Newton drivers seeking an SUV with some power but that won’t look out of place in the city or suburbs naturally turn to the compact segment, where options abound. To help shoppers narrow down their choices, we put together some handy one-to-one comparisons.

Here’s our breakdown of the 2017Jeep Cherokee and the 2017 Nissan Rogue, two stylish, well-equipped SUVs with reasonable price tags. Check out the differences between these class-leading utes:

Performance

Jeep Cherokee

It’s no secret that Jeep has roots in the military, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they’re built to deliver power – even if the exterior is more urban than utilitarian. The base engine is a 2.4-liter inline-4 mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering 184 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. There’s also the option for a 3.2-liter V6 engine that churns out 271 horsepower, 239 lb-ft of torque, and has a 4,500-pound towing capacity. Both models are available in front- or all-wheel drive, and you get to choose from three AWD systems: Jeep Active Drive I, Jeep Active Drive II, and Jeep Active Drive Lock. The latter is only available on the Trailhawk model, but gives you some serious off-road capabilities.

Nissan Rogue

Looking under the hood, it’s clear that the Rogue was primarily built for city streets. The base powertrain is a 2.5-liter inline-4 mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission, making 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid option is a 2.0-liter inline-4 combined with an electric motor, making a net 176 horsepower. The Rogue is available with all-wheel drive and has a towing capacity of 1,000 pounds.

Features

Jeep Cherokee

The 2017 Cherokee comes in eight trims: Sport, Sport Altitude, Latitude, 75^th Anniversary Edition, Trailhawk, Limited, High Altitude, and Overland. The base Sport model has standard 5-inch touchscreen display, 6-speaker audio system, audio jack, Bluetooth with Integrated Voice Command, remote SD card slot, Uconnect 5.0, and the option for Sirius XM Radio and steering wheel-mounted controls. It also features 6-way adjustable front seats, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, air conditioning with filtration, 3.5-inch TFT black and white cluster display, and the Jeep Cargo Management System.

Upper trim levels may feature Uconnect 8.4 with Navigation, five years of Sirius XM Radio, HD Radio, GPS Navigation, 9-speaker Alpine audio system with subwoofer, and 7-inch color cluster display. Heated front seats, leather-trimmed bucket seats, 8-way power adjustable front seats, dual panoramic sunroof, leather seats, ventilated front seats, and driver assistance technologies.

Nissan Rogue

The 2017 Rogue comes in three trim levels (excluding hybrid models): S, SV, and SL. The base S has LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth hands-free system and Streaming Audio, Sirius CM Radio, rearview monitor, cloth seating, Divide-N-Hide Cargo System, and EZ Flex Seating System with second-row split-folding bench. The SV adds LED turn signal indicators, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, 6-way power driver's seat, 6-speaker audio system, and remote engine start. The upper trim includes Around View monitor, heated leather steering wheel, Bose premium audio, and driver assistance technology.

Pricing

JeepCherokee

Starting at $23,695 MSRP

Nissan Rogue

Starting at $23,820 MSRP

Category: Comparison
Tags: 2017 Cherokee, Nissan, compact SUV, comparison