Neither of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee’s engine options is very exciting. However, while the base 2.4L is underpowered, the optional 3.2L is pretty good overall.
Key Points
- There are two engine options for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee: a 2.4L DOHC four-cylinder and a 3.2L V6. Both share a nine-speed automatic transmission.
- The 2.4L is the most economical with an EPA-estimated 25-mpg combined between city and highway.
- There are virtually zero drawbacks to choosing the 3.2L V6, which is much more powerful, offers similar fuel economy, and with the right options, it more than doubles the towing capacity.
- Most drivers enjoy their 2015 Jeep Cherokee, with owners giving the SUV an overall 4.3 rating (out of five) on Vehicle History.
2015 Jeep Cherokee’s 2.4L Engine Offers Mediocre Performance but a Respectable 30 mpg Highway
The base engine option for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee is a 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder. It is the most common engine you will find across the Cherokee’s five trim levels and offers 184 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque.
Depending on the selected trim, a 2015 Cherokee can weigh over 4,000 pounds. Such an underwhelming amount of power coupled with more than two tons in weight means, at best, the 2.4L Cherokee’s zero to 60 time is over nine seconds. Any way you slice it, that makes the Jeep Cherokee pretty slow by modern standards.
How fuel-efficient a 2015 Cherokee is depends largely on the trim level. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a best-case scenario, a 2015 four-cylinder Jeep Cherokee gets 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The addition of optional equipment like a 4WD system will cost you several mpg on the highway.
The 2015 Jeep Cherokee powered by the 2.4-liter MultiAir2 engine is now a Partial Zero Emissions Engine (PZEV) in the 14 states that have adopted California Air Resources Board regulations. This entails a revised fuel tank, new fuel filler neck, new air cleaner, new engine downpipe, modified vapor purge canister, and new fuel cap.
Kelley Blue Book took a 2.4L-equipped 2015 Cherokee on a test drive and had this to say about the engine: “acceleration with the base 2.4L engine is… adequate, it gets the job done if you’re heading around town or if you’re merging on the freeway. But if you have a need for speed…you’ll want to step up to the V6.”
2015 Cherokee’s 3.2L V6 Brings Almost 100 More Horsepower, and Towing Package ups Hauling Capacity to 4,500 Pounds
The alternative engine option for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee is a 3.2L V6. Equipping your Cherokee with the 3.2L will afford 271 hp and 239 lb.-ft. of torque. This adds almost 100 horsepower and greatly improves the Cherokee’s performance. However, lowering the zero to 60 mph time 6.7 seconds isn’t the only benefit.
Some 2015 Jeep Cherokees come equipped with an optional towing package that allows you to pull up to 4,500 pounds. Unfortunately, without the additional equipment, 3.2L Cherokees can still only tow as much as the four-cylinder at 2,000 pounds.
Despite the extra power, the fuel consumption does not suffer as much as you might think. The EPA estimates that front-wheel-drive 2015 Jeep Cherokee’s equipped with the V6 offer 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Overall, the 3.2L gets just one mile per gallon less than the underpowered 2.4L.
Matt, from YouTube’s Matt Maran Motoring, shares his experience when taking a 2015 Cherokee Trailhawk with the 3.2L on an acceleration run. After stomping on the gas pedal, he comments “…pretty healthy performance, of course, this isn’t any racecar, but it gets up and goes pretty well…I’ve heard some people say the four-cylinder is a little anemic, but this one [the V6] moves it down the road very very well.”
3.2L V6’s Engine Stop-start Technology Lowers Emissions, Increases Fuel Savings
The 2015 Jeep Cherokees powered by the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 engine debuted engine stop-start (ESS) technology, an emission-lowering, and fuel-saving feature.
ESS technology increases fuel efficiency by shutting the engine off when the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Amenities like the radio, gauges, and heating/AC continue to operate, making the operation transparent to the driver. The engine restarts automatically when the driver releases the brake, allowing seamless acceleration.
Starter and battery systems have been upgraded to complement the ESS technology for heavy-duty operation on models equipped with the feature. This includes a high-durability starter housed in a stronger case, heavy-duty flywheel teeth, and a more robust starter solenoid.
Stop-start activates automatically and requires no input from the driver. A system-disable switch is located on the dash if the operator wishes to suspend the feature.
2015 Jeep Cherokee’s Engines Provide Five-star Reliability, Say Owners
Despite some of its larger issues, the 2015 Jeep Cherokee is favored among consumers. Of the 850 reviews on Vehicle History, 51% gave the Cherokee a perfect five stars for reliability and comfort.
If you are planning on purchasing a used 2015 Jeep Cherokee, we suggest going for the 3.2L V6 with the towing package. The performance benefits of the V6 greatly outweigh the small gas mileage disadvantage.
Photos: Stellantis
