Compare the2023 Jeep CherokeeVS 2023 Lexus UX

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

Both the Cherokee and the UX 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Cherokee is safer than the Lexus UX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Cherokee is safer than the Lexus UX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 UX (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’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 171 lbs.-ft. more torque (171 vs. ) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cherokee Trailhawk’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 89 more horsepower (270 vs. 181) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. ) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

Both the Cherokee and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Cherokee has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Cherokee has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (15.8 vs. 10.6 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 UX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The Cherokee stops shorter than the UX:

For better traction, the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (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 UX 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 UX; 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the UX (106.6 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

The Cherokee Altitude LUX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

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 UX 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 UX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Cherokee has 13.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (103.5 vs. 90.4).

The Cherokee has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, 7.2 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Cherokee’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (27.6 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Cherokee has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no 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 UX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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 UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cherokee has a higher standard payload capacity than the UX (1000 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Cherokee uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Cherokee and the UX 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 UX 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 UX’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 UX.

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

The Cherokee’s ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Jeep Cherokee outsold the Lexus UX by almost four to one during 2022.