Compare the2026 Jeep CherokeeVS 2025 Audi Q3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Cherokee are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Cherokee has standard Rear Automatic Emergency Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Cherokee’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Cherokee and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Cherokee 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cherokee for 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q3.

There are almost 8 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

The Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 26 more horsepower (210 vs. 184) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (230 vs. 221) than the Q3 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Cherokee gets better mileage than the Q3:

Regenerative brakes improve the Cherokee’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Q3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Cherokee has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Q3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Q3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Q3 (113 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Q3.

For greater off-road capability the Cherokee has a 2.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (8 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Jeep Cherokee amounts to more than styling. The Cherokee has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .335 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q3 (.38 to .39) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Cherokee get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Cherokee uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cherokee uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Cherokee has 23.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (107.4 vs. 84).

The Cherokee has .6 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more front shoulder room than the Q3.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (33.6 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (68.3 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q3’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Cherokee Laredo/Limited/Overland has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Cherokee has standard Keyless Enter-N-Go that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. The Audi Advanced Key costs extra on the Q3.

The Cherokee’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Both the Cherokee and the Q3 offer available heated front seats. The Cherokee Overland also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Cherokee Overland keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Cherokee Limited/Overland’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Compared to traditional radio, the Jeep Cherokee’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Q3.

The Cherokee Overland has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cherokee Overland’s Automated Parking System can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Q3 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.