2018 Jeep Cherokee Latitude

The 2018 Cherokee is Jeep's compact SUV, slotting between the Renegade and Grand Cherokee with a mix of on-road comfort and off-road capability. It competes with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape, but stands apart with available Trailhawk off-road gear. The Cherokee rides smoothly on pavement, and the V6 provides confident passing power; the nine-speed automatic can occasionally hesitate. Inside, the cabin is quiet and well-built, with comfortable seats and an intuitive Uconnect infotainment system. The Latitude is the base trim of the 2018 Cherokee, sitting below the Latitude Plus, Limited, Trailhawk, and Overland; it skips some luxuries but keeps the essentials. This one has the 3.2L V6 making 271 horsepower and the nine-speed automatic, driving the front wheels; it feels eager around town and gets 24 mpg combined. The Latitude comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels and fog lamps as standard, but you don't get the dual-zone climate or leather that the Limited adds.