As a medium SUV and Classic Jeep Off Road Vehicle , the Jeep Cherokee XJ was produced from 1984-2001. The Jeep Cherokee XJ comes with a rounder tailgate, a smoother nose, a redesigned, new style interior, stronger body and a new 4WD, 85kW/300Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine option and also featuring more glass area and bigger rear doors.

Small by medium four-wheel drive standards, the 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol version boasted excellent straightline performance and good off-road capability. But on-road behaviour was very average, and the space, flexibility and ergonomics. The Cherokee was very much a spent force by the time the new model arrived.

But sales slipped significantly in the face of newer, roomier, more competent Japanese 4WD rivals, car-based light 4WDs, and increased cannibalisation from the bigger, better, in-house Grand Cherokee range. Nevertheless the range limped on until the all-new, third-generation KJ Cherokee arrived in September ’01.

A revised 4.0-litre six-cylinder, the Cherokee XJ engine produced 131kW of power and 301Nm of torque. The Sport gained dual airbags, a limited slip differential, and better audio, while the Limited arrived late, in October ’98.

Photos courtesy of Jeep