2016 Honda CR-V vs 2016 Jeep Cherokee

The 2016 Honda CR-V spreads its enticing selection of features across five exciting trim levels.

• LX: The entry-level LX includes a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines, a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system, and an SMS texting function, and split folding rear seats.
• SE: The all-new SE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, and a top of the line security system.
• EX: The EX provides an array of upgrades, including a 7-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, one-touch power moonroof, fog lights, and a 10-way power driver’s seat.
• EX-L: The EX-L takes comfort as its priority, indulging occupants with leather-trimmed seats, dual-zone climate controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an automatic dimming rearview mirror.
• Touring: The Touring provides a score of driver assistance technologies from its Honda Sensing package, and also adds a Honda satellite navigation system, power liftgate, and HomeLink remote system.

The 2016 Jeep Cherokee provides four trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited. The Sport starts by offering air conditioning, cruise control, floor mats, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, while even the upper-level Limited provides only the sort of features you’d expect from a mid-level trim, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a keyless entry system.

The team at Honda has chosen to provide the 2016 CR-V with the same sophisticated powertrain no matter your chosen trim level. That means you’ll be able to command up to 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque from an advanced 2.4L four-cylinder engine, all while earning up to 26 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway* with FWD thanks to the forward-thinking continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The Cherokee offers two engines:

• 2.4L Four-Cylinder: Rated at 184 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, it makes up to a mediocre 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
• 3.2L V6: Rated at 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque, it makes a maximum of just 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

The 3.2L V6 provides more power than most College Place and Kennewick drivers will ever need, and it thirsts for fuel so ardently that you’ll find yourself spending more than your fair share of time and money topping up. The 2.4L is hardly a worthy alternative; it is both less powerful and less efficient than the CR-V’s four-cylinder.

Crossovers are valued for combining the space of an SUV with the responsive driving dynamics and impressive efficiency ratings of a car. The CR-V clearly bests the Cherokee when it comes to mileage ratings, but it continues to address the needs of crossover drivers by offering significantly more cargo room.

• Standard Cargo Space: Up to 37.2 cubic feet in the CR-V vs. just 24.6 in the Cherokee.
• Extended Cargo Space: Up to 70.9 cubic feet in the CR-V vs. only 54.9 in the Cherokee.

The 2016 Honda CR-V is clearly made for College Place and Kennewick drivers who expect high-end features as standard, and it caters expertly to their needs to provide a comfortable and effortless drive during every journey.

In contrast, the 2016 Jeep Cherokee fails to make several now expected technologies standard across the board, including:

• Rearview Camera: You’ll need to pick up a Cherokee Latitude to see behind your vehicle while reversing; the CR-V equips as standard a multi-angle model with three viewing modes and handy guidelines.
• Automatic Headlights: Each and every CR-V will automatically turn on its headlights when it gets dark. They’re a small feature, but always a welcome one, and you won’t receive them as standard with the Cherokee.
• CD Player: Even something as basic as a CD player is missing from the Cherokee, something that is extremely rare for even an econobox vehicle.

The 2016 Honda CR-V and the 2016 Jeep Cherokee both boast a strong range of driver-assistance technologies to keep you from entering a dangerous situation, with available features including:

• Lane Departure Warning

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Forward Collision Monitoring

However, while the 2016 Honda CR-V aced NHTSA crash simulations with a five-star score and received a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2016 Jeep Cherokee received only four stars and missed out on any kind of award from the IIHS, having been rated as “Marginal” in terms of small front overlap protection.