Car Statistics: Jeep - Cherokee Series 08 (3 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

Muscular and imposing, the Cherokee looks like a serious bit of kit. Jeep has got rid of the gawky rounded lights and replaced them with square housing and a smart chrome grille. Bling.

Handling (3 stars)

There are few rivals in this segment that can match the Cherokee for its off-road ability. However, on the road - despite substantial suspension tweaks - the Cherokee lacks sophistication, suffering from a fair bit of body roll and a bouncy ride at times.

Comfort (3 stars)

The seats are comfortable and supportive in the front and rear, and long journeys will not be a problem in the Cherokee. However, the engine isn't the most refined, and can be quite noisy.

Quality (3 stars)

There is no denying that the Cherokee is well built and is unlikely to suffer any reliability issues. But although the interior is an improvement on the previous car, it still feels a little cheap in places and isn't quite as plush as rivals.

Performance (3 stars)

There is just one engine available in the UK, the 2.8-litre CRD. It isn't the quickest of units, but develops up to 339lb ft torque (with the auto 'box) giving the Cherokee enough grunt for decent acceleration and will reach 62mph in a not-too-shabby 10.5 seconds.

Roominess (3 stars)

The Cherokee is deceptively spacious, as it is one of Jeeps smaller models. However, there is a decent amount of room in the front and the rear seats will easily accommodate six-footers. The boot is a decent size too for this segment.

Costs (2 stars)

Any type of 4x4 is hard to justify when it comes to running costs and the Cherokee is no exception. It will manage 33.4mpg on the combined cycle whilst CO2 of 222g/km puts it into the second most expensive tax band of £195 per year (2008/09 figures). Choose an automatic though and you'll be paying £400 tax per year.

Value (4 stars)

As there is only one trim level it means that the Cherokee comes with a raft of standard equipment. So much so, that there are only four items on its optional extras list. It is priced towards the more premium end of the SUV segment (and slightly above the Kuga/CR-V/RAV4), but still undercuts an equivalent Freelander model by some margin.

Stereo (4 stars)

The standard stereo sounds decent and comes with six speakers. For an extra £1500 though there is an optional entertainment and navigation kit which includes sat nav, bluetooth phone connection, Infinity Premium Sound group with nine speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer.