Compare the2026 Jeep CherokeeVS 2025 Subaru Crosstrek

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Cherokee Overland offers an optional 360-degree camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek only offers a rear monitor.

The Jeep Cherokee’s optional 360-degree camera has integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Subaru Crosstrek lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

The Cherokee has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Crosstrek’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Cherokee has standard Rear Cross Path Detection, helping the driver avoid collisions. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Crosstrek and its not available on the Base.

Both the Cherokee and the Crosstrek have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Jeep Cherokee weighs 926 to 1018 pounds more than the Subaru Crosstrek. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cherokee for 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Crosstrek.

There are almost 4 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

Engine

The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 58 more horsepower (210 vs. 152) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 145) than the Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 28 more horsepower (210 vs. 182) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 178) than the Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cherokee gets better mileage than the Crosstrek:

			MPG
Cherokee
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/33 hwy
Crosstrek
	AWD	Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/33 hwy
		Wilderness 2.5 DOHC flat-4	25 city/29 hwy
		2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Cherokee’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Cherokee’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Crosstrek:

	Cherokee	Crosstrek
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	11.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Cherokee Overland’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek (235/50R20 vs. 225/60R17).

The Cherokee Overland’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cherokee Overland has standard 20-inch wheels. The Crosstrek’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the Crosstrek (113 inches vs. 104.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Crosstrek.

Chassis

The Cherokee uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Cherokee has 6.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crosstrek (107.4 vs. 100.5).

The Cherokee has .4 inches more front headroom and .8 inches more front shoulder room than the Crosstrek.

Cargo Capacity

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (33.6 vs. 19.9 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (68.3 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Cherokee Limited/Overland has a standard power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Cherokee Overland, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Crosstrek’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Cherokee Laredo/Limited/Overland has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When different drivers share the Cherokee Overland, the memory system makes it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Cherokee has standard Keyless Enter-N-Go that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness offers Keyless Access and Start.

The Cherokee’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Crosstrek’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Cherokee’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Crosstrek and aren’t offered on the Crosstrek Base.

Both the Cherokee and the Crosstrek offer available heated front seats. The Cherokee Overland also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Crosstrek.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Cherokee Overland keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Cherokee Limited/Overland’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Cherokee and the Crosstrek offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Cherokee has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Cherokee Overland has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cherokee Overland’s Automated Parking System can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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