The Jeep Cherokee does 20.3 mpg combined (18.1 city, 23.8 highway), which works out to about $1,892 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid does 37 mpg while 2.8L 6-cyl does 17 — a difference of $1,221 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Jeep Cherokee engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Jeep Cherokee ranges from 37 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,221 a year across 12 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid | 39 / 35 | 2026–2026 | $1,038 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 23 / 31 | 2019–2022 | $1,477 | |
| 2.1L 4-cyl | 24.3 / 27 | 1985–1987 | $1,494 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 20 / 27.9 | 2003–2023 | $1,641 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 20.3 / 28.7 | 2014–2022 | $1,648 | |
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 19 / 23.5 | 2005–2006 | $1,829 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18 / 23 | 2008–2008 | $1,920 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 17.9 / 22.4 | 1984–2000 | $1,959 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 16 / 22 | 2011–2011 | $2,133 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 15.4 / 20.8 | 1987–2002 | $2,194 | |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 15.3 / 20.6 | 2003–2010 | $2,220 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 15.3 / 19 | 1984–1986 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Jeep Cherokee burns a gallon every 20.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 591 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 |
| Fuel per year | $1,892 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,460 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$38 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,227 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Jeep Cherokee gives up 5.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.8 out there against 18.1 in town, a 31% drop worth $509 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.1 mpg | $2,122 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.8 mpg | $1,613 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.7 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Cherokee changed over the years
The Cherokee peaked in 2026 at 37 mpg (39 city, 35 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2002 at 15.5 — 21.5 mpg apart, or $1,439 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 37. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 39 / 35 | 1 | $1,038 | |
| 2023 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2022 | 21.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2021 | 21.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2020 | 21.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2019 | 21.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2018 | 21 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2016 | 21 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2015 | 21 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2014 | 20 / 28 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2011 | 15 / 21 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2010 | 15 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2009 | 15 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2008 | 15.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2007 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2006 | 17 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2005 | 17 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2003 | 16 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 13.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2001 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1997 | 16.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1996 | 16.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1995 | 16.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 16.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 16.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 74 EPA ratings of the Jeep Cherokee — 14 engines across 1984–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,227. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Jeep Cherokee get?
20.3 mpg combined on average — 18.1 in the city and 23.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.
How much does a Jeep Cherokee cost in fuel per year?
About $1,892 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,460 over five years, or 0.158 dollars a mile.
Which Cherokee engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid at 37 mpg, against 17 for the 2.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,221 a year.
Is the Cherokee good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Cherokee figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Jeep Cherokee is $3,227 against the $1,892 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 37 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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