2018 Jeep Cherokee vs. 2018 Subaru Forester

What’s better about the Jeep?

Power. The 2018 Jeep Cherokee can be had with one of two different engines: a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with 184 or 271-horsepower V6. Both have more power than the respective Forester engines (the base non-turbo version in the Subaru has 170 horsepower and the optional turbo-four has 250 horsepower).

Refinement. The Jeep Cherokee is noticeably more quiet and comfortable than the decidedly utilitarian Forester. The Jeep doors close with a more satisfying “thunk,” road and wind noise is banished from the cabin and the entire Cherokee just feels more solid than its Subaru counterpart.

Space for humans. Inside the Cherokee is a few more inches of legroom and headroom in all seats, front and rear, than what you’ll find in the Subaru. It’s not an overwhelming difference but as tall passengers will tell you, every inch counts.

What’s better about the Subaru?

Space for stuff. Though they’re only about an inch apart in length, the Subaru has heaps of cargo space when compared to the Cherokee: 10 additional cubic feet when the rear seats are up and 20 additional cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded. So while the Jeep has marginally more passanger room, the Subaru has a big advantage with cargo room.

Recalls & reliability. Here, Subaru’s reputation shines through. Not only is the brand and the Forester itself highly rated for reliability (including by Consumer Reports) but the 2018 model doesn’t have any recalls associated with it. The same can’t be said for the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, which has four recalls associated with it and a lower reliability rating.

Fuel economy. The Subaru has a noticeably better fuel economy rating from the EPA than the Cherokee. The base Forester with the non-turbo engine and the automatic transmission is rated at 26/32/28 MPG city/highway/combined. The Jeep with the base engine and nine-speed automatic transmission is rated at 21/28/23 MPG city/highway/combined.

Autolist's take:

Reviewers found the Jeep to have better refinement, off-road capabilities and more room for its passengers than the Forester. But the Subaru fights back with better reliability, fuel economy and cargo space. In this comparison, we’re willing to sacrifice a little comfort for long-term peace-of-mind. So we say Buy the Subaru.