Jeep Cherokee returns strong in 7 years

The Jeep Cherokee, the iconic mid-size sport utility vehicle, has made a comeback here Wednesday after a seven-year hiatus.

Before it was replaced with the Jeep Liberty, the Cherokee sold 2.5 million vehicles since its debut in 1974. In a bid to repeat that success, Jeep resurrected the Cherokee nameplate for the Liberty’s successor.

“It is a moment that I have long waited,” Chrysler Korea CEO Pablo Ross said at the car’s launch in Seoul on Wednesday. “We want to redefine again the mid-size SUV segment, which we created in 1974.”

In Korea, the latest Cherokee is offered in the Longitude 2.4 gasoline 4WD, Longitude 2.0 diesel 4WD and Limited 2.0 diesel 4WD trims.

The gasoline-powered model boasts 177 horsepower and a torque of 23.4 kilogram meters, while the diesel version churns out 170 horsepower and a torque of 35.7 kilogram meters.

The new nine-speed automatic transmission, the first in its segment, offers diverse benefits such as aggressive launches, smooth power delivery at highway speeds and improved fuel efficiency, the carmaker said.

All the models come equipped with the Jeep Active Drive all-wheel-drive system that automatically adjusts the torque of the car’s four wheels depending on road conditions and driving modes.

For sedan-like handling and driving performance, the carmaker has developed a new platform, which is also expected to be applied to Fiat’s upcoming new crossover Alfa Romeo.

The new model boasts some 70 safety and security features, including full-length side-curtain and side-thorax airbags, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot monitoring and parallel parking assistance.

The Korean chief of Chrysler cited the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5 as key competitors, pledging to sell some 500 vehicles in the remaining months this year.

Prices for the Jeep Cherokee range from 49.9 million won ($48,900) to 56.4 million won.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)