The Wrangler designation would arguably get more attention today, but the Cherokee is a Jeep that won over thousands of consumers in its heyday. The Jeep Cherokee played a pivotal role in cementing SUVs as a more popular chassis model than pickup trucks, with the added advantages of some off-road capabilities.
From the mid-1970s until the discontinuation of the latest style in 2023, there have been five generations of Cherokee, adding the KJ and KK advertised as the Jeep Liberty in the United States. We included them here, as they were largely similar. to the Cherokee sold in other markets. From body-on-chassis SUVs to comfortable crossovers, and from the first V8 engines to the newest four-cylinder engines, the Cherokee has gone through many tweaks over the decades.
Here’s how the other SUV generations compare.
Like its predecessor, the Cherokee/Liberty KK generation had much more modern features than the long-lasting second-generation XJ. Introduced in the 2008 design year, the KK had more utilitarian styling, popular side airbags, and the MyGig entertainment system. and automatic transmissions were available for the thirsty 3. 7-liter V6 engine. With the four-speed automatic transmission replaced, it wasn’t exactly nimble. The more powerful diesel of the last generation was also not available for the KK.
Although more comfortable than its KJ predecessor, this Liberty still favored off-road comfort on the road. As a result, rivals enjoyed better handling and more controlled handling. The KK also suffered from reasonable, sticky internal materials, much like the unloved Jeep Compass of the time. While its predecessor surpassed 100,000 annual sales in the United States, the KK fell well short of that figure: to 43,503 in 2009.
Despite its greater physical power than its competitors, the Liberty KK also made concessions in other aspects, and its sales figures reflect this.
The KJ had a difficult task ahead of it, as it replaced the remarkably successful and long-lasting XJ. Introduced for the 2002 design year, the KJ featured smoother, more old-fashioned lines, the first use of rack-and-pinion guidance in a Jeep, and engines adding a V6 and limited availability of a diesel for the 2005 style years. -2006. Part-time and full-time all-wheel drive systems were available and it had independent front suspension.
Unlike its softer suspension competitors, the KJ’s taut suspension contributed to seamless off-road capabilities. Its internal main points were also praised at launch, even though it’s not very spacious. Like the KK, the KJ disappointed with its thirst. The V6 and handling outperformed many rivals.
Jeep arguably would have popularized the uniframe configuration in an SUV chassis with the XJ, but by the time the KJ came along, its rivals had stood their ground. A slew of recalls and court cases did not favor KJ’s cause: the 2002 model alone won 1,802 courts. cases for things like airbags, fuel/propulsion system, and electrical systems.
In a way, the fifth-generation Cherokee KL introduced in 2013 went back to the philosophy of the second-generation XJ (the first Cherokee unibody), in that it was a decent off-roader while also offering a comfortable ride for use. Compared to the Liberty-branded Jeeps, the newer Cherokee was also more economical and cost up to 24 mpg combined with the 2. 4-liter engine. Alternatively, you can spend more on fuel and opt for the much tougher 2. 0-liter turbo with 270 horsepower. A 3. 2-liter V6 would be available through the 2023 design year.
There were three other 4×4 formulas available and the rear axle disconnect feature was welcome when all-wheel drive was not desired. A new Uconnect infotainment formula and nicer interior fabrics have made the KL less difficult to live with.
That said, few have enjoyed the more adventurous styling of the KL, which was updated with a facelift in 2018. The nine-speed automatic transmission won many court cases at launch, and Jeep never managed to modify it to the point of generating driving excitement. drive it. . wear.
Unlike all other Cherokees, the original is the only one that has a frame-on-frame construction. It is a full-size SUV produced from 1974 onwards, based on the Wagoneer but with a sportier two-door frame with a long side window extending from the B-pillar at the rear. It was followed by a four-door and the SJ has become one of the pioneers of SUVs; The term “sport utility vehicle” was first used in the 1974 Cherokee sales brochure.
A variety of inline-six and AMC V8 engines were available, adding a 6. 6-liter that remains the largest engine ever fitted to a Cherokee. As with all Cherokees, the off-roader is a focal point and all manuals had a Dana 20 movementbox. For the TH400 automatic transmissions, the permanent QuadraTrac 4WD formula was equipped, one of Jeep’s many successes in the 1970s. In 1975, the popular Cherokee Chief brought external stripes, wider axles, larger fenders, and more internal features.
A completely different beast to all the Cherokees that followed, the SJ is considered a classic off-roader today.
The switch from the full-size body-on-frame SJ to the monocoque XJ couldn’t have been more radical. Production began in 1983, and despite being more than 30 inches shorter and six inches narrower than the SJ, the second-generation XJ retained approximately 90% of the first-generation’s interior volume. Importantly, it’s also 1,200 pounds lighter, which improves its efficiency.
The 4. 0-litre AMC inline six-cylinder engine is highly sought after for its impressive torque and fair reliability and, despite the transfer to the monocoque structure, the XJ was still a perfect all-rounder, aided by its forged axles. It is not known as a crossover, its monocoque structure bureaucracy is the basis of the fashionable definition of the term. A 2. 8-liter V6 and a 2. 5-liter four-cylinder were also available, as was a very low-powered diesel in the 1980s.
The XJ’s sleek lines have aged a lot and the model’s luck is notable for its extended production over the course of almost 20 years. A complete facelift in 1997 gave the Cherokee a fresher appearance and a new dashboard much more in keeping with the cars of the time.
Nearly 3 million units later, the XJ has devoured sales of more traditional trucks and sedans (at the time) and, because it was on sale for so long, it’s widely available today, as are replacement parts. The most influential Cherokee, but also one of the most influential SUVs ever made.