The 2017 Jeep Cherokee still antes up considerable trail-riding talent, but other crossover SUVs do a better job of daily driving. The name is one of the oldest applied to a modern-day SUV, but the 2017 Jeep Cherokee is no Conestoga wagon. It's a thoroughly modern family wagon, recast from its hardcore sport-utility roots into something much broader, more capable in all sorts of conditions.
Pros Family-sized interior (albeit with no third row) Daring exterior Front seat comfort Quick enough with the base engine Strong active-safety set
Cons Exterior styling doesn't feel fully committed-to Numb steering Gas mileage okay but not excellent Transmission woes come and go
The 2017 Jeep Cherokee ranks 13 out of 18 Compact SUVs. The 2017 Jeep Cherokee combines an upscale and spacious cabin with good off-road capability. Although you can find a smoother ride and larger cabin in competitors like the Honda CR-V or Ford Escape, the Cherokee’s off-road capability means it strikes a pretty rare balance in this class.
Pros Premium-quality cabin Spacious and comfortable seating Great off-road capability with 4WD option
Cons Sluggish base engine Below-average fuel economy Small cargo space
The 2017 Cherokee gets only minor equipment revisions, including standard xenon headlights on every trim but the base Sport. This is also the first full year for the top-of-the-line Overland trim that was introduced in mid-2016.
Pros Available V6 engine provides smooth and assertive power Absorbent suspension smooths out rough surfaces Capable and user-friendly 8.4-inch touchscreen on many models Trailhawk offers unique off-road capability for a small crossover.
Cons Sluggish acceleration with four-cylinder engine Less cargo capacity than other small crossovers.
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace ranks 2 out of 14 Luxury Compact SUVs. Very few rivals can match the brand-new Jaguar F-Pace when it comes to space, dynamic driving performance, and the prestige that comes with a Jaguar badge. Although Jaguar doesn't like to call it an SUV – they call it a practical sports car and performance crossover – the F-Pace is the first SUV for the luxury brand. The British carmaker says the F-Pace was built to be functional enough as a daily driver, but fun to drive on the weekend. It is spectacularly successful in both arenas. The F-Pace also has one of the largest cargo holds in the class. Additionally, its Land Rover parentage (Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by the same company and share some components) helps its off-road cred, making the F-Pace surprisingly practical for a little trail-riding. Overall, the F-Pace is an excellent SUV.
Pros Sports-car-like performance Excellent traction on slippery or gravel roads Spacious interior and cargo room
Cons Subpar acceleration with diesel engine
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace does an excellent job of putting just as much emphasis on sport as on utility. Jaguar Land Rover is in the business of building excellent SUVs, but until now, those SUVs were the exclusive province of Land Rover. Even with Range Rovers and Discoverys sitting across the showroom, there's plenty of room for more vehicles in the broad spectrum that grabs everything from the Buick Encore to the Benz G-Class. And if a sort of automotive purity test is invoked, well, Porsche's proven that no brand can really thrive in the U.S. without some kind of crossover SUV in its lineup. This is all a convoluted way of explaining how we got to the first Jaguar crossover SUV in history, and as luck would have it, one of the most satisfying luxury utility vehicles of all.
Pros The SUV Jaguar's always wanted Sleek aluminum body Wide-screen InControl Touch Pro Turbodiesel or supercharged six Nimble, skillful handling
Cons Firm ride degrades on 22s Rearview camera a $400 option on base model Cockpit can be a subdued, dark affair
If you're looking for a luxury SUV that stands out in a crowd, the striking new 2017 Jaguar F-Pace is hard to ignore. It's more than just a pretty face as it's also great to drive, surprisingly practical, competitively priced and can even venture off road. It's a new SUV you don't want to overlook.
pros Spacious backseat and cargo area for the segment Sharper and more engaging to drive than most Supercharged V6 power at a four-cylinder price Fuel-efficient diesel engine option Higher-than-usual ground clearance and surprising off-road capability.
cons Gasoline engine is considerably less efficient than similarly priced rivals You might find the ride too firm over broken pavement V6's boisterous exhaust may get tiresome in day-to-day driving.
