Guest writer: Nina Sumner
Why I love the Jeep Cherokee
When it comes to classic off-roaders, two competing camps have their military lines drawn. Whether you prefer the very British Land Rover or America’s competing Willys Jeep is a matter of personal preference, but either way, you’ll have plenty of company and both have proved themselves to be capable performers over the past 80 years or so.
Having said that, neither has much in the way of creature comforts. These days, you can browse the latest rankings to compare dozens of SUVs from Ford, Nissan, Kia, GMC and so on. But back in the 1970s and 80s it was a different matter. British Leyland launched the Range Rover in 1970, the first SUV most of us ever experienced before we even knew the term existed. But just as the Land Rover had the Willys to keep it honest, there was transatlantic competition for the Range Rover too. And it makes a compelling choice as a classic SUV today.
Enter the Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee SJ was launched in the US in 1974 as an upmarket version of the Wagoneer. But these are few and far between on these shores. It was a decade later that Jeep launched the all-new XJ and also entered the European market for the first time. Sold from 1984 to 1996, the Cherokee XJ witnessed the SUV revolution. Some might even say it precipitated it! Throughout the 80s, UK imports were limited in number and were left hand drive. But in the 1990s, right hand drive versions started to pour into the UK and by 1993 there were more than 80 dealerships across the country.
The Cherokee was available with three or five doors and a choice of powerplants. The phrase “something for everyone is overused these days, but it really is the case here. Most UK Cherokees have either the 2.5 litre VM diesel or the 4.0 litre straight-six petrol. Auto boxes are most common, but a five-speed manual gearbox was also available for the UK market.
Living with a Cherokee today
With its leather interior designed for plus-sized American frames and power-everything, getting into a Jeep Cherokee feels like settling into a comfortable armchair. It’s a great place to be on a long journey and couldn’t be more different from its utilitarian ancestor.
The diesel can achieve 30mpg and will tow anything, but the driving experience is leisurely, to put it politely. If you can live with its 20mpg thirst, the straight six delivers fantastic performance and has proven longevity and reliability. 200,000 miles without major engine work is commonplace.
There is an obvious downside to power-everything. After 30 years, the wiring, switches and relays are liable to need some rejuvenation. If you are viewing a potential purchase, pay as much attention to electric windows and power seats as you do to the usual things like oil leaks and clonking suspension. The latter are relatively easy fixes, while the former can result in hours spent wrestling with inaccessible circuitry in the doors and cabin.
What to pay for a classic Cherokee
Most of the pre-facelift XJ Cherokees in the UK were manufactured between 1993 and 1996, and they are just starting to attract attention in classic circles. In other words, there’s never going to be a better time to bag a bargain.
A quick glance at the usual online sites will offer up a dozen or so to choose from, and you can buy one that is well sorted with service history and a year’s MOT for about £5,000. For money like that, it’s obviously advisable to buy the best and enjoy it. Projects are out there for scrap value, but it would have to be a labour of love, as you’d likely spend far more money than it’s actually worth bringing it back to life.
But either way, compare it with the crazy money that old Range Rovers are starting to fetch and you can see there is a lot to love about the Cherokee. No less an authority than Quentin Wilson described it as a design icon, and who are we to argue?
Nina Sumner is our guest writer.
Nina blends her teaching expertise and journalistic savvy to craft stories that resonate deeply and educate effectively. With a career that spans the dynamics of classrooms and the buzz of newsrooms, she brings authenticity and a rich understanding to her writing. Guiding young writers and engaging readers, Nina’s approach is hands-on and heart-led. Her work embodies the convergence of knowledge and narrative, proving that with the right mix of curiosity and compassion, words can truly make a world of difference.
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