2019 Jeep Cherokee

2019 Jeep Cherokee

Episode 3749
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

To say that the styling of the reborn 2014 Jeep Cherokee was polarizing is an understatement. Well for 20-19 Jeep has tried to bring the “love it” and “hate it” folks a little closer together, although technically, the latest Cherokee is just a mid-cycle refresher. Still, there’s much more going on than just a styling mea culpa. 

As is often the case, while many reviewers and bloggers gave the car-based squint-eyed Jeep Cherokee a hard time, it has actually done very well for the brand. Even outlasting the Dodge Dart that it was based on, and more importantly bringing many new people into the brand as first-time Jeep owners. The 2019 edition looks to broaden that appeal even more, while also attempting to more endear itself to the Jeep faithful. 

While there already was a choice when it came to the engine, either a 2.4-liter I4 or a 3.2-liter V6; Jeep has added another option into the mix, a 2.0-liter turbo that outputs 270-horsepower, just one less than the V6, and 295 lb-ft. of torque, 56 more than the 6. 

But even with that extra torque, it’s still the V6 that rates the highest towing capacity, at 4,500-lbs; very good for the segment. The 2.0-liter however, does feel incredibly powerful for a vehicle of this size, and indeed it has 80 more horsepower than you can get in a Honda CR-V. 

Like the rest of the engines, it works with a 9-speed automatic. But, unlike in earlier versions of Cherokee, the 9- speed is much smoother and more determined in shift points. It makes this Cherokee drive almost like a totally different vehicle. 

And no other cute ute in its price class can hang with Cherokee when the pavement ends. There are even 3-different Active Drive 4X4 systems to choose from. Now, some may question the need for all of that, since most Cherokees will never set rubber on anything but asphalt; but it’s a Jeep thing, and Jeep wants to make sure that is indeed still a thing. Opt for the Trailhawk, and its 1-inch of lift, if that is truly your thing as well.  

Chief among the updated styling elements is a new front end that falls more in line with Jeep’s upright and conservative past. A new hood as well; and of course updated lighting. There are also some new wheel options, and even better, a lighter liftgate with hands free operation. 

The cargo area has been reconfigured a bit. Space is up to 27.6 cubic-ft. from 24.6; max capacity with seatbacks folded stays about the same, at 54.7. 

There’s some upgraded interior trim up front; as well as some new color choices, and the latest version of UConnect.

As for what the new 2.0-liter adds to your get-up-and-go, well it gets to 60 in 6.7-seconds. Not screaming fast, but quick for a utility; and about ½ a second quicker than what you’d expect to get from the V6.  

Good snap off the line, great traction, and spirited punch from the boosted 4-banger, which likes to rev up quickly. It sounds eager and sporty as well, while the 9-speed clicks through gears comfortably but directly. The ¼-mile ends in 15.2-seconds at 90 miles-per-hour.   

No major changes to the suspension, but we had high hopes that a little less engine weight over the front wheels, would work some magic on the handling side. 

Well, no magic; steering is still slow and understeer present.  But, grip is very solid and body sway minimal for its class. 

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the 2.0-liter with four-wheel-drive are 21-City, 29-Highway, and 24-Combined; though Premium is recommended. That makes for an average Energy Impact Score; using 13.7-barrels of oil yearly, with C02 emissions of 6.1-tons.

Pricing starts at $26,935 for front-wheel-drive, which is a considerable step up from our ‘14’s base price of around $24,000; though that entry level Sport model is no more; leaving the much better equipped Latitude as the new base model. All-wheel-drive adds another $1,500, and things top out with Overland trim at $37,470. 

Old style, new style, doesn’t really matter; the 2019 Jeep Cherokee is a wildly popular utility that seems to be attracting both compact as well as midsize buyers due to all of its capabilities. The skin may now be a bit less controversial, but the Cherokee is one adventure vehicle that harkens back to what SUVs were all about from the beginning; go anywhere vehicles that you can live with day in and day out. 

