Jeep Cherokee vs. Chevy Equinox

1. Introduction

Jeep Cherokee is known for its off-road capabilities; the new generation of Cherokee is modified and designed in such a way that it can be used for on-road and off-road purposes. It is a classic blend of comfort and capability. Considering the needs of today's driver, the on-road handling has been improved a lot. Now it's a joy to drive this Jeep. It also contains new safety and security features. Cherokee is a lightweight vehicle which gives a very good fuel economy. That's why it is still considered as a good on-road and off-road vehicle. Because of the legendary off-road capabilities of the Cherokee, the comfort of the drive is actually based off the pavement.

Chevy Equinox is also a four-door compact vehicle which is designed to seat front-wheel drive. It is designed by considering the need of a complete family; this is available in various designs/colors which a person can choose to buy according to the budget. This vehicle contains all the necessary features which any person wants in an off-road vehicle like a CD changer, power locks, power windows, and the same air conditioner. This is also used as a towing vehicle because it can tow 3500 lbs of goods behind it.

Jeep is a well-known automotive company. The owner of this company has played a very important role in the automobile industry as he had also run another company named American Motors. Jeep Cherokee is a compact sport utility vehicle which is manufactured by Chrysler. This is a right choice for those off-road riders who want to chase their dreams in their compact vehicles.

This paper or essay is all about the difference of Jeep Cherokee and Chevy Equinox vehicles. There are few reliable sources as present in this essay. The list of those sources is also mentioned at the end of the essay. Comparison is made to discuss the capability, engine, efficiency, on-drive technology, cargo space, and comfort of both the vehicles.

2. Features and Specifications

Safety is an important factor to consider when purchasing a new vehicle. The Equinox has Electronic Stability Control and an OnStar Directions & Connections plan, which is free for the first six months. The Cherokee boasts its Jeep® Active Drive I and Jeep® Active Drive II systems, which can simulate the driving conditions ahead and control the amount of torque applied to the wheels. It also offers the Parkview Rear Back-up Camera with dynamic grid lines and a Forward Collision Control system. While both vehicles offer a wide range of safety features, the capacity and functions of those in the Cherokee appear to be more advanced and safer.

Looking to interior comfort, the Equinox has a very modern feel with excellent use of storage and comfortability to the driver. The Cherokee has quality finish and an expensive feel and is very well insulated from the harshness of the weather outside. Both vehicles offer excellent comfort and quality; however, the feel and style suit individualistic needs.

The engine performance of both vehicles is very different, with the Jeep Cherokee using a 2.4L I4 engine, and the Chevy Equinox using a 2.4L I4 Hybrid engine. With an I4 Hybrid, it is expected that fuel efficiency is the main advantage, with it achieving a combined mpg of 29, in comparison to the 22 combined mpg of the Cherokee. An I4 Hybrid, however, does not provide an increase in horsepower, with the Equinox having a slightly better 182 horsepower output in comparison to the 174 horsepower of the Cherokee. Despite the horsepower, a hybrid I4 has less torque, with the Cherokee having 229 lb-ft, and the Equinox at 149 lb-ft. Overall, the engine of the Cherokee appears to have the advantage, as the slightly higher fuel consumption is made up for with better performance.

2.1. Engine Performance

Cherokee houses a 3.2-liter V6 engine underneath its front bonnet. This makes it able to produce an impressive 271 horsepower and 239 lb-ft of torque. On the contenders corner, Chevrolet has installed a 2.4-liter I4 into its Equinox. This vastly drops down the power possibilities from its rival by only mustering 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Jeep also supplies a 2.4-liter I4 as one of the alternatives atop the Cherokee model but maintains a better power output than that of its opponent's version in the Equinox. This is due to Jeep using technologies under the name of Tigershark. This MultiAir 2 system is able to push out 184 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. Both vehicles cater for a 4-cylinder engine and each have a V6 upgrade available but in the base model to mid-range choice, the Cherokee has it over the Equinox in power and general performance. Step-mother quite possibly directed Chevrolet to release the new 2018 Equinox with a diesel motor as an extra option. This is an area where the Jeep Sleepy Hollow Revamp could potentially see a 7th season.

