The All-New Jeep Cherokee Hybrid: A Step Up, But Is It Enough?
For the first time since 2014, the Jeep Cherokee has received a significant overhaul, adopting a hybrid-only powertrain. This marks a substantial shift for the brand, aiming to compete more directly with established hybrid players. While the base model starts just under $37,000, a mid-grade Limited 4×4 can push $45,000, with higher trims venturing into the high $40,000s, positioning it at the pricier end of this comparison.
The new Cherokee boasts an interior that is undeniably a massive improvement over its predecessor. Jeep deserves credit for bringing a thoroughly modern cabin to the market, featuring a standard 10.3-inch instrument cluster display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen, both supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Charging options, including easily accessible USB-C ports and a perfectly placed, vertically oriented wireless charging pad, enhance convenience for daily use.
Interior Comfort and Design Considerations
Despite its modern aesthetics, some material choices in the Cherokee’s cabin fall short upon closer inspection. Ribbed plastics may look appealing, but their tactile quality doesn’t always impress. The synthetic leather seats on the Limited trim feel decent, yet they lack the crucial support and bolstering needed for extended drives, potentially leading to fatigue. This is a vital consideration for drivers who frequently embark on long journeys.
Small item storage is generally adequate, though it lacks the clever solutions found in rivals. However, a large, rubberized bin and a deep center console offer practical spaces. A particularly thoughtful detail is the vertical phone slot between the cupholders, preventing your device from sliding around.
Technology and Usability Challenges
While the Cherokee’s screens are impressive in size, their software usability could be refined. The persistent menu and top bar on the 12.3-inch touchscreen limit the effective screen real estate for applications like Android Auto, making the display feel smaller than it is. Furthermore, some essential functions, such as dimming the rearview mirror, are unnecessarily buried deep within touchscreen menus, complicating what should be a simple adjustment.
Touch-sensitive climate controls are illuminated and stationary, making them somewhat intuitive. Conversely, touch-sensitive buttons for frequently used features like heated seats and steering wheel, located along the screen’s side, often require multiple presses to register, adding a layer of frustration to daily interactions.
Performance, Efficiency, and Practicality
The Cherokee’s hybrid powertrain, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), delivers a combined 37 MPG, a significant efficiency gain over the old model. However, its acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds makes it the slowest in this comparison, notably over a second slower than the Toyota and Hyundai. While it feels sprightly around town thanks to electric assist, highway merging and passing power leave something to be desired. The CVT, while aiding efficiency, can also contribute to less direct throttle response.
Despite being eight inches longer than its competitors, the Cherokee doesn’t always translate this into superior interior space. On paper, it actually offers less legroom and cargo capacity than the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4, respectively. Nevertheless, the back seat provides ample legroom and headroom for adults, making it easy to install rear-facing child seats due to wide door openings. Its deep cargo area is practical for luggage, though vertically limited for taller items. Impressively, the Cherokee matches the RAV4 with a 3,500-pound towing capacity.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: The Efficiency Champion
The Toyota RAV4, a perennially popular choice, enters this comparison as a fully modern and fantastically efficient option. Starting around $33,000 and topping out just under $45,000 (excluding plug-in hybrid variants), it offers compelling value. The RAV4 is a prime example of practical transportation that prioritizes fuel economy without sacrificing everyday performance.
Interior Storage and Material Quality
One of the RAV4’s standout features is its abundant interior storage. Everywhere you look, you’ll find clever nooks, cubbies, and shelves, including dual wireless charging pads. A unique two-tiered shelf in front of the passenger and a reversible center console lid—hard on one side for easy cleaning—show Toyota’s attention to detail in practicality. While interior materials include a fair amount of hard plastic, Toyota generally excels at making common touchpoints feel pleasant.
The synthetic leather seats in the RAV4 are comfortable to the touch. However, like the Cherokee, they could benefit from more support and bolstering, particularly for very long drives. Rear seats, though “smallest on paper,” still provide sufficient room for adult passengers. The wide door openings and low step-in height make child seat installation relatively easy, though the lower latch anchors can be a bit tricky to access.
Performance, Efficiency, and Driving Dynamics
The RAV4 Hybrid is the quickest of the trio, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.4 seconds. Crucially, it also leads in fuel efficiency, boasting an impressive 42 MPG combined, even with all-wheel drive. This significantly outperforms both the Hyundai and the Jeep, translating to noticeable savings at the pump. Its CVT feels more responsive than the Cherokee’s, especially during merging and passing maneuvers, a testament to Toyota’s extensive experience with hybrid powertrains.
