Dropping the rear 60/40 split seats to provide a flat load floor for my puppy passenger was a piece of cake. I had one heck of a time removing the cargo cover, but after much cursing and swearing – I realized it had not only been damaged, but was also filled with little glass chunks. This accounted for a persistent rattle that I was going to mention, but now won’t.

The Cherokee has a nice structural stiffness, it handles well over broken pavement and absorbs bumps and potholes nicely. I’d previously taken this same vehicle off road, through the woods and over a hilly trail marked with slick mud and deep ruts. Standard in this North 4×4 tester is the Jeep Selec-Terrain system, featuring a rotary dial for choosing between “Auto”, “Snow”, “Sport”, and “Sand/Mud” modes. It’s probably not going to be your first choice to tackle the Rubicon, but the Cherokee acquitted itself well on the steep trails.

For our 45 minute drive to their new foster homes, I chose a nice twisty rural route through cottage country and avoiding the major highway. It was a nice, leisurely drive that upset neither my passengers – nor the Cherokee, because this is one Jeep that doesn’t like to be hurried.

Underhood is a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that puts out a rather modest 184 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. It’s actually a fairly refined four-banger with none of the inherent thrashiness we used to expect from these powerplants. It’s mated to the same ZF nine-speed transmission you’d get if you’d chosen the larger and more powerful V6.

A large and heavy vehicle (1,834 kg) powered by a fuel-miserly four cylinder that’s mated to a gearbox that’s engineered for frugality is not exactly an athletic combination. The transmission continuously hunted for gears, and the length of time it took to react to a quick hit of the gas pedal was almost frightening. Passing manoeuvres shouldn’t be attempted without plenty of forethought.

But it’s a comfortable drive and my passengers and I aren’t complaining. I’ve got 80s on 8 channelling through the nine-speaker-plus-subwoofer system and a gorgeous blue-eyed boy resting his head on my knee, on his way to a new life.

Warranty:
3 years/60,000 km; 5 years/100,000 km powertrain; 3 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 5 years/100,000 km 24-hour roadside assistance

Competitors:
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Santa Fe
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4

Pricing: 2015 Jeep Cherokee North 4X4
Base Price: $24,195
Tested Trim: $29,395
Options: $195 Granite Crystal Metallic paint, $895 SafetyTec Group (rear parking assist, power mirrors, mirror signals, mirror lamps, blind spot & cross-path detection), $795 Cold Weather Group (floor mats, heated mirrors, heated front seats, wiper de-icer, heated steering wheel), $1,295 Comfort/Convenience Group (cargo net, tonneau cover, auto-dimming rearview mirror w/ microphone, keyless entry, proximity keyless start, dual-zone A/C, power driver seat w/ lumbar adjust, power liftgate, security alarm, remote start, garage door opener, humidity sensor), $1,595 sunroof, $750 Uconnect 8.4A touchscreen infotainment w/ SiriusXM & Bluetooth, $400 nine speakers & subwoofer, $225 CD player, $425 back-up camera
Freight: $1,695
A/C Tax: $100
Price as Tested: $37,765

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