Design Analysis: 2019 Jeep Cherokee Overland vs. 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Premier
by Ryan
In a world where crossovers are dominating the once popular sedan, the market has become saturated with options. From crossovers that have capability rivaling true SUVs to the crossovers that are no more capable than a compact car (I'm looking at you, Toyota CH-R), there are options for everyone. Two popular American contenders are the Jeep Cherokee and the Chevrolet Equinox.
Although still unique compared to the rest of the Jeep lineup, the 2019 Cherokee has more subdued styling than the pre-refresh model. Adopting more of a squared-off front end, it now looks like a cohesively designed and conventionally attractive vehicle. When viewed from the side, the front end is now quite blunt, especially when compared to the sleek, car-like design of the Equinox. The Cherokee's hood does not slope down in the front as much as the Equinox's hood does, further lending to a more upright appearance.
Although the Cherokee is 2.3 inches wider than the Equinox, the Chevy appears much narrower due to the headlights' integration with the grille which is a design element that is not found on the Cherokee. The Cherokee's width is visually accentuated by long, somewhat more rectangular headlights that sweep into the fenders in comparison to the Equinox's sharper headlight design. Finally, the Cherokee's LED running light design spans the width of the headlights and is placed at the top, appearing as a squinted eyebrow. This enhances the aggressive appearance.
The Cherokee retains the traditional seven-slotted Jeep grille while the Equinox has a variation of the two-piece Chevy grille design, though the bottom section grille has evolved into a angular, squashed heptagon shape that looks like an open mouth.
Moving to the side, the two vehicles have a similar profile to most other crossovers on the market, but the body lines are unique on each of them. Like most recent Chevy products, the Equinox has a drooping line extending from the fender onto the doors and a sharp character line extending from the tail light and fading as it moves farther forward. On the other hand, the Cherokee has classier lines. The dominant body line is relatively low, mounted just above the middle of the doors. It is a very sharp line, but doesn't span the entire side of the vehicle and drops down quickly on the passenger door as it ends. A similar shape can be found in the lower-body moldings on the Cherokee's wheelbase, while the Equinox has black plastic moldings that angle slightly upward as they approach the rear of the vehicle.
The window treatment is another defining feature. The Cherokee's side window design is a traditional treatment, while the Equinox's belt line take a turn up as it approaches the C-pillar, which is body colored and sloped sharply forward, and then dips back down again as it flows into the lift gate.
The side of the Cherokee is made more muscular by Jeep's signature square wheel wells. The Equinox's are rounded and don't give the same appearance of strength.
On the rear, the Cherokee has tail lights that are attached to the base of the sloping rear window, while the Equinox has standalone units separate from the more upright rear window. Each of these vehicles has a license plate frame that is mounted on the lift gate rather than the rear bumper, but the Cherokee's license plate indention looks like a frown, while the Equinox's is shaped more like a smile. The badge for each vehicle is located just above this frame, but interestingly, the Cherokee doesn't have have a "Cherokee" badge anywhere on the rear - in its place is a 4x4 badge on models so equipped, as well as a badge on the right side indicating the trim level. The Equinox repeats its name on the back and both sides for a total of three "Equinox" badges on the exterior compared to the Cherokee's two.
The Equinox has a simple, horizontal rear bumper design, that remains relatively level across the width of the rear end, while the Cherokee's bumper has body lines on each side that give the impression that it is rising up to meet the more aggressive lift gate. Both the Jeep and the Chevy are available with dual exhaust tips, but only the Cherokee's tips are surrounded by silver trim; the Equinox makes do with black plastic.
Although they are competitors in size and price, the Cherokee and the Equinox represent two very different design philosophies. With the Equinox, Chevy seemed to have a bunch of different design elements in mind, but when they were combined they didn't form a well-integrated design. The side lines are too busy and point in different directions. Trying to look at each of these lines, the viewer doesn't really know where to look because each line is leading to a different place. The front end is rounded and has droopy body lines leading to an abnormally squared-off rear window. And what's with all the black plastic on the Premier model? It looks like something that should be found on an LS or an LT, not a nearly $40,000 Premier.
In contrast, the Cherokee Overland has a cleaner, yet more aggressive design with no black plastic cladding to be found. The classy body lines are likely to remain attractive well into the future, while the Equinox is already looking dated after being on the market for only a year. Remember, the side of the Cherokee has remained unchanged since its debut as a 2014 model. It simultaneously gives more of a traditional SUV appearance with its now squared-off front end, flatter hood, and conservative window treatment. The squinted headlights also help give the front end some attitude to separate it from its Compass and Grand Cherokee siblings. The rear end is more rounded and sleek than the rear of the Equinox, but it works with the front end rather than detract from it with contrasting design cues found on the Equinox.
