comfort. It is possible to drive the Jeep Cherokee off-road, but it won’t be so convenient in that case due to less off-road capability.