Jeep Cherokee

Our verdict

The Jeep Cherokee is fine and has an authentic badge. But in this sector you’re spoilt for choice, and it’s slipping further and further down the shortlist.

Comfort

Multi-link suspension on a solid monocoque mean that the Cherokee is always more than passably comfy. Soft-ish suspension helps iron out bumps and botox the smaller stuff into smoothness. There's plenty of space too. The only real comfort killer is the noisy diesel.

Performance

The 2.8-litre diesel is a noisy mother and it only gets 161bhp. Of more relevance is the 266lb ft of torque, but you're talking about a Jeep that weighs 2140kg (that's fat, fact fans), so there's no balls to back up all the shouty muster. The benchmark 0-62mph comes up in a leisurely 12.8 seconds and it only manages 108mph.

Cool

You won't win friends and you most certainly won't influence people.

Quality

The good things about Jeep remain - everything looks rugged, tough and able to withstand some cowboyish fumbling. The bad things are the same too - it's made of dull plastics and secretly wants to be a Tonka Toy.

Handling

It's only average in the sector. It won't fall over around a sharp bend but nor will it be able to generate the grip that something more road-biased can manage. Drive a Land Rover Freelander, or better yet a Nissan X-Trail. After which, case closed.

Practicality

Loads of lovely headroom in the box-shaped Cherokee, along with a generous dollop of legroom, though there's not quite enough width across the beam to seat three wide-thighed monstrosities in the back. A big boot with the seats up (821litres) jumps to a massive 1954litres with the seats folded and there's a side-opening split tailgate for ease of access.

Running costs

The Cherokee struggles to get 30mpg and isn't particularly clean (band G £300 at the time of going to press) and doesn't have the solid residuals you might expect given the rufty-tufty badge.