The Jeep Cherokee KL, sold for the 2014-2023 model years, revived the Cherokee name on a transverse-engine unibody platform (Fiat-Chrysler's Compact US Wide architecture) rather than the solid-axle XJ formula. It launched with a 2.4 liter Tigershark four rated at 184 hp and a 3.2 liter Pentastar V6 at 271 hp, and it was the first production vehicle to put ZF's 9HP nine-speed automatic in customer hands. A 2019 facelift replaced the split-headlight front end and added a 2.0 liter turbo four rated at 270 hp. The Trailhawk trim carried real off-road hardware, including Active Drive Lock with a locking rear differential and a 2.92:1 low-range reduction.
Other Jeep Cherokee generations
Platform
The 2014-2023 Jeep Cherokee KL sits on the Compact US Wide (CUSW) platform, a widened development of Fiat's Compact architecture that also underpinned the Dodge Dart and the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200. Construction is unibody with MacPherson struts up front and an independent multi-link rear. Assembly started at Toledo North in Ohio, then moved to Belvidere, Illinois during 2017 (Toledo built its last KL in April 2017, Belvidere started that June) and stayed there until production ended on February 28, 2023.
Engine lineup
- 2.4 liter Tigershark MultiAir2 four, the base engine for most of the run, rated at 184 hp and 171 lb-ft through 2018 and rerated to 180 hp with the 2019 facelift. It disappeared from most of the lineup when the V6 became standard for 2022, then returned as the only engine in the 2023 Altitude Lux. Adequate but slow when loaded, and early examples are known for oil consumption. Check the oil level habitually on any 2.4.
- 3.2 liter Pentastar V6, a destroked version of the 3.6, rated at 271 hp and 239 lb-ft. This is the engine that made the KL a legitimate 4,500 lb tow vehicle when equipped with the tow package. Offered from 2014 through 2022, then dropped for the final 2023 model year.
- 2.0 liter turbocharged four (GME-T4), added with the 2019 facelift, rated at 270 hp and 295 lb-ft. More torque than the V6 and better fuel economy. The manual allows 87 octane but recommends 91 for full performance, and the turbo tops out at a 4,000 lb tow rating rather than the V6's 4,500 lb.
Export markets also got MultiJet turbodiesel fours and, in Europe, a six-speed manual. No diesel or manual Cherokee KL was sold in North America.
Transmission
Every North American KL Cherokee uses the nine-speed automatic, badged 948TE, built by Chrysler under license from the ZF 9HP design. The KL was the first vehicle to reach customers with this transmission, and the first few model years paid for it. The launch itself slipped from summer to late October 2013 while the powertrain software was finished, and 2014 and 2015 cars went through repeated reflashes for harsh shifts, hesitation, and hunting, including recalls tied to the transmission control software. Later calibrations are noticeably better, which is one reason facelifted 2019-2023 cars drive more smoothly than early ones with the same hardware.
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive is standard on most trims. Jeep offered three four-wheel-drive systems on the KL. Active Drive I is a single-speed on-demand system with a disconnecting rear axle for fuel economy. Active Drive II adds a two-speed power transfer unit with a 2.92:1 low ratio and a 4WD Low mode that locks the front and rear driveshafts together. Active Drive Lock, exclusive to the Trailhawk, takes Active Drive II and adds a mechanically locking rear differential. All versions use the Selec-Terrain dial with Auto, Snow, Sport, and Sand/Mud modes; Trailhawk adds a Rock mode.
Year-by-year changes
- 2014: Launch year, delayed while the nine-speed calibration was sorted; cars reached dealers in late October 2013. Split lighting front end with slim DRLs above the main lamps. Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk trims.
- 2015: Stop-start became standard with the V6; rear camera and automatic headlamps standard on more trims; running changes to transmission software.
- 2016: Overland trim added at the top of the range.
- 2017: Production moved from Toledo North to Belvidere mid-year to free Toledo for the new JL Wrangler; the vehicle itself carried over.
