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Updated 2019 Jeep Cherokee Debuting in Detroit

Refreshed styling and new powertrain options highlight the key changes to this off-road-ready crossover.

When Jeep revived the Cherokee name after a 13-year hiatus, the crossover's unique styling was extremely polarizing to say the least.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee looks to change that with a more mainstream exterior design, which was previewed ahead of the crossover's official debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

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Jeep says that the new look gives the 2019 Jeep Cherokee a "more premium design," but the biggest difference, of course, is to the front end. On the current design, the headlights sit below a narrow strip of lighting used for the turn signals and daytime running lights, and the updated Jeep Cherokee gets a one-piece headlight similar in design to the 2017 Jeep Compass.

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The Cherokee retains the same seven-slot grille, which features a prominent bend in the middle - a trait that carried over to the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL.

Personally, I always thought that the front end gave the Cherokee a distinguishable look, but I always thought the rear end of the Cherokee looked goofy as the curved lift gate was oddly barren (and gave inverted reflections).

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Fortunately, Jeep has also tweaked the rear of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee with a new liftgate that now incorporates the license plate and a more stylish fascia with integrated exhaust outlets.

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Inside, it looks like the only major difference will be a new digital gauge cluster, and under the hood, Jeep promises "more fuel-efficient powertrain options." The full extent of the updates (including more details and images) for the 2019 Cherokee will be revealed next week.

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