Compare the2023 Jeep CherokeeVS 2023 BMW X2

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Cherokee are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X2 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Cherokee has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The X2 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation optional in the Cherokee as “Superior.” The X2 scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Cherokee has standard Parksense with Rear Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The X2 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Cherokee. But it costs extra on the X2.

The Cherokee’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The X2 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Cherokee’s standard Rear Cross-Path Detection uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X2 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Compared to metal, the Cherokee’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The BMW X2 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Cherokee and the X2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Cherokee 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Jeep dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Cherokee has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Cherokee optional). The X2’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The Cherokee Trailhawk’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 42 more horsepower (270 vs. 228) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the X2’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Cherokee Trailhawk 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the BMW X2 2.0:

The Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X2 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Jeep Cherokee, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X2.

The Cherokee stops shorter than the X2:

For better traction, the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X2 (245/65R17 vs. 225/50R18).

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 X2 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Cherokee Trailhawk has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X2; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Cherokee’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The X2 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the X2 (106.6 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X2.

For greater off-road capability the Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X2 (7.9 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cherokee Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 1.5 inches higher than on the X2 (8.7 vs. 7.2 inches).

The front grille of the Cherokee (except Trailhawk) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X2 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cherokee uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X2 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Cherokee has 9.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X2 (103.5 vs. 94.1).

The Cherokee has .2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the X2.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X2 with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 21.6 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X2 with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

The Cherokee’s cargo area is larger than the X2’s in almost every dimension:

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Cherokee’s available liftgate can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The X2 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Cherokee has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The X2 has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Cherokee uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X2 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cherokee has a higher standard payload capacity than the X2 (1000 vs. 941 lbs.).

The Cherokee 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 X2 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Cherokee’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Cherokee has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X2 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Cherokee has standard extendable sun visors. The X2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Cherokee keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X2 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Cherokee has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X2.

The Cherokee has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X2 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Cherokee outsold the BMW X2 by over 15 to one during 2022.