It would be easy to assume all compact crossovers do pretty much the same thing, but they all look different, have different prices, and have different levels of standard and available equipment. In a lot of cases that may be true, but here we're going to see that not all compact crossovers are created equal by comparing the 2019 Jeep Cherokee with the 2019 Hyundai Tucson in an SUV head-to-head shootout.
Exterior styling
Both are very attractive vehicles, which is part of the reason why they're as popular as they are with buyers all over the world. Both the Jeep Cherokee and the Hyundai Tucson have recently had a bit of restyling, but the Jeep appears to have come out on top. The Tucson has had its exterior styling smoothed out and toned down a little, and the result is a less-striking and more anonymous vehicle than its predecessor. Jeep SUVs tend to have more of an obvious identity, and the restyling of the Cherokee has addressed a few things that weren't quite right at the same time of keeping the Jeep identity very much intact.
Engines
There's a wider choice of powertrain for the Jeep Cherokee than there is for the Hyundai Tucson. Both available engines for the Tucson are four-cylinder units, with one being a 161 horsepower normally aspirated engine and the other a turbo-four developing 175 horsepower. The standard engine in the Jeep is a 180 horsepower four-cylinder, but the option is a 271 horsepower 3.2-litre V-6 the Tucson has no answer to.
Transmissions
The Hyundai sticks with a decent six-speed automatic transmission throughout its 2019 lineup, but the industry has started to move on from such a basic unit. The Cherokee uses a much more contemporary nine-speed automatic that's been retuned this year and gives it another win over the Hyundai.
Off-road capability
All versions of the 2019 Hyundai Tucson can be had with the additional capability of all-wheel drive, instead of the front-drive format that's standard with most models. The Jeep name suggests the Cherokee will be a more serious off-roader than the Tucson, but it's more than the name that makes the Cherokee a more capable off-roader. The Jeep is available with three different all-wheel-drive systems, so the truth is the Jeep can be a genuine off-roader while the Hyundai just has the option of extra capability in poor weather and a little bit of capability when the tarmac runs out.
Interior space
Buyers often choose crossovers over sedans these days as they're seen as more practical and spacious, so how much room there is inside matters. The numbers here speak for themselves. There's 128 cu.-ft. (3,624 litres) of passenger volume in the Jeep, while the Hyundai can boast just 102.2 cu.-ft. (2,894 litres).
Verdict
The 2019 Hyundai Tucson is a very likeable and stylish compact crossover SUV and it can be a little more affordable than the 2019 Jeep Cherokee. That's where any advantage the Hyundai has over the Jeep ends though. The Cherokee is more powerful, more capable, more stylish, more desirable and much more spacious than the Tucson and that's why the Jeep is the one to go for.
If you want to find out more about the Jeep Cherokee and to arrange a test drive to try one out for yourself, don't hesitate to get in touch with us here at CarHub, the premier choice Jeep dealer in Thornhill and Bolton, ON, and the surrounding area.