The ride quality of the RAV4 is generally superior, offering a comfortable and smooth experience on both city streets and highways. While its braking distance might not be exceptional, the pedal feel allows for consistently smooth stops, further highlighting the refined drivability inherent in Toyota’s hybrid engineering. Driver aids are well-tuned and less intrusive than some competitors, with a “proactive drive assist” system that subtly helps slow the vehicle for upcoming traffic, though it can be disabled if preferred.
Practicality and Visibility
The RAV4’s cargo area, while not as deep as the Cherokee’s, is taller and features a lower load-in height, making it ideal for bulkier items. Thoughtful additions like extra LED lights on the liftgate enhance utility, particularly at night. Similar to the Cherokee, the RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 pounds, outperforming the Tucson in this regard. Visibility is excellent, thanks to a larger windshield and a full-screen surround-view camera, addressing some of the Cherokee’s visual limitations.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: The Value and Comfort King
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid consistently earns high praise for being one of the most easily recommendable and well-rounded SUVs available. Notably, it’s the most affordable of the three, typically priced a couple of thousand dollars less across the board, topping out at just over $43,000. This competitive pricing, combined with a wealth of features, positions the Tucson as a strong value proposition.
Premium Interior and Unmatched Comfort
The Tucson’s interior stands out as a clear step above its competitors, particularly in the tested trim. It’s the only one to offer genuine leather upholstery, and its seats are significantly more comfortable than those in the RAV4 or Cherokee. Both front seats come with heating and ventilation, a luxury often found in higher price brackets. This superior comfort is a game-changer for long drives, making the Tucson a top choice for road trips.
Small item storage is competitive, featuring a large shelf in front of the passenger and an open space below the center stack, perfect for a purse or small bag. While cupholders are not massive, they are functional, and the center console bin, though not wide, offers decent depth.
Advanced Technology and Usability
The Tucson Hybrid features matched 12.3-inch screens for both the instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system. This setup is highly responsive, quick, and remarkably easy to use, supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The main drawback is the instrument cluster’s limited customization, as it doesn’t display navigation directions like some rivals. Charging options are comprehensive, with USB-C ports in both the front and rear, and an easily accessible wireless charging pad.
The back seat of the Tucson Hybrid is a particular highlight. Beyond offering standard amenities like air vents, USB ports, and available heated outboard seats, it excels in comfort and recline. The seats offer substantially more recline than its rivals, and the recline latch is conveniently located near the hip. Furthermore, the ample legroom makes fitting rear-facing car seats even easier, despite lower latch anchors being a bit tough to access.
Driving Dynamics and Fuel Economy
From behind the wheel, the Tucson feels remarkably similar to the RAV4, which is a significant compliment, as both are considered top-tier compact SUVs for driving. It provides a comfortable and quiet ride on various road surfaces. The Tucson’s 0 to 60 mph time is just a tenth of a second shy of the RAV4’s, at approximately 7.5 seconds.
A key differentiator for the Tucson is its use of a conventional six-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT. This results in a more responsive powertrain, with immediate gear changes when accelerating forcefully. While this transmission choice slightly impacts fuel economy compared to the hyper-efficient RAV4, resulting in combined MPG figures closer to 36-37, many drivers prefer the more traditional feel and responsiveness of an automatic transmission.
Cargo Capacity and Unbeatable Value
The Tucson Hybrid boasts the largest cargo area in cubic feet among the trio. A major convenience factor is the inclusion of seat releases in the cargo area, allowing you to fold the rear seats without needing to walk around the car. It also features a two-tiered cargo floor, which can be lowered to accommodate taller items than even the RAV4. The only minor drawback is its lower towing capacity compared to the Jeep and Toyota, which might be a consideration for those planning to haul heavier loads.
Hyundai’s value proposition is further amplified by its exceptional warranty package: a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty. This long-term coverage significantly enhances the ownership experience and provides peace of mind, making the Tucson Hybrid an incredibly compelling choice for buyers seeking long-term value and reliability in a best hybrid SUV.
The Hybrid SUV Decision: Your Questions Answered
What hybrid SUVs are compared in this article?
This article compares three popular hybrid SUVs: the Jeep Cherokee Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.
Which of these hybrid SUVs is the most fuel-efficient?
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid leads in fuel efficiency, achieving an impressive 42 MPG combined, even with all-wheel drive.
Which hybrid SUV in this comparison is generally the most affordable?
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is typically the most affordable among the three, often priced a couple of thousand dollars less across different trims.
Which SUV offers the most comfortable interior and seats?
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is noted for its premium interior and significantly more comfortable seats, including genuine leather upholstery in its higher trims.
What unique benefit does the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offer to buyers?
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid comes with an exceptional warranty package, including a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, providing significant long-term value and peace of mind.