The fifth generation of the Jeep Cherokee was launched under the new Fiat Chrysler Automobile alliance. After the departure from DaimlerChrysler, the new company focused on making the Cherokee a better SUV. The crossover revolution made the car-manufacturers re-think the product lineup. People were looking for easy to drive SUV and most of them drove the cars on paved roads and, maybe, some unpaved ones. But rarely they went off-roading. That's why there was a higher demand for better on-road capabilities. The 2014 Cherokee was far from the XJ (third Generation) model. It didn't feature the boxy design or the live axles underneath the car. It featured independent suspension and a unibody bodywork with rounded edges and the strangest looking headlights installed in a Jeep. It still had the seven-slats grille, but that was the only clue about the car's brand. Inside, the 2014 Cherokee had the interior space of a mid-size station wagon, with plenty of headroom for both front and rear passengers. The basic version featured cloth seats, but in the upper trim level there was an option for leather and a sunroof. For the infotainment unit, there was a new U-Connect system that featured the navigation system and had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Under the hood there was a standard V6 engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission for the U.S. market. For other markets, including Europe, diesel units were offered mated to 6-speed manual transmission. It was also offered in a 2WD configuration.