Specifications

  • Engine: 2.0 liter
  • Horsepower: 270
  • Torque: 295 lb-ft.
  • 0-60 mph: 6.7 seconds
  • 1/4 mile: 15.2 seconds @ 90 mph
  • EPA: 21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway
  • Energy Impact: 13.7 barrels of oil/yr
  • CO2 Emissions: 6.1 tons/yr
2025 Subaru WRX tS 11

2025 Subaru WRX tS

Subaru’s “World Rally eXperimental” Gets Tecnica-Tuned Tech

Episode 4427
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

Building on its global rally heritage, WRX has been a standalone Subaru nameplate, marketed separately from garden variety Impreza, for two generations now. And while the current WRX still lacks the full STI treatment, this WRX tS serves up some of that high-performance spice we’ve been longing for.

Before we go flat out into our Track Test of this 2025 Subaru WRX tS, lets open the Subaru dictionary so we’re all on the same page. “tS” stands for “tuned by STI;” and “STI” is an acronym for “Subaru Tecnica International,” the brand’s high-performance sub-group best known for upgrading the WRX— oh, that stands for “World Rally eXperimental,” in case you didn’t know.

All that said, STI has been largely dormant for this WRX generation, but this tS sprinkles more of their engineering magic into the mix. No, that doesn’t mean extra power, but does mean significant chassis-related improvements.

First, electronically controlled dampers, adjustable through the 11.6-inch tablet-style infotainment screen. That meant a softer “comfort” mode on the 10+ hour commute to and from Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway. But once we were there, it was the firmer “Sport+” setting all the way, heightening response from the WRX’s throttle and already quick dual-pinion power steering system. There’s still some body roll for rally-esque weight transfer, but it’s well sorted and provides the “toss-ability” you want in a WRX.

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Though if you do autocross your tS, which we implore you to do, you might feel the six-piston front, two-piston rear Brembo brakes first. The bite is strong, giving good rotation in the corners and plenty of “halt” for this 3,400 lb. compact with minimal fade, keeping us on track all week…until some unfortunate winter weather passed overhead. No worries here, as Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system got us to the track for some powdered deserts: Frosted donuts served up Michelin style, a set of winter tires different from the grippy Bridgestone Potenza S007 rubber the tS typically rides on. Some prior hot laps of California’s Sonoma Raceway gave credence to those Bridgestones, and showed us what this hot-compact can do in ideal conditions.

It’s well sorted and provides the “toss-ability” you want in a WRX.

Other tS enhancements are cabin-based, namely these beautiful blue Recaros. Most of our staff appreciated their moderately-aggressive bolstering on both street and track. And they’re even heated, too. Another tS-only appointment is this 12.3-inch digital gauge display. It mimics the standard analog gauges with some additional info, but can switch to a navigation mode for more convenient route guidance.

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We do wish our tS came in the new Galaxy Purple or the trademark World Rally Blue, but this Crystal White paint wasn’t too shabby, contrasting its Cherry Blossom Red badging and blacked-out lip spoiler. Otherwise, the tS is like any other WRX, down to the hood scoop funneling air to the top-mounted intercooler.

Underneath is the same turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four in all other trims, boxing at 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The freak winter weather stopped straight-line testing, but a 0-60 time estimate of 5.5 seconds is about as spry as you realistically need, pulling strong through most of the tach; though the 6,000 RPM redline required attentive shifting of the six-speed box, which the tS comes exclusively with. The throws are precise, if a little long, and the clutch is wonderfully weighted.

With discontinuation of the Base trim, pricing for the WRX now starts with Premium at $36,920. The tS is at the top of the lineup with the automatic-only GT, both starting at $46,875. All WRXs continue to be made in Gunma, Japan.

If you’re an enthusiast itching to do the tuning yourself, perhaps the 2025 Subaru WRX tS is not for you. But if you want a plug-and-play experience, this is it. While it won’t exactly bestow the loose-cannon, top-level driving skills exhibited by famous WRC drivers upon you, the tS moves this WRX’s game in a direction we’ve so desperately wanted Subaru to take.

