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Jeep Cherokee KL Model (2013-Present): Specs, Info and Problems

If you research the market of SUVs for a while, one name will pop up again and again and that is Jeep Cherokee. Jeep Cherokees are one of the most popular SUVs available out there on the market. Being ahead of its time, this family-friendly 4 wheeler kept offering compact sport utility with powerful performance all the way. 

The Jeep Cherokee KL Model was one of the top-rated models from the very beginning. If you want to get yourself a Jeep Cherokee KL, but aren’t quite sure whether it will be a good purchase or not, then no more worries. We have covered almost everything important about Jeep Cherokee KL Model from 2013 till now for your convenience. 

Specs of the Jeep Cherokee KL Model:

Now let’s start with the most important features and specs of the Cherokee KL Model by Jeep. 

The Engine

A new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder connects both the optional V6 that comes with it and the four-cylinder engine together. This engine makes around 270 horsepower and a torque of 295 lb-ft, which, compared to the V-6, is 56 more in numbers. This is what puts it on the peak of the powertrain list. 

However, compared to other models, this engine is not that exciting and is quite average. Like if you compare it with the V-6 one, then you will clearly see that the turbo-four does lack a bit. But overall, you do get decent handling out on the road and a comfortable ride from this one. 

Cargo, Interior, and Comfort

The Cherokee KL model not just comes with easy-to-use controls but also quite comfortable seats. The attractive dashboard in the vehicle is similar to the layout of the more expensive and more extensive Grand Cherokees. It has been done with the purpose to elevate the luxury feeling in the car. 

The drawback about the interior is that looking at the larger body of the Cherokee you would expect the interior to be large and spacious. But, that is not the case here. It comes with small windows but high window sills. 

If that is not enough, it also has a small cargo area which is not great for the storage you would expect from a vehicle of this size.

Connectivity and Infotainment 

Jeep has one of the well-organized menus that offer you plenty of features, which makes Jeep’s infotainment, Uconnect, one of the best in the business.

To make sure the passengers in the rear seat are not left out, Jeep puts two USB ports behind the center console. They also have Android Auto and Apple Car-Play capabilities. 

Jeep Cherokee KL Model Review:

The Cherokee KL from Jeep stands out from the other models of the Jeep Cherokee. It’s because the KL model of the Jeep Cherokee has some of the most amazing off-roading capabilities. It also comes with some of the best towing capacity when you have configured it correctly. 

This SUV offers you a comfortable ride and has options to choose from, either all-wheel drive or a four-wheel-drive configuration. However, something to notice here is that the Cherokee has a mediocre fuel economy compared to other competitors. The Trailhawk version of this SUV offers a lot more versatility than you could even imagine. 

What’s New in the KL Model?

The 2019 Model of the Jeep Cherokee went through quite a significant update- both in cosmetics and mechanics from the 2013 model. It’s also one of the reasons why the 2020 Model of Cherokee did not receive a lot of substantial changes and updates. The updates to the 2020 Cherokee were relatively minimal. 

However, this is not to say that the recent Cherokee KL did not get anything good at all. The 2020 Cherokee has a package for the Advanced Safety Group. This package includes windshield wipers that can sense the rain, a warning for forwarding collisions, and also get a warning for lane departure. 

With the 2020 Cherokee, you can also buy two new colors that are offered by Jeep. These colors are Spitfire Orange and Sangria. 

The Maintenance Coverage 

Jeep offers almost an average warranty coverage for each Cherokee. The competitors such as the Hyundai Tucson and Kar Sportage are the only ones who are out there, offering powertrain warranties that are significantly longer.

You will have the Cherokee available for you when you get a Jeep Wave program for ownership. This ownership program gives you two free years of scheduled maintenance for your Cherokee. For the Trailhawk and Overland models, the Jeep Wave program comes as a standard. 

However, if you are getting a lesser Cherokee, you can always opt-in with just a fee. 

 Warranty

Here are some things that you should keep in mind about the warranty of your Cherokee. 

  • The complimentary two years maintenance only covers up to 4 visits in 2 years.
  • The Limited warranty covers 36000 miles or three years.
  • The Powertrain warranty covers 60000 miles or five years.

Affordable Price

Well, the lovely and simple answer to the question of why the Cherokee KL model is so affordable would be supply and demand. Since the Jeep Cherokee was first released back in 1984, people have loved the rugged design of this vehicle. It continued to hold its popularity for decades onward. The Jeep Cherokees became so popular that they were in the 9th position for the most sold SUVs. 

It turns out now that the number of Cherokees on the market far exceeds the number of people trying to buy them. It’s mainly why Cherokees, especially used ones, can be found for really cheap. 

You might wonder why people wouldn’t want to buy a popular vehicle like that anymore. Move to our next segment to know why.

Problems with the 2020 Jeep Cherokee:

Many customers have been complaining about the engine of their Jeep Cherokee KL. Most people experienced this kind of problem after going over 1030 miles with the vehicle. When the low oil pressure alert warning starts going off, the car begins to stall. 

Drivers of this vehicle are required to add more oil in the car constantly, and they need to keep an eye to their oil quite frequently as well. The 2020 Jeep Cherokee has an issue of consuming excessive oil that can be a big problem in the long run. 

Engine Light Going Off

The Cherokee needed to be taken into servicing quite a lot, and the problems never seemed to end. There are frequent warnings from the engine lights and errors from the computer codes.

There have been reports that the Cherokee, having traveled around 500 miles, had the check engine light going off. It was assumed that this would be due to the heavy traffic conditions the vehicle was being driven in. The throttle warning light began to flash as well, and there was a massive loss in power.

Issues with the Engine

Some of the Cherokee KL 2014-16 came with power liftgates that ultimately led to corrosion. Jeep had to recall the vehicles and check for inspection.

The 2.4-liter engine that includes a 4 x 4 automatic powertrain in the Cherokee KL 2020 is also the same one used in the 2019 Cherokee model. That engine was reported to have issues with improper calibration of the transmission. This issue also caused the vehicles to stall a lot.

Less Fuel Economy

The fuel economy of the Cherokee KL is just terrible. It led a lot of car reviewers to go ahead and say that the Cherokee was just not worth the price and the engine offered quite an average performance.

Unless you want something that will be an excellent asset for off-roading and towing, you might be better off with other options.

Less Reliability

The Cherokee Jeeps also have reliability issues. Jeep was well known for making excellent and rugged vehicles, which led people to think that their cars were reliable, valid for some of their models. But, Jeep hasn’t been doing much with the reliability of their vehicles across their entire lineup in recent years. 

Of course, vehicle issues are common, and when there is a problem, there is a way to fix it. The issues can always be taken care of by a professional mechanic who knows what he is doing. The reliability of your vehicle essentially comes down to the amount of servicing you put behind it.

Final Words

The Jeep Cherokee KL Model might have some flaws, but despite having all these drawbacks, it is a vehicle built to be strong and rugged. And it is designed to get you through rough terrains.

Hope we have answered all your queries in this guide to Jeep Cherokee KL Model (2013-present): Review, Problems, and Specs. Just like every other 4 wheeler, it has some annoying issues too, but it is worth the price if you consider the exciting features and deal with the problems professionally.

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