The 2014 Jeep Cherokee’s engine options are rather limited. Out of the two, the 271-hp 3.2L Pentastar V6 is the resoundingly better choice because of its superior performance.
Key Points
- The 2014 Jeep Cherokee‘s base engine is a 184-hp 2.4L Tigershark inline-four that gets great fuel economy but suffers in performance.
- The 2014 Cherokee’s other engine is a 271-hp 3.2L V6 that brings much better performance without really compromising fuel economy.
- Of the two, the 3.2L V6 is a significantly better engine because its extra power and torque can extract significantly more performance and refinement from the 2014 Cherokee package.
- Many owners have reported these engines experiencing a serious problem where they can stall while driving.
2.4L Base Engine Delivers 25 mpg Combined, but its Performance is Limited by Cherokee’s 4,044-pound Curb Weight
The base engine offered in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee is a 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir inline-four. It produces 184-hp and 171 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. On the surface, those numbers match its rivals and are pretty good on their own. However, because of the Cherokee’s 4,044-pound curb weight, the performance offered by the Tigershark engine is dampened.
Edmunds attested to this problem in their review of the 2014 Cherokee, saying, “the Cherokee is heavy for a small crossover SUV, which makes the engine feel sluggish when accelerating up to highway speeds.”
On the plus side, the inline-four produces good fuel economy. The EPA rates front-wheel-drive 2014 Cherokees with the Tigershark equipped at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Four-wheel-drive Cherokees with the inline-four put out 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway respectively. These numbers are a 45 percent improvement over the outgoing Cherokee according to Jeep.
Replacing this engine is reasonably priced. A used unit with 63,000 miles costs $1,099 per Car Part Planet. A rebuilt unit will set you back $4,015.
For oil, the inline-four takes 5.5 quarts of 0w-20. Filter changes should be scheduled every 8,000 miles or so.
Overall, despite its good fuel economy, the full potential of the 2.4L inline-four can never really be utilized because of the Cherokee’s weight. For that reason, we can’t recommend getting this engine over the V6.
2014 Cherokee’s 3.5L V6 Brings 271-hp and a 4,500 Pound Max Towing Capacity while Still Getting 22 mpg Combined
The other choice of engine offered in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee is a 3.2L Pentastar V6. Producing 271-hp and 239 lb.-ft. of torque, this engine handles the weight of the 2014 Cherokee much better. In fact, it propels the 2014 Jeep Cherokee from zero to 60 mph in seven seconds.
Impressively, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the Pentastar V6 can also tow up to 4,500 pounds. For a midsize SUV, that is a strong and class-leading number. As a bonus, for buyers who like to take their Jeep off-road, the V6’s torque combined with the 2014 Cherokee’s 56:1 crawl ratio will make an excellent combination to tackle hard terrain.
This engine and its refinement impressed the likes of Car and Driver. They said, “At 45 mph, it’s only turning about 1,300 rpm, and even though the engine sounds like it’s lugging, no vibration makes its way into the cockpit.”
In the fuel economy department, the loss compared to the inline-four is only marginal. FWD 2014 Cherokees with the V6 put out 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. The rest of the fuel economy ratings for V6 Cherokees vary between the different trims.
As for oil, it is recommended to use 5.9 quarts of 5W-20. Additionally, oil and filter changes should be scheduled every 7,500 miles.
Both 2014 Jeep Cherokee Engines Have Above-average Maintenance Costs and are Reportedly Prone to Stalling
The 2014 Jeep Cherokee has over 2,100 registered complaints, of which 435 concern the engine. That’s 87 pages of engine-related complaints. Firstly, the annual cost of repair is higher than other vehicles in its class. Repair Pal puts the annual maintenance cost of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee at $540.
Secondly, these engines commonly experience a serious problem. Many owners have reported them stalling while driving. This typically happened with units around the 35,000-mile mark. The exact source of this problem varied but owners have reported having to replace components and sometimes even the engines themselves.
2014 Cherokee’s 3.2L V6’s Superior Performance and Refinement Justifies $2K Price Difference
If the 2014 Jeep Cherokee didn’t weigh over 4,000 pounds, perhaps there would be more reason to argue for the inline-four, but that’s not the case. Its fuel efficiency is its only objective strength over the V6 engine.
With the 3.2L V6, its 87 extra horsepower and 68 more lb.-ft. of torque breath life into the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Its refined and smooth power delivery also makes a significant difference, especially in the daily driving experience. The extra power and torque also mean you can haul cargo and extra passengers without having to worry about sacrificing performance.
Kelley Blue Book’s “Typical Listing Price” of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the inline-four at $12,315. Interestingly, the V6 powered Cherokee Latitude Sport comes in at $14, 558. That is a price difference of just $2,243 dollars.
For under $3,000, you are getting an engine that is not only more powerful, capable, but more refined than the four-cylinder. That is a bargain that we highly suggest taking advantage of, especially if you want to get the most of out the 2014 Cherokee.
Photos: Stellantis
