MORE POWER from a new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel should make Jeep's Cherokee range a hit, especially with people who tow, where the added oomph will be welcome.

The current two-litre diesel 140hp manual versions have been joined by a 2.2-litre MultiJet engine from the Fiat stable which will come in two tunes levels of 185hp and 200hp. These promise a much wider spread of torque which is especially useful with a trailer behind and will have better fuel economy than the out-going two-litre 170 hp automatic engine. The new engine is also Euro 6 compliant. Both versions have a towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes.

This torquey turbo-diesel will only be available with Jeep's cracking nine-speed automatic gearbox, and matched to the Active-Drive four-wheel-drive systems. Entry level models will also now have added extras as standard, including an electric tailgate, windscreen wipers with rain sensor, dusk sensor, eight-position electrically adjustable seat, four-position lumbar adjustment and automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirror with built-in microphone.

The 200hp standard version can hit 127 mph, goes from zero to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds and has an impressive combined fuel consumption figure of 49.6 mpg and CO2 emissions of 150 g/km; while one fitted with the Active Drive II 4 x 4 system with low-range does the timed run in 8.7 seconds and delivers 46.3 mpg, with slightly higher emissions.

Longitude and Longitude+ trim levels with the 185hp variant, and with 4x4 Jeep Active Drive I and the nine-speed automatic transmission will do 0 to 62 mph in 8.8 seconds and records 49.5 mpg on the combined cycle.

The Jeep Cherokee range starts at £26,095 for the 2.0 MultiJet II 140 hp Longitude FWD manual, rising to £37,995 for the 2.2 MultiJet II 200 hp Limited 4WD automatic.