The Rundown
Many off-roaders and people looking for serious mountain vehicles continue to turn to the Jeep Cherokee year after year for its super quality and its attractive design. The Cherokee has changed quite a bit over the years, gone through some growth periods and also has shrunk more recently. The design of the original and the modern Cherokee look very different and determining which Cherokee is the right model for you can often be difficult. This article will help you to decide just which era of Cherokee fits your needs between the design, space, and engine styles available.
1974 – 1983 Jeep Cherokee
The first iteration of the Jeep Cherokee was based on the Jeep Wagoneer and basically is the same vehicle but only with two doors. This Cherokee looks like a very small wagon, built with Jeep style and flair. It comes with a variety of engines: 401 AMC V8 that outputs 215 horsepower, 5.9-liter V8 with 175 horsepower, 4.2 liter I6 with 110 horsepower, and a turbo diesel engine as well. The Jeep Cherokee started out loaded with options, while this vehicle may not be found used, they do make awesome collector’s items.
1984 – 2001 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
This Jeep Cherokee is famous for its design, and power as one of the first off-roading 4x4 SUVs to take the road and to make the platform popular. Earlier model years can be found with wood paneling while a mid-generation refresh came in 1996. This generation came packed with a variety of engines including: 2.5 liter inline four cylinder, 2.8 liter V6, 2.1 liter turbo diesel, 2.5 liter turbo diesel, and a 4.0 liter inline 6. As part of the refresh in 1996, the Cherokee lost its 2.5 liter I4. This Cherokee can be found in 2 door or 4 door options, and with automatic or manual drives. The Jeep Cherokee was paused in 2001, so used prices in this generation may go up due to supply and demand.
2014 – Present Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee finally returned in 2014 to replace the Jeep Liberty. This generation is much more modern and commuter friendly than the previous, but still built with off-roading in mind. The design is smaller and gets better gas mileage. It comes with a variety of engine options, including a hybrid option, 2.4 liter 4 cylinder, or a 3.2 liter V6 engine. All engines come paired with a 9 speed automatic transmission.
Summary
The Jeep Cherokee has changed quite a bit over the years, and finding the right SUV for you comes down mainly to what type of vehicle you are looking for. Whichever Cherokee you choose, it will be a great off-roader in comparison to many of the others available on the market.