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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  FANTASTIC VEHICLE - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Xar77 - May 10 - 2:00 am

  Weve had the Cherokee for 2 months and already have put 6k miles on it. Fantastic ride both on the road and off. Handles the Denver traffic with ease, takes on the Rocky Mountains too!!!

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  Bullet proof basics. - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Bazoozoo - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Very basic but also very durable. This is one tough vehicle that can take a lot of abuse. If you are like me and just want to get in and drive then this is the ideal vehicle. Expensive European cars know to keep their distance in parking lots and on the highway. Couldnt have asked for anything else but power windows.

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  Theres no replacement for Cherokee - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By SL - April 16 - 3:00 am

  Bought this very basic 4x4 last summer with 125k on the clock, and just grow more enthusiastic every day. Its not a luxury car, but is very tractable on-road and there is NO vehicle still in production in 2008 that can come anywhere close to matching it for balancing on-road manners and sheer offroad capability. Its also built like a tank and is unbelievably reliable. Important stuff just does not fail on this car. Fuel econ. is quite good in commuting. Theyre so common that theyre almost forgotten- but just look around you in traffic some day and start counting, and note how many still look great. Then remember there hasnt been a new one built for 7 years. Take THAT, Toyota.

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  Happy so far - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By RMG - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Just turned 50,000 with no real problems. Had a power window problem and the rear washer pump quit, nothing with the drivetrain at all. I have the select-trac full time 4wd and have been very happy. We see lots of snow and my wife can drive it without having to worry about shifting to 2wd if she gets on a dry section of road. I just did a 1,000 mile trip, got 22.5 mpg. Average about 18 in town.

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  Love our Country! - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By DonJuanovan - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Bought our Jeep two years ago from the original owners who were selling it because they bought a new Cherokee (2001 was the last year they made em). We have 80K on our Jeep and have had a few problems (waterpump, brakes, broken motor mount) but nothing out of the ordinary. Its a great vehicle, very handy and I think, sharp looking. Ours is red over silver. The ride is quite rough but hey, its a Jeep right?

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  Hello happy mileage! - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By dggarcia - March 21 - 5:19 am

  I started reading Edmunds.coms reviews a while ago, deciding between Mazda CX-5 & Cherokee, i am happy with my choice, is super comfortable and full of details as they claim, i switched from Jeep Liberty (3.7 V6) to the V4 and mileage is great, granted is that the V4 does not performs nor sounds as my old V6 did but my main concern was gas mileage so to me is a fair trade, tested the VW Tiguan Turbo and seems a more powerful V4 than Cherokee but overall car is no comparison at all. If you are looking for super performance probably the V6 will respond better to that need, design which seemed hideous on pictures quite frankly grows in me easy and love that sets it apart.

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  Sad to see it go... - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Danny Wong - March 17 - 10:00 am

  I never thought that I would be driving a Jeep. This XJ has been my daily driver, my street racer, and my savior in bad weather. For a 4.0, Inline-6, this Jeep performs like an SUV on steriods. After a year since I bought her, I have been installing performance modifications that have upgraded the power. Now my XJ really burns the pavement. Overall, Im sad to see it go as I still believe DC made a horrible choice in discontinuing the XJ. Maybe someday, DC will have a change in heart and the XJ will come back with a revamped XJ for the future.

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  89 and 270k and going - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By mandela morta - February 27 - 10:00 pm

  Cubans should buy this jeep. It will be around as long as the 50s cars they drive now and it will be alot nicer. I like keeping things that dont get abandoned by the rest of the rest! We still can buy parts no problem for a jeep 20 yrs old. do as done

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  1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport 3DR - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By colorado14r - February 24 - 1:19 am

  After buying my 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport 3DR new, I proceeded to log over 168k miles in it until 2012. No power windows, roof rack or fancy bells or whistles. I just sold it last month. Most of my milage was city/hwy driving. I averaged 17/22 MPG. Not too bad with an air conditioner. The off roading in the snow was as impressive as a Jeep commercial can leagaly put on the TV. My service record shows normal maintenance. I needed to replace the clutch at around 90K and the air conditioner was replaced at 120k. The only real problem was a clutch sensor that kept burnig out 15A fuses in the fuse box. The sensor was replaced and it ran well ever since. I liked it so much I purchsed another Jeep.

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  Still Kicking! - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By TheNotoriousBLA - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for 2 years now and I absolutely love it! I dont ever want to sell this Jeep. Its so dependable, yes it has some drawbacks, few options and not that comfrotable but you never have to worry about it tearing up.