The Jeep Cherokee returns after a 2-year hiatus as an all-new vehicle, and of all the compact crossovers Motor Trend could compare it against, they chose the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid. It is an odd pairing until you get well into the article, at which point it starts to make more sense. Team Gillman Mazda shares what they've found.  

Motor Trend quickly recognizes that this is an odd comparison. Although these two models are in the same compact crossover category, pairing a model from a company known for its sports cars and sporty handling across its lineup with one that emphasizes off-road heritage and capability seems unlikely to lead to much cross-shopping in the real world. 

Still, Motor Trend demonstrates meaning behind the madness. To start with, the new Jeep Cherokee comes standard with a hybrid drivetrain. They seem to hide that fact, as there is no hybrid badging inside or out. However, under the hood is a 1.6-liter turbocharged (they do promote that) inline-4, combined with an electric motor, producing 210 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and a conventional mechanical all-wheel-drive system. The system doesn’t meet Jeep’s “Trail Rated” standard, but that is likely to come in future models.  

Mazda doesn’t mind promoting its hybrid drivetrain, which is pulled directly from the Toyota RAV4, though with Mazda’s fine-tuning. Thus, it features a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine combined with two electric motors, including one located in the rear to create all-wheel drive. It all combines for 219 horsepower. Outside of its trucks, Toyota rarely lists torque specs on its hybrid models, and Mazda plays along, so we are left to combine the engine’s 163 lb-ft and the 118 and 89 lb-ft from the motors and speculate how much twist they bring together. The MPG figures are clear, though: the CX-50 posts a city/highway/combined of 39/37/38. 

Also clear is that the CX-50 Hybrid is faster. It is good for a 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds, creating a significant gap from Cherokee’s 9.4 seconds. The CX-50’s performance superiority is apparent through all of Motor Trend’s test numbers, including a 15.8-second quarter mile vs. the Jeep’s 17.1 and a 45 – 65 passing time of 4.1 seconds vs. 4.9. When it comes to deceleration, the CX-50 Hybrid comes to a stop from 60 in 113 feet compared to 122 for the Cherokee. In their figure-8 test, the CX-50 Hybrid averaged .62g compared to the Cherokee’s 0.56g. In addition, the CX-50 behaves on the road in a manner expected of Mazda, or in their words, “Ride quality is similarly refined, with damping that smooths out the bumps just enough to make things comfortable, but it maintains a sense of composure and connectedness, aided by its AWD grip.” 

Jeep’s handling also reflects its brand heritage. “The steering setup the wheel’s connected to doesn’t help matters, either, exhibiting a general numbness and lack of feedback…Unsurprisingly, its suspension seems to have been tuned for light off-roading, which is to say it’s somewhat soft and communicates a good deal of motion. The brake feel is on the squishy side, as well.” The hybrid Cherokee does redeem itself somewhat with its EPA-estimated fuel economy of 42/33/37 mpg. 

The Jeep’s exterior brings a resemblance between Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models that hasn’t been evident there since the debut of the first GC in 1993, complete with the low-profile 7-slat grille and uncluttered surfacing. Open the Cherokee’s door, and you get an idea of what made Motor Trend decide to compare it with a Mazda product, as the Cherokee’s dash design is surprisingly elegant. Still, they found the seats lacking in support, the electronic interior door releases suspect (“a solution in search of a problem”), and the octagon-shaped steering wheel “thick, lumpy, and honestly one of the strangest we’ve held.” 

The generally liked CX-50 interior didn’t come out unscathed either, mainly because Mazda wants you to use the console controls instead of the touchscreen while moving. However, they make an exception for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They do like that there are plenty of physical controls. The lack of Lane Keeping Assist also stood out. Mazda really wants you to drive the vehicle. 

Finally, they can’t overlook that the Cherokee Overland costs about $6,000 more than the CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus. That, along with the CX-50 Hybrid’s better performance and driving manners, has Motor Trend awarding the win to the CX-50 Hybrid.  

The CX-50 Hybrid combines sophisticated styling, excellent road manners, an elegant interior, and outstanding fuel efficiency, making it an absolute must on anyone’s compact crossover consideration list. Check out the CX-50 Hybrid yourself at Team Gillman Mazda, located just north of FM1960 on the 45 Freeway.