Jeep Cherokee: Safety Ratings Explored

Sandy B
Mar 5, 2021

Red 2020 Jeep Cherokee On The Beach

Is it time to buy that Jeep you’ve been waiting for? Perhaps you’re looking for a vehicle with a good safety rating and ample features you can rely on to keep you safe on your trip. The Jeep Cherokee could be on your radar.

How safe is the Jeep Cherokee?

The 2020 Jeep Cherokee received a 4-Star Overall Safety Rating from NHTSA and the highest possible score of “Good” from IIHS. Combine this with a 3.52-Star Owner and 3.5-Star Expert Review ratings from Vehicle History, and you have an overall safe vehicle to drive.

Now, those figures are not the best they could be, and that’s why we need to take a closer look at the test results that produced them and break down the safety features on board this Jeep. That’s what we’ll do here to give you insights into this vehicle’s safety.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Crash Test Ratings

One of the best ways to know how you’re potential vehicle will stack up in an accident is to see how well it’s done in these crash tests. They really put these cars through a workout, and it tends to show in the results. Here’s what happened with the Jeep Cherokee.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Results

The IIHS notes that there are ample good things about this car, giving it a “Good” rating across the board in crashworthiness. It’s solid in roof strength, side impact, and seats, as well as driver-side and passenger-side small overlap in the front.

One key problem area noted by IIHS is the crash avoidance and mitigation area. There, the headlights received less-than-ideal scores, even a “Poor” performance rating. The LATCH ease of use is rated as “Good,” and the front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle is “Superior.”

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test Results

The NHTSA results are not as good as competitors. The 4-Star overall safety rating isn’t as good as it could be. Some of that comes from the less-than-ideal performance during the front driver side safety test, which earned it only four stars itself.

The side crash ratings did well, giving you a good level of confidence when it comes to side impacts. However, the rollover star rating isn’t ideal at, again, just 4 stars. The key here is that the rollover risk is 17.4%, which is significantly higher than competitors.

2020 Jeep Cherokee Available Safety Tech

Jeep is among the many manufacturers who have added a lot of safety features to its vehicle lineup, including the Cherokee. Called the SafetyTec package, it allows drivers to have a wide range of top-notch safety features you don’t want to miss. Here are some of those.

Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection

Car Blind Spot Monitoring System Warning Light

This feature is an outstanding option because it helps to monitor your blind spots. If you decide to move over in a lane, this vehicle will alert you with sound and lights if there’s someone there.

Rear cross protection aids in minimizing the risk of people being behind you when you back up. This can help to minimize the number of collisions from not being able to see what’s coming.

Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking

Another of the safety features of the Jeep Cherokee is this full-speed forward collision system. The system uses radar sensors to detect if your car is approaching an object and there’s a risk of collision. It will alert you with a chime and visual warning.

What’s more, if you do not react fast enough, the vehicle will come to a complete stop. The goal is to keep you from hitting others.

Electronic Stability Control

Everyone likes to have a little fun with their Jeep Cherokee, and this feature helps you to do it with less risk. It has a number of sensors located around it to help maintain vehicle control.

If you’re veering off the path, this vehicle will correct it for you, including understeer and oversteer risks.

Lanesense Lane Departure Warning System

This system is designed to help you stay in your lane on the roadway. It monitors the markings on the street to help you stay within them. If you veer out of them, it can steer you gently back into the proper place, giving you confidence that you will not collide.

Are You After a Pre-owned Car? Here’s How to Buy With Confidence

With 140 million points of communication from owners and incredible data from partners like NHTSA, Vehicle History is answering your questions about the safety of many cars, including the Jeep Cherokee. Don’t overlook the value of checking the Jeep Cherokee’s Vehicle History before you buy.