Specifications

As Tested

  • Engine: 2.4-liter flat-four
  • Tranmission: 6-speed manual
  • Horsepower: 271
  • Torque: 258 lb-ft
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera 23

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera

Ever Evolving 911 Reaches New Heights

Episode 4426
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

The Porsche 911 has existed for 60 years now! Amazing! And, you could argue that major changes over all those years have been relatively few, as constant incremental improvement is more the way that Porsche does business. With that in mind, let’s hit the track in the latest 911 and see what constant improvement means for 2025.

We’ve driven so many 911s here at MotorWeek, each seemingly more special than the last, so it’s a bit refreshing to be ripping around Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway in a 2025 Porsche 911 that’s about as close as you can get to base these days. And the fact that it’s just as fun as all those exclusive pieces says a lot about how far the 911 has come. Perhaps it also speaks to how much a base 911 will set you back today as well; more on that later.

For now, we’re just thinking about the next apex, holding steady throttle as we approach, and getting on it way sooner than you’d expect without upsetting anything, as the 911 rockets off the corner thanks to tremendous grip and a PDK trans that finds the perfect gear before we even gave it a thought. Even with very cold track temps, we never struggled for grip or battled any wheelspin coming off of corners. And trying to land it in that perfect spot in braking zones is easy with strong brake performance that was predictable and consistent lap after lap; no wandering, and great feedback too.

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Yes, even the standard 911 is near pure perfection on a racetrack. It gives you all the right feedback, stays incredibly flat through corners, makes you always feel totally in control, and again is just plain fun. Unless you’re chasing lap times, there’s really no need to head further up the 911 tree. Though it is worth noting the few upgrades that were on our Carrera did help the situation a little. The 20- and 21-inch Carrera S wheels enabled plenty of grip from the 305 Pirelli P Zero tires, the Sport Chrono Package allows 0-60 sprints of 3.7 seconds, an extended range fuel tank meant we could lap all day without having to fill up, and the fantastic Sport Seats provided great support and better comfort than we remember experiencing in a 911. The Sport Exhaust system didn’t add anything to performance, but made things sound a whole lot better, and the oval silver tips look great too.

We never struggled for grip or battled any wheel spin coming off of corners.

Our track time got cut short thanks to a rare snowstorm in Coastal Georgia, but the white stuff and blue sky made the perfect backdrop for our Guards Red Carrera. Exterior tweaks for what is officially the 992.2 include a reshaped front fascia with improved aerodynamics. All front lighting is now contained within the Matrix Design LED headlight housing. The rear fascia has also been smoothed out, the license plate moved higher, and Porsche 3D block lettering spelled out across the back beneath the active rear spoiler and new decklid grille.

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Even without Turbo in the name, the standard 911 engine is indeed a turbo these days, a 3.0-liter flat-six twin-turbo delivering 388 horsepower and 331 lb-ft strictly to the rear wheels in the Carrera Coupe.

Inside the cabin, the 911 continues its slow crawl towards the modern, now including a 12.6-inch fully digital gauge display and a start button located on the left side of the steering wheel, with drive modes easily accessible on the wheel itself. In another no brainer move, Porsche now makes the rear seat a no cost option, so you can choose if you want it or not.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 18 City, 25 Highway, and 21 Combined. That’s only slightly worse than average for the Energy Impact Score; 14.2 barrels of annual oil consumption with 7.0 tons of CO2 emissions.

The good news is this 911 had the fewest number of options of any Porsche that we’ve tested in some time, and it was still plenty awesome; the bad news is, a base Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe now starts at $122,095.

But can you really put value on “the force,” this mythical power that Porsche seems to have, that somehow turns average drivers into great ones? It’s useless to resist as far as we’re concerned, as it only gets better with the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera.

Specifications

As Tested

  • Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-6
  • Transmission: 8-speed PDK
  • Horsepower: 388
  • Torque: 331 lb-ft