Jeep, and I don’t mean the cat-like creature who appeared in the Popeye comic strip, are synonymous with the manufacture of some serious off-roading hardware.

A quick glimpse through their back catalogue will reveal an army of models that were built with just one thing in mind: tackling, and conquering, the rough stuff.

Times have changed, however, and the huge growth in popularity of SUVs, crossovers and soft-roaders, means that being capable off-road just isn’t enough any more. In fact, for most buyers of this particular class of vehicle, it matters not a jot.

Jeep is now part of the Fiat empire and its underpinnings are essentially Italian while its silhouette is rakish and, something that is rarely associated with SUVs of any origin, aerodynamic. A bit, anyway.

All Jeep Cherokees have four-wheel-drive with the basic system called Active Drive I. In normal driving conditions it sends power to the front wheels but, when additional traction is needed, it will switch to all-wheel-drive. It’s a system that allows the Cherokee to compete with the new breed of crossover SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5, the Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan and Nissan’s Qashqai, and not sacrifice its reputation as the manufacturer of rugged, unstoppable off-roaders.

It doesn’t stop there, though, with a second tier all-wheel-drive transmission called, unsurprisingly, Active Drive II, which is a permanent system that adds a low range and hill descent control. Finally, at the top of the transmission tree is Active Drive Lock – you didn’t see that coming did you – with a rear diff-lock and the Cherokee’s most advanced Selec-Terrain system.

To be competitive the Cherokee needs to combine the qualities of an SUV – the space, the practicality, the security – with the driving characteristics of a family hatchback..

Achieving a car-like driving experience in a vehicle that sits so high above the ground is never going be easy, though. The basic laws of physics are difficult to resist and that’s evident in the Cherokee where the soft suspension allows the car to roll uncomfortably in corners.

There’s no information coming back to the driver through the steering wheel but the soft set-up discourages the driver from trying to hustle the Cherokee along anyway.

It does, however, make for a great long-distance cruiser. The suspension isolates occupants on motorways and cabin refinement is good, with very little external noise infiltrating the cabin space.

Ergonomically and aesthetically the cabin is a bit hit and miss. The screen technology used for the main display and the trip computer is excellent – sharp, bright and clear – but the layout of the controls is not as user-friendly as it could be.

The sat nav is simple enough to use, and I’ve mentioned, the screen touchscreen is s gem, but the Garmin unit feels a little low rent in what is supposed to be a premium product.

Space for passengers is reasonable, though anyone in the rear might find themselves wishing for a little more leg room, and that’s despite the fact that the rear bench can be slid rearward.

That moveable rear bench allows the 591-litre boot to expand to 714 litres.

There’s a decent amount of cabin storage, with a cubby in the centre armrest and good-sized door bins but the glovebox is small.

Jeep’s nine-speed gearbox is a gem. It’s smooth, intelligent and, according to the firm, contributes to a 16% improvement in efficiency compared to the previous model.

The 2.2-litre diesel offers impressive performance, sprinting to 62mph in just 8.5 seconds, but it isn’t particularly refined under acceleration. However, it settles down to a distant hum. A reminder, if one were needed, that this is not a car to be hurried.

There are four models to choose from – Longitude Plus, Limited, Overland and Trailhawk – with the base model featuring a comprehensive list of standard equipment including (deep breath) 17-inch alloys, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment with DAB, Bluetooth, sat nav and voice command, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, rear parking sensors, powered seats, auto headlamps and wipers, dual zone climate control, cruise control, power tailgate and the aforementioned Active Drive I.

My test car arrived in Overland trim which, in addition to the Limited’s upgraded instrument pack, seat memory settings, front parking sensors and reversing camera, heated Nappa leather seats, privacy glass, bi-xenon headlamps and 18in alloys, adds bespoke wheels, body-coloured bumpers and a panoramic dual pane sunroof.

The top-of-the-range Trailhawk is fitted with a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine, off-road suspension and body protection panels plus a few additional sporty styling tweaks.

The Cherokee has a tough fight on its hands in what is an increasingly competitive sector and, unfortunately it falls short in too many areas to really take the fight to its rivals. However, it's worth noting that there is a new model just on the horizon so if you're looking to step up and join the SUV brigade, it might just be worth keeping your powder dry for the time being.

Jeep Cherokee 2.2 Multijet 9-speed Overland

Price from: £41,700

Engine: 2.2-litre Multijet diesel

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Max power: 197bhp @ 3,500rpm

Max torque: 440Nm @ 2,500rpm

Max speed: 126mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 8.7sec

Urban: 46.3mpg

Extra urban: 53.3mpg

Combined: 37.7mpg

Emissions (CO2): 159g/km

For more information visit www.jeep.co.uk