| Week at the wheel | Jeep Cherokee |

Inside & Out:

Jeep's Cherokee perpetuates all the stereotypes associated with the American SUV, inside and out: overtly butch exterior styling, check; bland interior, check; poor quality plastics, check; frantic warning bongs every few seconds, check; feeling of being a decade behind its peers in every sense, check.

Amazingly, however - and to the stylist's credit - the Jeep is one of the most asked about cars we've had on test recently here at Car Enthusiast, particularly among blokes. It seems the Jeep brand holds a type of mythical, macho appeal, which is probably to do with its historical association with US military ruggedness - and the fact they're so rarely seen on UK roads.

It's not all bad. The interior might be designed with all the flair of a hospital bathroom - including an incongruous (but useful, as you'll find out) dash mounted grab handle on the passenger side - but there is a utilitarian spartan feel about it that some people might like. It's not particularly cleverly packaged, with nowhere near the leg space its proportions suggest it should have, though the glass rear screen lifts separately so you can drop a shopping bag or two in, which is very useful.

But the driving position is awful, with no reach adjustment for the wheel and a deep section of plastic under the steering column proving a painful obstacle to the knees. And a word of advice: avoid the optional 'sky slider' fabric sunroof like a hunting trip with Dick Cheney. It evidently doesn't seal with the roof properly when shut, resulting in a head-battering cacophony at motorway speeds.

Engine & Transmission:

Like the cabin, the engine and transmission feels a generation behind. The 2.8-litre diesel unit is gruff and feels overworked by the 2,165kg heft of the big Jeep, so even though it boasts reasonable fuel economy (31.4mpg combined), the reality is that it needs to be pushed so hard that its actual economy is some way below that, and only a large 70-litre fuel tank stops the needle visibly sinking before your eyes.

The four-pot turbodiesel is audibly strained, and it's linked to an archaic torque convertor automatic that seems to have to think about it before it will actually change gear. Then when it does, it rocks the car fore and aft for good measure. Plus, the pedal placement is just bizarre, with the throttle set inches lower than the brake and badly modulated: it's either on or off.

Ride & Handling:

Big SUVs that are intended for serious off-roading, as the Jeep is, tend to be softer on the road because the suspension has to be more pliable to cope with the rigours and sharp undulations of treacherous, unpaved ground. Loads of makers are getting better at balancing that requirement with the need for firmer on-road composure, but the Cherokee is just too soft. For the majority of owners, who'll never veer off the tarmac, the Jeep's excessive wallow will grate - which is perhaps why that massive grab handle is there? On a smooth road it is fine, but it's outclassed by everything Land Rover does, for example, and much else besides.

It follows that the handling is just as woolly, although it does spring up a pleasant surprise: the ability to oversteer. Unfathomable as it is, even at roundabout speeds the Cherokee's tail is happy to break out with nothing more than some acute steering and throttle angle. Lots of fun. Otherwise, though, this is not a car that inspires much confidence, but rather it imbues the feeling that the wheels and chassis are two entirely separate entities.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

By now you're probably thinking that it must be at least well equipped, yes? Well, it is. Standard spec includes the full package of hill climbing programmes (low ratio settings for the 'box, full-time four-wheel drive, hill start assist, hill descent control and all-season tyres), as well as heated electric front seats, climate control, rear parking sensors, auto wipers, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

For its £25,300 asking price, those things might be expected though, and they are unfortunately contained in a car of highly suspect quality - and one that, as we've already discussed, isn't too economical. The options list is pricey too, with Jeep asking £500 for a tow bar and £1,500 for satnav.

Overall:

The Jeep Cherokee is a lumbering slab of American dopiness whose face-saving USP is its individuality and pseudo coolness. It's clumsy on the road, will prove expensive to run and ultimately feels like it's from a bygone era. Still, and despite everything we've just said, we can see why some people - particularly those with towing or off-roading to do - will be drawn to it in a leftfield sort of way. It's bizarrely difficult to hate; in fact, it's almost likeable.