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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  A great friend - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By Joe - April 22 - 2:10 pm

  I am retiring my 99 Jeep Cherokee Classic. I love this vehicle!! It still looks great after two wrecks and a 150,000 miles. I plan on having a little work done on it and then putting it in storage until my son turns 18 (18 years from now). It will be a hell of a gift for him - this is truly a classic vehicle and, in a way, I wish Jeep would bring the XJ style back but in another way I love the fact that I have one and they are not as easy to get anymore.

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  Goes the distance - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By jsb - April 17 - 2:00 am

  My Cherokee has 181,000 miles on it and has been one of the very best vehicles I have ever owned. Besides regular oil changes and tires it has had 3 front brake jobs, 1 rear brake job, replaced the airconditioning condensor and radiator, 2 exhaust systems, 1 set of front axel universal joints and a couple of batteries. You couldnt ask for better. It handles great, is just super in bad weather with the 4WD and has never let me down.

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  The Brute - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By Clarkecars - April 16 - 1:00 pm

  I bought my 4WD Cherokee for one reason, no other small or midsize SUV at the time or now had the reputation and ability to pull my 23 ft saltwater walk-around fishing boat and tandem axle trailer. After 6 plus years of yeoman like duty, hauling that boat on trips as long as 1100 miles. Ive replaced the radiator, water pump and a u-joint in 150K miles. Its amusing to slip into 4Wheel High on a wet boat ramp and walk up the ramp while larger pickups and SUVs spin their tires hooked to smaller boats. I wish they still made them and because I dont I wont be getting rid of mine anytime soon. Its a little Brute!

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  Work Horse - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By jeepfan67 - April 13 - 3:46 am

  This is the 5th Cherokee Ive had. I pulled this one out of a swamp, 3 feet of muddy water, left there for about 6 months. Had about 5 gallons of water in the engine. Engine was stuck. Unstuck the motor with PB Blaster and patience, replaced ALL the relays, alternator, starter, radiator, numerous other stuff. Runs like a champ now. No smoke, no knocks, very powerful and spiffy, the way they should be. Only problem now seems to be the speed sensor, its not shifting down properly and check engine light is on. Will fix this week. Oh, btw, the AC is ICE cold!

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  THE THRILL OF IT ALL - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By HONEY - March 26 - 2:00 am

  FIRST TIME JEEP OWNER ALONG WITH TOYOTA COROLLA.LOVE MY JEEP AS MUCH AS I LOVE MY TOYOTA.ITS MORE TRUCK THAN CAR SO RIDE IS ROUGH IN TOWN BUT GREAT ON A TRIP.FOR MORE THEN TWO PEOPLE ITS A LITTLE CRAMPY.IT HAS ALOT OF ROAD NOISE,TENDS TO SLIDE IF WET OUT,GAS MILEAGE NOT VERY GOOD...BETTER GAS MILEAGE WITH MOPAR OIL FILTER..WANTED DEPENDABILITY FOR EARLY MORNING WORK HOURS AND IT HAS NOT LET ME DOWN,ESP IN DEEP SNOW.WISH SPARE TIRE WAS NOT IN CARGO SPACE.HAVE HAD IT A YEAR NOW WITH NO PROBLEMS.CASSETTE PLAYER WORKS GREAT.WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE MY JEEP SHOULD OUTLIVE ME.!!

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  Still a champ in my book! - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By babsj - March 19 - 2:00 am

  My 99 Limited 4WD is still going strong @ 57K miles and Im very happy with my purchase. No major problems, regular maintenance is easy, and the vehicle has been pretty trouble-free. I now use RXP fuel additive and get an extra 1-2 mpg and peppier performance while burning cleaner than ever! Window regulator replaced under warranty, new thermostat last year, battery, tires, 1 headlight. 1 tiny crack in leather seat which is easy to fix. No brake problems but will replace them soon per normal wear and tear. 17 mpg in city, 20 highway. Love my Jeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Jeep is a rock, exept for the brakes - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By iguana - March 14 - 10:00 am

  its been a great experience with my jeep ive only had it a few months and i cant beleave how many miles ive put on it. I just cant seem to stop driving it. Im still getting used to the fact that its a jeep and can handle things i know i try to baby it to much. as far as bad things the brakes. but i knew that going into this adventour.

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  Good Reliable All-Purpose vehicle - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By Arthur D - March 11 - 10:46 am

  Had vehicle over 7 years. Hauls everything from hay to infants. Have driven through swamps, & snow covered roads other vehicles couldnt. Plenty of room to haul tools, supplies, and kids gear. Rear seat does not have a lot of legroom for adults so not recommended for long trips with 4 adults, but fine with kids. Get 20 MPG. Low maintenance bills. No major problems. A little noisy/bumpy on the highway compared to new vehicles, but it really drives well in the bad weather. This Jeep has driven: dates in college, buddies, friends going fishing, dogs, tools, clients, building materials, canoes, the bride and groom, babies, toddlers, and gear in all types of weather. A good all-purpose vehicle.

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  My 2nd Jeep - 1997 Jeep Cherokee
  By kiwi - February 9 - 12:10 am

  Got 225,000 miles on my 1992 Jeep and needed a replacement - this was as close as I got - its already done 97,000 miles - I like this basic Jeep, its a no-nonsense SUV. The wife and I find the seats realy comfy, and now we have cupholders and remote heated mirrors. Also like the factory tow package and 2" receiver. We use this Jeep in the snow, in the city, and in the desert and high-Sierras back- country

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  RIP - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By fek2 - January 15 - 10:48 pm

  I loved it. It was my first car and only had it for about one year but was amazing. I was driving on the highway when something hit the transmission case and cracked it. my insurance deemed it as total loss and towed it away. I will miss my jeep soo much. RIP baby. Unfortunately i will most likely not get a jeep as my second vehicle due to bad gas mileage