Jeep adds new Cherokee S-Limited flagship for 2020

JEEP Australia has bolstered its Cherokee medium SUV line-up for 2020 with the addition of the new $52,650 (before on-road costs) S-Limited flagship.

Taking inspiration from the bigger Grand Cherokee S-Limited, Jeep says the new Cherokee range topper adds more than $3,750 worth of value compared the regular Limited variant, almost all of which comes in the form of visual enhancements.

For the extra $2700 over the standard model, the ‘S Package’ adds a heap of ‘Granite Crystal’ adornments, including exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels, seven-slot grille surrounds, badging all-round, unique S badge on the tailgate, roof rails as well as extra body-coloured cladding and lower front fascia, dual-pane panoramic sunroof and black window surrounds.

Inside, the headliner is now black along with the A-pillars, while the seats have been upgraded to premium leather bucket with Tungsten accent stitching complemented by similar stitching on the armrests and console lid.

Everything else about the S-Limited reads exactly the same as the regular Limited, with standard kit including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and voice command compatibility, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, electronic idle-stop, power-folding exterior mirrors, 8.4-inch infotainment unit with satellite navigation, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam headlights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic parking functionality, power adjustable heated and cooled front seats, Jeep’s Selec-Terrain Traction Management system, dual-zone climate control, power tailgate, automatic wipers and push-button start.

Safety features are also carried over for 2020, meaning all Cherokees come with autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and reversing camera with rear cross-path detection.

It’s the same story under the bonnet too where we find the familiar 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine, still good for a handy 200kW and 315Nm with drive sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission.

When announcing the introduction of the S-Limited, Jeep brand and product strategy director Guillaume Drelon said the new model gave “customers access to a truly sleek, head turning 4x4”.

One broader change that has been made to the line-up for 2020 is the axing of the Longitude mid-ranger, meaning there is now a sizeable $12,000 price gap between the entry-level Sport and the next model up – now the Limited.

So far this year ending April, Jeep has chalked up 117 Cherokee sales nationally, accounting for just 0.3 per cent of the crowded sub-$60,000 medium SUV segment.

The ever-popular Toyota RAV4 has a commanding 23.5 per cent stranglehold on the segment, followed distantly by the Mazda CX-5 and its 13.8 per cent segment share.

2020 Jeep Cherokee pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs