Overview & Reviews

When the original Jeep Cherokee debuted back in 1984, its compact dimensions, unibody (as opposed to heavier body-on-frame) architecture and go-anywhere capability made it an immediate success. But the SUV scene changed dramatically over the course of its nearly 20-year production run. By the early 2000s, car-based "crossovers" like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 had usurped the antiquated Cherokee's throne. With the arrival of the modernized Jeep Liberty for the 2002 model year, the Cherokee was put out to pasture, its time seemingly having come and gone.

The Liberty never really caught on with consumers, however, whereas the trusty Cherokee's reputation continued to resonate. Accordingly, Jeep resurrected the iconic Cherokee nameplate for the Liberty's successor. Today's Cherokee is a true crossover that shares its platform with the front-wheel-drive Dodge Dart sedan, departing from the rear-wheel-drive tradition established by the original Cherokee and upheld by the Liberty. Its aerodynamic shape, feature-rich interior and carlike driving dynamics speak soothingly to today's pavement-biased shoppers. But rest assured, it's still a Jeep -- so if you do want to hit up some trails, three available four-wheel-drive systems plus numerous off-road-ready options ensure you won't get left in the dust.

Current Jeep Cherokee
The current Cherokee is offered in Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk and Limited trim levels. The Sport is pretty spartan, but it provides convenience features like power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker touchscreen stereo with USB/Bluetooth connectivity. The better-equipped Latitude entices with its alloy wheels, foglights, LED interior lighting and options like dual sunroofs, nine-speaker audio and the excellent 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen interface. The Trailhawk focuses on heavy-duty hardware, including standard 4WD with the locking rear differential, flared fenders, wider wheels and tires, skid plates, tow hooks and an off-road suspension with a 1-inch lift. The fancy Limited lacks those rough-and-ready items but boasts bigger alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery and other luxury-oriented provisions. A panoramic sunroof replaces the dual sunroofs on the options list for both the Trailhawk and Limited.

In the engine room, the Cherokee is powered by either a 2.4-liter four-cylinder (184 horsepower) or a 3.2-liter V6 (271 hp). The transmission for both is a nine-speed automatic. Front-wheel-drive is standard, but Jeep offers three four-wheel-drive systems: an introductory setup with a single-speed power transfer unit (referred to by most automakers as "all-wheel drive"), a two-speed unit with low-range gearing, and an upgraded two-speed system with a locking rear differential that's exclusive to the Trailhawk.

In reviews, we've found the Cherokee's four-cylinder engine underwhelming in terms of both power and refinement, but the V6 is a nice upgrade considering its smooth, satisfying acceleration. We're pleasantly surprised that Jeep offers it, as V6s have largely disappeared from this segment in favor of more fuel-efficient fours. As noted, the Cherokee's V6 isn't much less efficient than the base four, so it's pretty much a win-win. We're not convinced that the transmission really needs all nine speeds, but it goes about its business unobtrusively for the most part.

From the driver seat, the Cherokee isn't as sporty as the Ford Escape or Mazda CX-5, but it handles well enough, and its cushy, quiet ride makes commuting a breeze. Off-roaders intrigued by the Cherokee's refinement will be pleased to learn that there's some real bushwhacking potential here, particularly in the "Trail Rated" Trailhawk, which also looks considerably meaner from the curb. What's not found in the Cherokee is an abundance of cargo space -- it brings up the rear among comparable crossovers -- but on the bright side, the sliding-and-reclining backseat is thoroughly adult-friendly.

Used Jeep Cherokee Models
The current, second-generation Jeep Cherokee debuted for the 2014 model year.

The first-generation Jeep Cherokee was unveiled for the 1984 model year as an austere, tough-as-nails SUV, with only its then-radical unibody construction separating it from true truck status. Two- and four-door versions were available. Built on a short wheelbase and tipping the scales at approximately 3,100 pounds, the Cherokee was nimble and responsive compared to the Chevy Blazers and Ford Broncos of its day. On the other hand, getting in and out could be tricky due to the high step-up and small doors, and the rear seat was quite cramped.

The original Cherokee evolved with mostly minor changes over the years, highlighted by the arrival of a fuel-injected four-cylinder engine for 1986 and the popular 4.0-liter inline-6 engine for 1987. A refreshed Cherokee was introduced for 1997 with slightly smoother exterior styling, some structural tweaks for improved refinement and a new dashboard (including dual airbags), but its utilitarian, no-nonsense character remained fully intact.

In our road test of a '97 Cherokee, we found the Jeep unequalled off-road, yet still respectable on the blacktop in terms of acceleration and handling. We liked the firm, sporty ride, although some may find it too stiff and trucklike. At this point, finding a clean and well-maintained first-generation Cherokee is going to be tricky, but modifying the vehicle for enhanced off-road use is very popular.

For more information on the original Jeep Cherokee, go to our Jeep Cherokee History page.

User Reviews:

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  Biggest Fan of Jeep! - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Katherine - August 5 - 10:31 pm

  My first Jeep and Im a huge fan! I love the Jeep Cherokee 2016. Its a sexy, sporty, modern, SUV. Anyone every age can feel comfortable in this car. Im young and didnt want an SUV to look like it wasnt my style. I like the key fob push button for engine start up, the rear camera, automatic back door push button opens and closes by itself, the black matching rims, the black Jeep logo, matching the black grill, black tinted windows on stock. Comfortable seating, quiet engine, quiet brakes, easy to drive just like driving a car. I get so many compliments. Interior stitching similar to the lexus is 250. This car beats all other SUVs in its class!

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  Nice to look at, but... - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By mbsoul33 - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Mine is a newer truck, but needs too much repair and the build quality is not that good. Can only gets parts from Mopar.

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  Okay so far... - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By boobear - July 27 - 10:00 am

  "Inherited" Cherokee Sport when my dad passed away with 32k miles - so far been very happy with it. Quite a change from a 4 cyl. Nissan Sentra (including the gas bill)! Great acceleration, 4WD worked very well in slushy mess on steep hills. Wish fuel economy was better and back seat had more leg room. Other than that, good "utilitarian" SUV.

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  The Truth and nothing but... - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By GLamb - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I inherited a 96 Cherokee in 2001 with 260,000 miles. Made many repairs to worn out parts but no faulty parts and unecessary towing bills with this vehicle. I ran it until it had 330,000 miles and then sold the vehicle for a surprising amount with many offers. At that time I purchased a 98 Cherokee with only 98,000 miles. It has treated almost as well as my first Jeep, but they just dont build like they use to. Well actually they dont build them at all anymore, but I suppose thats because the Wrangler got all the attention.

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  ok - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By chelsie - July 15 - 1:10 am

  My parents bought my 99 Cherokee sport in 2000, drove it for about 5 years, and then handed it down to me. It now has 140,0000 miles on it. I have no complaints about how it runs, never had any problems with that. However, the ac has stopped working, the front speakers blew out, the rear windshield wiper doesnt work, and the handle that pops that hood was so sticky, that mechanics changing the oil completely pulled it off and now the hood wont latch and I have to put a ratchet strap around it to keep it down. It gets me from place to place, but thats about it.

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  Jeeps are the Best - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By Kunkemotorsports - July 9 - 5:40 pm

  We have owned this Jeep for about 5 years and there have been no breakdowns and only regular maintenance. This Jeep is very fun to drive; the 4.0 litre straight 6 has a lot of torque. These Jeeps are very off road capable even in stock form. Because of the light weight and disc brakes, this Jeep stops almost on a dime. The 4 wheel drive is very easy to use (shift-on-the-fly). The interior is very roomy for a compact suv it can comfortably seat 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children comfortably plus dogs or groceries or whatever in the back. Over all this is a great SUV.

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  CANT BEAT IT!!! - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By slapstick - July 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this jeep used with 26,000 on it and since then put 10,000 more. I have had no problems with the Jeep at all. I do notice a little bit of the clear coat starting to flake off but the Jeep dealer will take care of it. Before buying the cherokee I test drove a few other trucks around the same size and this was by far the best overall. It has plenty of power great off road capabilities and just fun to drive.

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  Jeep Cherokee Up Hill or Down Hill? - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By ALAN FRANK - July 8 - 11:03 pm

  I have had my Jeep Cherokee Latitude for 5 months. In that time, I have put 1,600 miles on it (dont drive great distances). The color is beautiful--"Brilliant Black Chrystal Pearl coat." I opted for the 4-cylinder (184 horsepower) with the 9-speed transmission. The engine is a little buzzy, and get relatively poor gas mileage. Combined city (mostly) and highway has been under 19 MPG. Interior is great. Very comfortable seats. The 8.4 Uconnect screen is excellent. The ride is smooth. The car is rattle-free. I went for the customer preferred package, which includes 18 inch gloss-back wheels, all black fascia, grille, roof rails, and exterior badging. It also has the cold weather group, which includes remote start, heated front seats and steering wheel, windshield wiper deicer, heated mirrors, power 8-way driver seat with 4 way lumbar support. I also purchased an extended warranty. I have no complaints, except I should have purchased the 6-cylinder and CD player. So, there are highs ad lows. As you can see more highs. If you decide on this car, you should be quite pleased, but get the 6-cylinder.

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  Love my jeep - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By john c - June 27 - 1:03 pm

  This is my 3rd one. I had a 1988 Comanche 4x4 then a 1996 Cherokee. Now a 2000 classic. I love them. Theyre very reliable and fun to drive.

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  An old work horse - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By pkelly502 - June 3 - 4:42 am

  Let me just start off by saying I love my JEEP! And there is no denying it this baby is a Jeep. Some people think the only real Jeeps are Wranglers but thats not the case, this bad boy even stock has the capability to do some pretty amazing things off road. The best part about this jeep is that while being able to take it for a fun weekend camping or 4x4ing is nice and easy its also a great car to drive on the road,in the city or on the highway. I have a 99 cherokee sport in automatic (not listed on this site if im not mistaken) and she has over 230,000 miles with nearly no major repairs aside from a starter and a new ac pump. And of course some body damage fixes but that my fault not hers