In conclusion, the Cherokee has a much cleaner design than the Equinox, which tries too hard to be modern but fails with its sporadic use of body lines. Now that it has been refreshed, the Cherokee is a truly attractive crossover that gives a good impression of an upscale SUV (like the Grand Cherokee) that is backed up by its capability and heritage. It is a cohesive design that is a testament to the skills of the Jeep designers.
by Ryan
In a world where crossovers are dominating the once popular sedan, the market has become saturated with options. From crossovers that have capability rivaling true SUVs to the crossovers that are no more capable than a compact car (I'm looking at you, Toyota CH-R), there are options for everyone. Two popular American contenders are the Jeep Cherokee and the Chevrolet Equinox.
Although still unique compared to the rest of the Jeep lineup, the 2019 Cherokee has more subdued styling than the pre-refresh model. Adopting more of a squared-off front end, it now looks like a cohesively designed and conventionally attractive vehicle. When viewed from the side, the front end is now quite blunt, especially when compared to the sleek, car-like design of the Equinox. The Cherokee's hood does not slope down in the front as much as the Equinox's hood does, further lending to a more upright appearance.
Although the Cherokee is 2.3 inches wider than the Equinox, the Chevy appears much narrower due to the headlights' integration with the grille which is a design element that is not found on the Cherokee. The Cherokee's width is visually accentuated by long, somewhat more rectangular headlights that sweep into the fenders in comparison to the Equinox's sharper headlight design. Finally, the Cherokee's LED running light design spans the width of the headlights and is placed at the top, appearing as a squinted eyebrow. This enhances the aggressive appearance.
The Cherokee retains the traditional seven-slotted Jeep grille while the Equinox has a variation of the two-piece Chevy grille design, though the bottom section grille has evolved into a angular, squashed heptagon shape that looks like an open mouth.
Moving to the side, the two vehicles have a similar profile to most other crossovers on the market, but the body lines are unique on each of them. Like most recent Chevy products, the Equinox has a drooping line extending from the fender onto the doors and a sharp character line extending from the tail light and fading as it moves farther forward. On the other hand, the Cherokee has classier lines. The dominant body line is relatively low, mounted just above the middle of the doors. It is a very sharp line, but doesn't span the entire side of the vehicle and drops down quickly on the passenger door as it ends. A similar shape can be found in the lower-body moldings on the Cherokee's wheelbase, while the Equinox has black plastic moldings that angle slightly upward as they approach the rear of the vehicle.
The window treatment is another defining feature. The Cherokee's side window design is a traditional treatment, while the Equinox's belt line take a turn up as it approaches the C-pillar, which is body colored and sloped sharply forward, and then dips back down again as it flows into the lift gate.
The side of the Cherokee is made more muscular by Jeep's signature square wheel wells. The Equinox's are rounded and don't give the same appearance of strength.
On the rear, the Cherokee has tail lights that are attached to the base of the sloping rear window, while the Equinox has standalone units separate from the more upright rear window. Each of these vehicles has a license plate frame that is mounted on the lift gate rather than the rear bumper, but the Cherokee's license plate indention looks like a frown, while the Equinox's is shaped more like a smile. The badge for each vehicle is located just above this frame, but interestingly, the Cherokee doesn't have have a "Cherokee" badge anywhere on the rear - in its place is a 4x4 badge on models so equipped, as well as a badge on the right side indicating the trim level. The Equinox repeats its name on the back and both sides for a total of three "Equinox" badges on the exterior compared to the Cherokee's two.
The Equinox has a simple, horizontal rear bumper design, that remains relatively level across the width of the rear end, while the Cherokee's bumper has body lines on each side that give the impression that it is rising up to meet the more aggressive lift gate. Both the Jeep and the Chevy are available with dual exhaust tips, but only the Cherokee's tips are surrounded by silver trim; the Equinox makes do with black plastic.
Although they are competitors in size and price, the Cherokee and the Equinox represent two very different design philosophies. With the Equinox, Chevy seemed to have a bunch of different design elements in mind, but when they were combined they didn't form a well-integrated design. The side lines are too busy and point in different directions. Trying to look at each of these lines, the viewer doesn't really know where to look because each line is leading to a different place. The front end is rounded and has droopy body lines leading to an abnormally squared-off rear window. And what's with all the black plastic on the Premier model? It looks like something that should be found on an LS or an LT, not a nearly $40,000 Premier.
In contrast, the Cherokee Overland has a cleaner, yet more aggressive design with no black plastic cladding to be found. The classy body lines are likely to remain attractive well into the future, while the Equinox is already looking dated after being on the market for only a year. Remember, the side of the Cherokee has remained unchanged since its debut as a 2014 model. It simultaneously gives more of a traditional SUV appearance with its now squared-off front end, flatter hood, and conservative window treatment. The squinted headlights also help give the front end some attitude to separate it from its Compass and Grand Cherokee siblings. The rear end is more rounded and sleek than the rear of the Equinox, but it works with the front end rather than detract from it with contrasting design cues found on the Equinox.
In conclusion, the Cherokee has a much cleaner design than the Equinox, which tries too hard to be modern but fails with its sporadic use of body lines. Now that it has been refreshed, the Cherokee is a truly attractive crossover that gives a good impression of an upscale SUV (like the Grand Cherokee) that is backed up by its capability and heritage. It is a cohesive design that is a testament to the skills of the Jeep designers.
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