2.2. Interior Design

Cherokee: When it comes to interior design, the Jeep Cherokee boasts a refined, upscale look. This sophisticated, high-quality design is evident through its stylish dashboard, steering wheel, and the rest of the interior. Passengers and drivers alike will enjoy the spacious, comfortable atmosphere, complete with a modern and user-friendly electronics interface. Higher trim levels offer a more luxurious feel, including wood inserts and Nappa leather upholstery. In terms of functionality, the Cherokee's interior excels by offering a multitude of convenient storage areas, as well as plush, supportive seating all-around. This Jeep's commendable interior is nicely topped off with an ample cargo hold that expands to 54.9 cubic feet with rear seats folded down. Equinox: In comparison to the Cherokee, the Chevrolet Equinox features an interior more geared towards everyday practicality. Its contemporary design fares well in terms of quality and functionality, although it may lack the same sense of refinement as seen in the Cherokee. A well-organized dashboard and logical controls make the Equinox user-friendly; however, its front passenger seating and rear legroom may feel slightly cramped in comparison. Families and active individuals might appreciate the Equinox's sliding rear seat, which allows for increased rear cargo space when necessary. Overall, the Equinox provides a convenient, family-friendly interior with a focus on versatility and practicality.

2.3. Safety Features

The safety features of the Jeep Cherokee are in distinguishing contrast to that of the Chevy Equinox. Particularly, the Cherokee has been designed almost as an army tank could be designed for civilians. It has a very rigid and rugged look about it that would appeal to the off-road driving fantasies of many drivers. Despite the solid look of the vehicle, the safety features are not lacking. It comes with multi-stage airbags in the front to protect drivers and passengers. Side airbags are an option, as are side-curtain airbags which are designed to protect the heads of the driver and passengers in the event of a rollover or side-impact crash. The driver and passengers are protected by knee bolsters in the event of a front-end crash, preventing knee injuries. Traction and stability control systems are also standard features, as are anti-lock brakes. The Chevy Equinox has an overabundance of impact airbags. Airbags are standard for the driver and right front passenger. This is in addition to seat-mounted thorax airbags (for torso protection in the event of a side-impact collision). In the rear outboard seating position, the Equinox also has head curtain airbags. In total, there are six airbags designed to be deployed in the event of a collision, though GM has been known to continue airbag deployment upon ignition several weeks after some collisions. (This still counts as one collision as far as the airbag system is concerned). Overall, the safety features offered with both vehicles are above average for the era in which they were built, but the airbags in the Equinox may not be entirely necessary and could raise the cost of routine vehicle maintenance. The Cherokee has safety features sufficient enough to protect the driver and passengers while maintaining a durable and rugged appearance and build.

3. Fuel Efficiency and Cost

Gas prices are currently unprecedented, and a deciding factor in purchasing a vehicle can be dependent on fuel efficiency. The Jeep Cherokee offers a variant of its 2.4L engine into a 2.0L Turbo I4 engine with ESS, which only increases fuel efficiency, getting an estimated 23 MPG in the city and 31 on the highway. High Altitude and Upland models offer the 3.2L Pentastar V6 engine that has best-in-class towing and a 29% increase in gas mileage compared to the original 2.4L I4 engine. Jeep's Active Drive I system also includes a rear axle disconnect feature that only engages the 4x4 system when necessary, improving fuel efficiency. This gives Jeep the upper hand in fuel efficiency, allowing the customer multiple engine options for better MPG and maintaining its best-in-class 4x4 capability. By doing so, Jeep has increased gas mileage and efficiency. However, the Jeep Cherokee still wants to be recognized for its off-road capabilities with the 4x4 system available on all models, making it the best in class for fuel efficiency, overall MPG, and 4x4.

The Jeep Cherokee is built with a 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir I4 engine, which is said to optimize power, torque, and fuel efficiency. It gets an estimated 22 MPG in the city and 31 on the highway. The 2.4L I4 provides power as well as fuel efficiency, offering the best of both worlds.

Both the Jeep Cherokee and Chevy Equinox are built for fuel efficiency. The Chevy Equinox is a relatively smaller and lighter vehicle and thus uses a 4-cylinder engine, which improves its gas mileage. It is able to get an estimated MPG of 22 in the city and 32 on the highway, which is about the same as a family sedan. The 4-cylinder engine comes at a price; if you're willing to pay a little extra at the gas pump, the Chevy Equinox also has the option of a more powerful V6 engine for faster acceleration. The choice is yours.

