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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  Awesome Car - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Dawn - August 14 - 4:10 am

  We love this car. It drives great, looks great and all around nice car. It is a little noisy so I will be taking it to the dealer to have it checked out to make sure its nothing mechanical.

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  Love it, cant find anything better - 1997 Jeep Cherokee
  By CCoccia - August 7 - 7:16 pm

  I have owned this Jeep for 11 yrs. No other vehicle I have had will cruise at 80 on the interstate, then take the extreme trails in the OHV park like they were nothing. I bought a Mini Cooper and its a good thing I kept the Jeep-way more dependable and a lot cheaper to fix than the Mini. Ive hauled building materials, pulled out chain-link fencing and stumps, still on the original clutch at 126,000 miles. It has never left me on the side of the road or refused to start. All I have had to do is routine maintenance, lube oil and filter, brakes (once), and a water pump. Ive decided to put some money into paint and new carpet etc. and just keep driving it.

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  It was my dream car, but.... - 1997 Jeep Cherokee
  By meropidae - August 5 - 10:00 am

  After two years, the Jeep reputation reared its ugly head. The AC is continually broken. The cd player and sunroof are dead. The roof lining is sagging, the windows leak. It rattles and chirps (and not only off- road). The automatic transmission has very bad days. The side bumper strips are falling off. And, mysteriously, the front drivers side door has begun to rub against the nose-side panel, slowly denting it inward. I adore it...but will soon face the fact that Im pouring money into a bottomless pit. (sigh....)

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  99 Cherokee Limited - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By Cherokeelmt - August 5 - 10:00 am

  This Bright Red loaded Cherokee Limited is the bedt vechile I have owned to date. I bought it at 29,900 miles and it currently has 38,900 on the clock. Recently took it for a 1000 mile round trip to Niagara Falls and the Ride was great. The power leather seats were very comfortable, and the Factory tint on the windows prevents the dark gray seats from heating up to much. We averaged 17.8 miles to the gallon which was dissapointing, but the Truck as a whole makes up for the loss in MPG.

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  BAD CAR TO BUY!!! - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By tn - August 2 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE HAD A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT FOR 7 YEARS AND ITS THE LAST ONE. THIS CAR HAS A FRAME RAIL AND STEERING GEAR BOX BOLTS CRACKING RECALL PROBLEM. DONT BUY ANY REGULAR CHEROKEE. CHRYSLER WILL NOT PAY FOR MY REPAIRS AND ONLY 2500 ARE ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT MINE CAR IS NOT. THOUSANDS OR MORE ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND IT CAN CAUSE A CRASH. MY FRAME RAIL CRACKED AND LOST MY STEERING THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. THIS IS A BAD CAR!

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  Fun Jeep -- Increasing Cost of Ownership - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By Ken - July 25 - 11:20 pm

  When a vehicle has 100,000 miles, I know we have a lot of work to do. This is no different. Tires, shocks, battery, brakes, etc. are normal. Electronics should be a bit more resilient. The air conditioning coolant has a leak. Of the 3 Chrysler vehicles I have owned, this seems to be their plan to encourage us to sell the vehicle; the system always fails around 90,000 miles and the transmission fails around 100,000-120,000. Planned obsolescence? Other makes seem to be more robust for this, but I digress. Other that that, a nice vehicle, fun to drive as an SUV.

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  ALL JEEP! - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By jeep4me - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Great Jeep! been around for a while... Hate to see the production stop!!!but you can bet twenty years from now these little bad boys will still be runnin around

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  Quite possibly the best vehicle we have ever owned - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Mark - July 16 - 12:19 pm

  My wife and I purchased our 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2 V6 in April, 2016. We have taken it on three road trips and just absolutely love it. Comfort, ride, visibility, power I could go on and on. I am a car guy so upkeep and cleanliness are top priority for me, this thing is put together like a Mercedes Benz. In fact, my parents liked ours so much they purchased one too. So far very pleased with product and dealer network and hope it stays that way. Note: I found no option for the Trailhawk with a 3.2 V6 so I used the 4 cylinder.

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  From X5 to Cherokee Latitude - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By rlr23 - July 5 - 6:46 am

  Very pleased. Gas mileage has gone from 16 mpg to 27.5 mpg on the same route. Did not need 4wd or Awd . Happy with the performance of 2.4 engine. I dont mind how the 9 speed transmission works to maximize efficiency.

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  I love this SUV! - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Lisa Schooner - June 29 - 9:50 am

  I have owned many SUVs in the past and have not been as happy as I have been with this one. It is not as large as some of the other SUVs, so it is easier to manuver than other SUVs. The Cherokee also has a great turn radius which also helps. I purchased the trailhawk with the 3.2L engine and with all the upgraded packages. I test drove the 2.4L and that model was sluggish. This is the reason I went with the larger engine. The larger engine combined with the 9 speed transmission you will not be let down. It is also a quiet ride and with the trailhawk it comes with the locking rear diff, stiffer suspension, and larger off road tires. I have yet to find anything I do not like about this jeep!