Jeep Cherokee vs. Toyota 4Runner

When your travels require commanding power, you’ll find it in both the Cherokee and the 4Runner. Both models offer engines that produce 270 horsepower. The engine of the Cherokee works with a 9-speed automatic transmission, while the 4Runner engine pairs with 5-speed automatic transmission. More gears offer a greater ratio spread between them, so the engine has more options for optimal operation. Those additional gears help ensure a smoother, more comfortable, and more efficient ride.

Both models also offer several 4-wheel drive systems, so you can confidently tackle the mud, dirt, and sand. They also come with selectable drive modes to personalize your SUV’s capability. The main difference is that while Multi-Terrain Select of the 4Runner comes with four modes, the Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System of the Cherokee is available with up to five modes.

Still, who says that power and efficiency have to be mutually exclusive? These SUVs beg to differ, especially the Jeep Cherokee!

The Cherokee achieves an EPA-estimated 21 city/29 highway MPG to keep the fun in full swing and leave the pump in the rearview. Meanwhile, the 4Runner only maintains an EPA-estimated 16 city/19 highway MPG, meaning you’ll have to stop more frequently to refuel. If you want to go farther off the map, head off the grid, or venture more miles before making a pit stop, the Jeep Cherokee can take you there.

You could ditch the highway and head out on the trails at any time. A spontaneous moment like that calls for a vehicle with an interior that’s likewise ready for anything. Luckily, both models provide. They bring all the comforts of home with available:

Do you want to get a bit closer to nature? Of course, you do! That’s why both models are available with a sunroof. The CommandView® Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof of the Jeep will open up your world even more, as it extends over both rows. The traditional sunroof in the 4Runner only sits over the front row.

Most likely, you don’t adventure alone, so you’ll want to know your chosen vehicle can accommodate your crew. The Cherokee and the 4Runner offer nearly identical dimensions when it comes to headroom in both rows and both models provide over 41 inches of front legroom.

If you’re looking for the SUV that gives the folks in the second row more room to stretch out, the Jeep Cherokee is the right one for you. It provides 40.3 inches of second-row legroom, while the Toyota 4Runner only has 32.9 inches of legroom for passengers in the same row.

These SUVs bring a bevy of connected technologies. Their innovative infotainment systems are anchored to a responsive touchscreen display, which measures eight inches in the 4Runner. Meanwhile, the Cherokee provides the class-exclusive standard Uconnect® 4C NAV with the largest 8.4-inch touchscreen in its class. Both models give you access to a similar lineup of technologies, including:

Even more importantly, they both bring confidence-inspiring safety features to the table. For example, both the Jeep Cherokee and the Toyota 4Runner offer Blind Spot Monitoringto alert you when a vehicle is lurking in one of those hard-to-see places.

Did you know the Jeep Cherokee can actually park itself? It’s true! When equipped with available Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist with Full Stop, this SUV can steer itself directly into any suitable spot. The Toyota 4Runner doesn’t offer a similar feature.