Owner Reviews

accountCircle Mark Stoddard on March 26, 2021
Purchased a Brand New 2020 Jeep Latitude, I didn't even have it for 24 hrs and the screen froze up!
The Auto stop/start quit working and it threw an error code. I took it to the dealer and they stated they could not find a code. I drove it for about 2 weeks and the exact same thing happened, could not find an error code. Drove it for a couple more weeks and the Jeep totally shut down at a stop light, auto start/stop error code came on , open hood warning came on and it automatically applied the emergency brake. Then a warning came up stating that I needed to put the vehicle in park, turn off and restart. I did that and continued to the very next stop light, which was red. Same thing happened again. Took it to the dealer, same story, no code found. Dealer checked the start stop battery and said everything was good. Drove for a few weeks and start stop error code again!
accountCircle Jasmine R on August 6, 2021
2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk elite.
Switching to the 2020 jeep Trailhawk elite was a pretty drastic change. I find that the acceleration on the jeep is slower than I am used to however it drives smoothly. I like that you can switch the car while driving into sport, snow, mud, rock, etc. The Trailhawk elite comes with seat and steering wheel warmers which is such a perk for cold Minnesota winters. It is extremely comfortable and much more spacious than my previous vehicle. Overall, I love my jeep Cherokee Trailhawk elite.
accountCircle Al B on June 5, 2021
Stylish and efficient and comfortable 2020 Cherokee
The jeep Cherokee limited is extremely reliable and has many advanced features including touch screen, car play, voice control, heated seats and steering wheel, and multiple USB outlets. You can scroll through the details of what condition your car is in while driving and even see what your tire pressure is and when you will need an oil change. It has leather seats and is extremely comfortable with a lot of room in the front and back seats. So far, I have not had any problems.
accountCircle Jacqueline K on July 10, 2021
Overall review 2020 jeep Cherokee latitude. 9/10 I would purchase again!
My 2020 jeep Cherokee latitude has been a great purchase! Very spacious backseat, accommodates car seats adequately and allows for the whole family to ride comfortably. The cargo/trunk space is decent size and with rear folding seats there's potential for added room when needed. My only concern is there is no spare tire. The vehicle came with an air pump which could come in handy, although I would personally prefer a spare tire for emergency purposes.
accountCircle Jane D on July 28, 2021
2020 Jeep Cherokee reliability issues.
Bought a Jeep Cherokee North. It's a great vehicle except that it does not work when it gets cold. It's been in the shop longer than I've owned it. "They're working on a software upgrade" is what I'm told but nothing about when it'll be fixed. I've had it back for about a week when it warmed up to above -20. Now that it's back in the -30s, it's back to being a useless vehicle. Very frustrating to say the least!!
accountCircle Pam H on July 20, 2021
2020 jeep Trailhawk - sporty & spunky.
I love this vehicle and mostly because of the winter cold weather package. Heated seats and steering wheel plus automatic start. The jeep is very zippy and I like that about it on a v6. It is roomy and very nice looking. I also love the dashboard with the Sirius radio. I am still learning the bells & whistles, yet even the gas mileage is pretty awesome. The headlights are led which look super sporty also.
accountCircle Natalie L on July 26, 2021
I just recently purchased my 2020 jeep Cherokee altitude.
The jeep Cherokee offers such a smooth and quiet ride and is great for taking on trips or even just to your local market. The cars air conditioning works wonderfully no matter the season. I love the leather/car seats so much better than just leather and it is a great feature to the car. I would recommend this car to anyone no matter the age and I cannot wait to have this car for as long as it lasts.
accountCircle Kayla B on July 16, 2021
My 2020 Jeep Cherokee is a highly reliable and ultra comfortable SUV.
My 2020 jeep Cherokee is amazing. It is very reliable and actually does really well on gas. The leather seats are very comfortable. When it is chilly outside I enjoy using the heated seats and heated steering wheel. This vehicle was recently taken on a long trip and it did great. The touch screen radio is easy to navigate through and all of your features are accessible on there as well.
accountCircle Christopher T on June 14, 2021
My 2020 jeep Cherokee limited.
I love my jeep Cherokee limited. From the remote start, to the heated seats, accessibility is top notch. The larger display allows for easy navigation through apple carplay, and makes for a real luxurious experience. I think my favorite feature of my jeep is the power liftgate! For someone like me who moves a lot of stuff, this makes life easy.
accountCircle Megan B on July 13, 2021
2020 Cherokee - Oil eater/small interior!
The good is that it is a jeep and looks amazing as well as having all the features you want in a SUV. Vehicle with the 2.4l eats oil like I've never seen before, any water or windshield washer fluid that gets on windshield while driving funnels directly into window so you can never use wipers with window down. Other than that awesome vehicle.