3.1. MPG Comparison

Chevrolet Equinox – The Chevrolet Equinox provides a mileage of 22 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway, which is slightly higher than the Cherokee in the city and the same on the highway. The Equinox matches the Cherokee on the highway, but the city fuel efficiency is lower. The Equinox features an engine that provides good power and fuel efficiency. A six-speed automatic transmission is designed for optimum performance and excellent fuel economy. The transmission will automatically select a gear range best suited to driving conditions. High clutch capacity is designed for durability. The Equinox also features an ECO mode that makes it more fuel efficient. This mode changes the shift points and locks the torque converter sooner. It uses the air conditioning compressor less and it also employs a fuel shut-off during deceleration. This gives better fuel efficiency and lowers the operating costs.

Jeep Cherokee – The Jeep Cherokee gives a mileage of up to 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. The engine stop-start technology provides the best-in-class driving range. The ESS technology uses a high-durability starter motor to stop and start the engine in order to save fuel. The aerodynamics of the Cherokee makes it give higher fuel efficiency. The lower front and rear fascias are designed to minimize wind resistance and to optimize air flow. The roof design is sloped to allow smooth air flow over the vehicle. All this makes the vehicle more fuel efficient and also provides cost savings to the owner. An advanced 9-speed automatic transmission provides a good balance between driving experience and shifting performance. The transmission is designed to provide the driver with precise control and greatly reduced power loss.

3.2. Maintenance Costs

The fuel economy estimate of the Chevy Equinox is roughly about the same as the 6-cylinder Jeep Cherokee. The 4-cylinder Equinox is slightly better and quite similar to the 4-cylinder Jeep. However, the 4-cylinder engine has been criticized for being underpowered and inefficient compared to the Equinox's larger, heavier rivals. The EPA rating is 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway on 2WD models and 20 city, 29 highway with AWD. This equates to an average of about 25 mpg for 2WD and 24 mpg for AWD, assuming 55% highway and 45% city driving – similar to the Cherokee. Overall, the Jeep and Chevy fall into the same fuel economy category, and neither is particularly impressive. Based on 15,000 miles driven per year at $3.50 per gallon of regular-grade gasoline, the annual fuel cost for a 2WD/4-cylinder vehicle will be $1928 and $2114 for a 2WD/6-cylinder vehicle. This is relatively low compared to most SUVs on the market but still somewhat high for a compact to mid-size crossover.

The advertised fuel economy of the Jeep Cherokee is anything but spectacular for a small to mid-size crossover that is supposed to be car-based. The 4-cylinder Sport model with 2WD and 5-speed manual transmission is listed at 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway. An automatic 2WD 4-cylinder Sport or any 6-cylinder model will be 1 mpg less on both accounts. 4WD Cherokee models are also 1 mpg lower than their 2WD counterparts. Assuming mixed driving conditions with 55% highway and 45% city, the 2014-2015 Cherokee will have an average fuel economy of around 24 mpg.

There are some obvious similarities between the Jeeps and other SUVs on the market: Jeep Liberty, which is about the same size and shape as a Chevy Equinox, gets about the same average fuel economy. The larger, more powerful Jeep Grand Cherokee falls into the same range as the 6 cylinder Equinox and will obviously use more fuel. Finally, the underpowered base Jeep Wrangler with its brick-like shape and off-road-oriented 4WD system will be among the least fuel-efficient SUVs in its category. During the last set of EPA fuel economy tests on 2008 and newer vehicles, testuty.

4. Overall Comparison and Conclusion

Overall, both vehicles have a lot to offer depending on what you need it for. If a comfortable interior and fuel economy is what you are looking for, then the Chevy Equinox is just for you. If off-roading capabilities and a slight towing capacity are higher on your list, then the Jeep Cherokee is the better buy. Both vehicles start in the mid twenty thousand range and climb to the mid thirty thousand range fully loaded. The factors to take into consideration are what you are looking for in a vehicle and how hard it will hit your wallet. This review has stated the pros and cons of each vehicle and factual information. At the end of the day, test driving each vehicle is the best way to make an accurate decision to suit your needs. Every person is different and what everyone needs is not the same. Because of this, I can't make a solid decision on which is better, but I can say the more popular buy in the long run is the Equinox. This is mostly due to affordable parts and better gas mileage. But it is hard not to ignore the liberty and long history behind the Jeep Cherokee. Whether you're going green in technology with Chevy or sticking with some American tradition with Jeep, either way should leave you a satisfying purchase in a new vehicle.