In case you’ve been living under a rock, and that rock isn’t on the Rubicon, the Cherokee is back in the Jeep lineup after a 12 year hiatus and with it comes some much-debated changes.

The most obvious change is the styling, with squinty daytime runners above the small projector headlamps and an overall shape that is very much like all the others in the segment.

Also new is the standard 9-speed automatic that can be matched with either the 2.4-liter Tigershark I-4 or the new 3.2-liter Pentastar V6, which puts out 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque.

But for those of you who are scared of change, have no fear, this is still a member of the classic Cherokee family.

GREG CARLOSS: You know how they say, "never judge a book by its cover?"  Well that’s the case with the new Cherokee. It looks like it’s lost some of its ruggedness and essentially its Cherokee-ness. But, when you get it off-road and you’ve got the locking rear dif and the selectable terrain modes, it really eats up anything you throw at it and it’s quite honestly extremely capable.

If it’s capability you’re looking for, Jeep offers a Trailhawk version, which in addition to the rear locker and “Selec Terrain” comes with a one-inch factory lift, skid plates, and tow hooks.

Expect the Cherokee to hit show rooms in late September and make sure to stay tuned to MotorWeek for a full road test, soon.