accountCircle Sarah M on August 7, 2021
The 20202 jeep cherokee that is not roomy.
My jeep is not what I expected. The backseat is very small. The one problem it has is not enough room. It also does not have controls for the music on the wheel. It is reliable as far as gas mileage. I do like that the back seat can recliners. As far as features I have not noticed.
accountCircle Ani B on April 3, 2021
2020 Jeep Cherokee has a luxury feel without the high cost.
Very comfortable, easy moving, user friendly and gets great mileage. Headlights are very bright and allow me to see in fog and dark rural streets. Easy Bluetooth connection. Sound is great and music sounds amazing. Calls come in crystal clear. Messages allow for driving safely.
accountCircle J Dennis on June 11, 2021
There are a lot of really nice things about my 2020 Trailhawk Elite.
Some things I don't like are 1. The transmission shifts very hard and sometimes has acceleration issues. 2. The steering "sticks" when trying to keep in the lane which often leads to oversteering and a constant weaving from side to side when trying to keep the vehicle straight.
accountCircle Claudio F on September 6, 2021
Jeep Cherokee limited 2020.
Great performance, great luxury, drives really well. Love the train and gendering as well as the all wheel drive. Do not like the cabin space it is a bit tight. Gas mileage could improve as well. Seems like you would probably get more for your money with another brand/make.
accountCircle Lindsay G on July 13, 2021
This 2020 Cherokee offers great features at the lowest level, still within my budget.
I have had no problems with my vehicle so far. It performs great. It is super reliable. It is very comfortable. It has great features, even at the lowest level. It is a great vehicle and I love it. The car runs well and so far, has not had any problems. I highly recommend.
accountCircle Leslie A on March 14, 2021
2020 Cherokee has a smooth all terrain ride with convenient features.
I love how confident I feel driving it in michigan’s winters. Very satisfied with jeep! The interior is very convenient and the computer is updated with the newest technology. I love that the backup cam is so big and that it stops you when you are too close to an object.
accountCircle Anq Z on July 27, 2021
2020 Jeep Cherokee is a great car for mommy and baby.
Blind spot monitoring is also great feature when driving on highways. It has a remote start which is great if you have kids as car will get hot/cold prior to your family trip. Large touch screen is great if you are using it for navigation. It's also very user friendly.
accountCircle Jasmyn M on March 18, 2021
2020 jeep Cherokee Trailhawk review.
Super comfortable and smooth drive! I love having the sport mode option as well as all of the other drive modes. Love the leather interior and stitching, overall it is a beautiful vehicle. Only thing I would say is I wished the car had better mileage per gallon of gas.
accountCircle Hope S on March 31, 2021
Awesome features in the 2020 jeep Cherokee.
Very comfortable. Wish it was more high tech such as the sensor that opens the hatch. Wish the passenger seat could electronically move. Awesome heated seats, touch screen radio, select terrain. Rides super smooth. 24 mpg. It also has a back up cam which is stellar.
accountCircle Sammi W on April 10, 2021
Great mid-size 2020 Cherokee for everyday driving.
This vehicle is very reliable. It drives very well and I haven't had any issues. It is a great size and has a lot of legroom in every seat. The trunk is also very big. I love the seat warmers and steering wheel warmer. They come in very handy in the winter time.
accountCircle Jodi M on June 18, 2021
I absolutely love my 2020 jeep Cherokee!
Only issue I have had is my lane departure has a mind of its own sometimes but otherwise love the car! It drives nice, fully loaded with rear backup cam, plenty of storage, comfortable, roomy and great features! I will not own anything but a jeep ever again!
accountCircle Lauren T on March 29, 2021
2020 Cherokee is very spacious.
Performance: 1-10 10. Comfort: 1-10 10. Love the features but do not like the stopping of the car to save “gas” when it is at a complete stop. It can cause wrecks. It makes it very hard to pull out fast when needed and takes forever to restart the car.
accountCircle Rob F on September 10, 2021
2020 Jeep Cherokee is a nice affordable vehicle.
Has many nice digital features. The heated seats are great. The control panel is easy to very accessible. The handling is somewhat stiff. The ride is not comfortable. The outside trim package is very appealing. The leather interior is very comfortable.
accountCircle Jade M on July 14, 2021
The 2020 Jeep Cherokee is wonderful.
It is a great vehicle. The comfort is wonderful. It drives smoothly. There is a lot of trunk space. A lot of room in the back seat. It runs nice on gas. It does not cost as much as you would think to fill up the car. Enough room for car seats.
accountCircle Patty Hapgood on June 11, 2021
2020 Jeep Cherokees are a hunk of junk
Bought jeep cherokee on 6/1/20. As of today it has 640 miles. All dash lights are not working including camera.
avatar Sandy B
Sandy B. has written for The New York Times, Cleveland Magazine, and many online publications. She long-ago ditched the minivan life for the off-roading Ford Explorer (and hoping to restore a Shelby Mustang!)
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