Jeep previewed the fifth-generation Cherokee in February 2013, shortly after the releasing the Compass, Patriot, and Grand Cherokee. The Cherokee debuted at the New York International Auto Show on March 27, 2013. The North American market saw the Cherokee nameplate for the first time since the 2001 departure of the Cherokee (XJ). Other markets retained the Cherokee name with the introduction of the Liberty in the North American markets.

The Cherokee is the first Jeep vehicle to use the Fiat Compact Wide platform, which was co-developed by Chrysler and Fiat.[3][8] It features a wheelbase of 106.3 inches (2,700 mm), 1.1 inches (28 mm) longer than the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 5.1 inches (130 mm) longer than its predecessor, the Jeep Cherokee XJ, and 2.7 inches (69 mm) shorter than the original Jeep Cherokee (SJ)