Crossovers and SUVs just don’t do it for me. There I said it…
So, what thrills me less than the need to run a comparison between two crossovers? Easy. The need to run a comparison between two compact crossovers. Despite their overwhelming popularity, I still find it hard to endorse one over another with any kind of genuine enthusiasm.
Why? Because I find crossovers and SUVs to be uninspired in terms of styling, and victims of pandering as they try to be everything to everyone. Have you ever met someone who tries to be everything to everyone, as if they were too afraid to disappoint anyone? They tend to be very boring, with no discerning characteristics of their own. I can genuinely say that I view crossovers and SUVs to be the same way.
So, when I’m asked to compare the 2018 Jeep Cherokee vs. 2018 Honda CR-V, it comes down to finding something truly unique about one over the other. If we’re completely honest, the CR-V manages to look better ‘on paper,’ but even the worst design of Jeep trumps a Honda any day. But that’s neither here, no there. Before we move onto 2018 models, let’s take a look at how their immediate predecessors measured up against one another for 2017, courtesy of The Fast Lane Car channel:
So, how do the 2018 versions of each measure up against one another? If we’re going to size them up with versatility in mind, we’ll base our comparison on the Cherokee 4×4 Latitude and the CR-V AWD LX.
Pricing
Based solely on MSRP, the Cherokee falls in around $25,895 while the CR-V comes in at $25,550. Granted, a dollar is a dollar, but the difference comes down to chump change if we’re talking about a difference of $6 on a month payment.
Power Rating
The Jeep serves up 184 hp with 171 lb-ft of torque, falling in very closely with the CR-V’s 184 hp with 180 lb-ft. Both are powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder.
Fuel Economy
The Cherokee offers up a combined 25 mpg while the CR-V bests it with 28 mpg combined. That said, fuel economy is weighted differently by different people (as would a difference of 3 mpg).
Seating Capacity
As would be expected, both vehicles are designed to seat 5.
Cargo Space
With 154.2 cubic feet of storage, the CR-V comes out on top of the Cherokee, which offers a more modest 104.1 cubic feet within the same space. However, the Cherokee does offer additional space around the belt line and wheel housings, which the CR-V does not.
As we said, the CR-V does come out looking better on paper, but if my opinion is worth anything to you, the Jeep Cherokee wins every day. After all, I may never be happy driving around in a small crossover but, at least with the Cherokee, I can claim to be driving a Jeep (well, kind of…)