- 2019: Major facelift. Conventional single-unit LED headlamps replaced the split lighting, new hood and fascias, lighter composite liftgate, license plate moved from the bumper to the liftgate, and the 2.0 turbo joined the lineup. The 2.4 was rerated to 180 hp. Sport was dropped and Latitude became the base trim. Interior got Uconnect 4 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- 2020-2021: Overland discontinued after 2020; Latitude Lux and an 80th Anniversary edition arrived for 2021; minor equipment changes otherwise.
- 2022: Lineup pared to Altitude, X, Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk. The 3.2 V6 became standard on nearly everything (the 2.4 hung on only in the base Altitude and was dropped mid-year), and 4WD was standard on all but the front-drive Latitude Lux.
- 2023: Final year, cut to just two trims: Altitude Lux with the 2.4 four and Trailhawk with the 2.0 turbo. The V6 was gone. Production ended at Belvidere on February 28, 2023 with no direct successor that model year.
Trims and variants
The volume trims were Latitude and Limited. The Trailhawk is the one that matters to off-road buyers: it carries Active Drive Lock with the rear locker and 4WD Low, an approximately one inch suspension lift, unique fascias for better approach and departure angles, skid plates, red tow hooks, and a Trail Rated badge it actually earns. Overland (2016-2020) was the luxury version with nappa leather and could be combined with the V6 and Active Drive II. If you want a KL that can follow a Wrangler down most trails, the Trailhawk with the 3.2 V6 and the tow package is the configuration to hunt for, ideally a 2019-2022 build for the improved transmission behavior. The 2023 Trailhawk is 2.0 turbo only.
Asked all the time
What engines came in the 2014-2023 Jeep Cherokee KL?
The 2014-2023 Jeep Cherokee KL offered three engines in North America: a 2.4 liter Tigershark four rated at 184 hp through 2018 and 180 hp from 2019, a 3.2 liter Pentastar V6 rated at 271 hp (offered 2014-2022), and, from the 2019 facelift onward, a 2.0 liter turbocharged four rated at 270 hp with 295 lb-ft of torque. For the final 2023 model year only the 2.4 (Altitude Lux) and the 2.0 turbo (Trailhawk) remained. Export markets also got MultiJet diesels.
Which years of the Jeep Cherokee KL are best to buy?
The 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee KL is the safer buy. The 2019 facelift brought the 2.0 turbo engine, Uconnect 4 with CarPlay and Android Auto, and years of accumulated software fixes for the nine-speed automatic. The 2014-2015 cars had the roughest transmission calibrations and the 2.4 four is the engine most associated with oil consumption complaints. If you want the 3.2 V6, note it was dropped after 2022.
Is the Cherokee KL Trailhawk actually capable off-road?
Yes, within its class. The Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk (2014-2023) uses Active Drive Lock, which combines a two-speed power transfer unit with a 2.92:1 low ratio and a mechanically locking rear differential, plus roughly one inch of added ride height, skid plates, tow hooks, and revised fascias for better approach and departure angles. It is the only KL trim with a rear locker.
What transmission does the Jeep Cherokee KL use, and is it reliable?
Every North American 2014-2023 Jeep Cherokee KL uses the 948TE nine-speed automatic, built from the ZF 9HP design; the KL was the first production vehicle to deliver this transmission to customers. Early 2014-2015 cars suffered harsh shifting and hesitation and went through multiple software recalls and reflashes. Later model years with updated calibrations behave much better. On any early car, confirm the transmission software is current.
What changed with the 2019 Jeep Cherokee facelift?
For 2019, the Jeep Cherokee KL dropped the split-headlight front end for conventional one-piece LED headlamps, gained new fascias and hood, a lighter composite liftgate, a license plate moved from the bumper to the liftgate, Uconnect 4 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a new 270 hp 2.0 liter turbo four engine option. The carryover 2.4 four was rerated to 180 hp and the base Sport trim was dropped.
How much can a Jeep Cherokee KL tow?
A 2014-2022 Jeep Cherokee KL with the 3.2 liter Pentastar V6 and the factory tow package is rated to tow 4,500 lb, one of the higher ratings in the compact crossover class at the time. The 2.4 four is rated at 2,000 lb, and the 2.0 turbo tops out at 4,000 lb with the tow package.
The wall · registered 2014–2023 Cherokees
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