Compare the2023 Jeep CherokeeVS 2023 Lexus NX

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

Both the Cherokee and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 oil changes) on the Cherokee for 2 years and unlimited miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (3/unlimited vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

The Cherokee Trailhawk’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. ) than the NX 450h’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cherokee Trailhawk 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lexus NX:

Both the Cherokee and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Cherokees have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Cherokee Trailhawk for maximum performance). The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Cherokee has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (15.8 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 NX 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 NX.

The Cherokee stops much shorter than the NX:

For better traction, the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX (245/65R17 vs. 235/60R18).

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 NX 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 NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 NX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is .7 inches longer than on the NX (106.6 inches vs. 105.9 inches). The Cherokee Trailhawk’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the NX (107.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Cherokee Altitude LUX handles at .80 G’s, while the NX 450h AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Cherokee Altitude LUX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (7.9 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cherokee Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the NX (8.7 vs. 7.7 inches).

The design of the Jeep Cherokee amounts to more than styling. The Cherokee has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .339 Cd. That is lower than the NX (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Cherokee get better fuel mileage.

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 NX 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 NX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Cherokee has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 4.2 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus NX is only 2000 pounds. The Cherokee offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Cherokee 4x4 with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The NX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The power windows standard on both the Cherokee and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Cherokee is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 NX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 NX.

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 NX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.