The new Jeep Cherokee has been on sale in the United States since October 2013, but the European debut of the SUV will take place at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, with deliveries to start in the second quarter of 2014.

The Cherokee will arrive in Europe with the same “love it or hate it” design, but will add two new diesel engines.

The most powerful of the two is the 2.0-liter Multijet II turbo diesel that produces 170hp and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque at 1,500 rpm. Fitted with a standard Stop/Start system, the unit is linked to a 9-speed automatic transmission, used for the first time in the mid-size SUV segment. The 2.0-liter diesel will also be offered in a lower state of tune (140hp), in combination with a six-speed manual transmission.

Gasoline engines are the same ones used in the U.S.-spec model: a 272hp 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 offered as standard with the 9-speed auto and a 177hp 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir four-cylinder unit also mated to the 9-speed auto, but offered exclusively in Russia and the Middle East.

The Jeep Cherokee will be available in Europe with a choice of three trim levels: Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk. In Russia and the Middle East, a Sports trim level is available as well.

Offered in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations, the Jeep Cherokee comes with a choice of three 4×4 systems: the single-speed, fully automatic Jeep Active Drive I, the two-speed Jeep Active Drive II and the Jeep Active Drive Lock featuring torque management, low range and locking rear axle (offered on the Trailhawk model). The new Cherokee also features rear-axle disconnect, which reduces energy loss when 4×4 capability isn’t needed.

By Dan Mihalascu

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