The Jeep Cherokee (XJ) is a
sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definitio ...
manufactured and marketed across a single generation by
Jeep
Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...
in the United States from 1983 through 2001 — and globally through 2014. It was available in two- or four-door, five-passenger, front engine, rear- or four-wheel drive configurations.
Sharing the name of the original, full-size
Cherokee SJ model, the 1984 XJ Cherokee was Jeep's first all-new design since the 1963
SJ ''Wagoneer'', as well as the first American
off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle, sometimes referred to as an overland or adventure vehicle, is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with de ...
built with fully integrated body-and-frame (
unibody
A vehicle frame, also historically known as its '' chassis'', is the main supporting structure of a motor vehicle to which all other components are attached, comparable to the skeleton of an organism.
Until the 1930s, virtually every car ha ...
) design,
and formed the mechanical basis for the
Jeep Comanche (MJ) pickup truck
A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (this cargo bed back end sometimes consists of a tailgate and removable covering) ...
(1985–1992).
Jeep marketed XJs as ''Sportwagons'', precursor to the modern
sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definitio ...
(SUV), before that term was used. The XJ is credited for spawning competitors, as other automakers noticed the design cannibalizing sales from regular cars, supplanting the role of the station wagon and transforming the vehicle type "from truck to limousine in the eyes of countless suburban owners,"
though
GM had also launched road-biased,
RWD and
4WD compact SUVs, the
Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
The Chevrolet (S-10) Blazer and its badge engineered GMC (S-15) Jimmy counterpart are compact/mid-size SUVs manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet and GMC from the 1983 through 2005 model years, over two generations – until the early 1990s a ...
and GMC S-15 Jimmy, one year earlier, initially available in 2-door form only.
The 2007 book ''Jeep Off-Road'' called the XJ a "significant link in the evolution of the 4x4."
In 2011 ''
Kiplinger
Kiplinger ( ) is an American publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice which is a subsidiary of Future plc.
Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., was a closely held company managed for more than nine decades by three generations ...
'' magazine selected the XJ as one of the "cars that refuse to die."
Automotive journalist
Robert Cumberford, writing for
''Automobile'', called the Jeep XJ one of the 20 greatest cars of all time — for its design, and "possibly the best SUV shape of all time, it is the paradigmatic model to which other designers have since aspired."
Background
Designs of the compact-size XJ Cherokee date back to 1978 when a team of
American Motors
American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954. At the time, it was the ...
(AMC) and
Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...
engineers drew several sketches. Clay models were based on the then-current full-size
SJ Cherokee. Early sketches of the XJ Cherokee had a
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
an influence, and most of the styling cues were done by AMC engineers under the direction of
Dick Teague
Richard Arthur Teague (December 26, 1923 – May 5, 1991) was an American industrial designer in the North American automotive industry. He held automotive design positions at General Motors, Packard, and Chrysler before becoming Vice President o ...
, vice president of design.
Noticing that
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
was developing a new two-door S-10-based Blazer, AMC decided to develop an entirely new four-door model in addition to a two-door version. American Motors' vice president of engineering,
Roy Lunn
Royston Charles Lunn (June 26, 1925 – August 5, 2017) was an engineer in the automotive industry. He had forty-one years in the design development and production of vehicles and most notably served as the head of engineering at American Motors ...
, designed what is known as the "Quadra-Link" suspension, that limited rollovers. Renault's
François Castaing
François J. Castaing (born 18 March 1945 in Marseille) is an automotive executive with Renault, American Motors, and Chrysler. He is an engineering graduate from École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers in Paris, and worked in Europe ...
developed the drivetrain using a much smaller engine than normally found in 4WD vehicles and reduced the weight of the new model. It "is noteworthy as the first nonmilitary 4x4 with unibody construction."
The unconventional design enhanced XJ's durability and off-road capability that eventually won over most critics, even those models with the early underpowered GM engines.
The XJ is described "as the first small crossover SUV in the U.S.," with "plenty of the Jeep toughness (and a straight-six engine) built-in."
The design and market positioning of the XJ, along with the
AMC Eagle
AMC may refer to:
Film and television
* AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain
* AMC Networks, an American entertainment company
** AMC (TV channel)
** AMC+, streaming service
** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company
*** ...
essentially "foreshadowed the car-based crossover utility-vehicle fad."
''"The new XJ Jeep ... was 1,200 pounds lighter, 31 inches shorter, six inches narrower and four inches lower than the Cherokee SJ it replaced, and yet — thanks to
unibody construction — the XJ kept 90 percent of its predecessor’s interior volume."'' And, not only was fuel economy much improved, but ''"articulation is also better, as is ground clearance, as well as approach, departure and breakover angles. These, along with its smaller profile, make the XJ better both off-road and on."''
[
Although the XJ models had just been introduced, AMC quickly began the development of its successor. To compete against its much larger rivals, the smallest U.S. automaker created a business process that is now known as "]product lifecycle management
In industry, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its inception through the engineering, design and manufacture, as well as the service and disposal of manufactured products. PL ...
" (PLM) to speed up its product development process. By 1985, development and engineering was based on computer-aided design
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...
(CAD) software systems while new systems stored all drawings and documents in a central database. The pioneering PLM was so effective that after Chrysler purchased AMC in 1987, it expanded the system throughout its own enterprise.
British TV presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson
Quentin Willson (born 23 July 1957) is an English TV presenter, motoring journalist, author, TV producer and former car dealer, perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes ''Britain's Worst Driver'', ''Fifth Gear'', and ...
described the XJ Jeep as "a real 4x4 icon" and one of the "few truly great cars... which, despite being left behind by newer models, still offer fresh and urgent possibilities. Cars which become more relevant the older they get."
1984–1996
The XJ Cherokee introduced for the 1984 model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
was the first Jeep with a ladder-boxed chassis integrated into a single monocoque
Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell".
First used for boats, ...
unit rather than the traditional separate body-on-frame
Body-on-frame, also known as ladder frame construction, is a common motor vehicle construction method, whereby a separate body or coach is mounted on a strong and relatively rigid vehicle frame or chassis that carries the powertrain (the engin ...
construction. The design was rigid and sturdy with approximately 3,200 welds in a completed body, "yet wonderfully lightweight, heUniframe permitted outstanding performance even with AMC's new four-cylinder engine."
Both two- and four-door versions of the XJ Cherokee were offered throughout its lifetime, each having exactly the same track and wheelbase measurements. Two-door models, however, received longer doors and front seats that could fold forward to assist in rear passenger entry and exit. This was in addition to extended-length rear windows that did not open, although an optional rear vent window was available on some models.
This version was the first to be sold in Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
; it was launched in 1989 in France (marketed through Renault), in 1992 in some markets, and 1993 for the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. Early versions only came with the inline six-cylinder engine. The four-cylinder engine did not arrive in Europe until 1995.
In mid-1985, a two-wheel-drive version of the Cherokee was added to the lineup. This marked the first time any Jeep product was offered with two-wheel drive since 1967, and was done in the hopes of attracting a few more buyers who did not need (or want to pay for) four-wheel drive. When the XJ Cherokee-based Comanche (MJ) truck was introduced, it was also available in two- and four-wheel drive. The new two-wheel-drive models shared the front suspension (from the track bar, control arms, ball joints) with four-wheel-drive models. Jeep simply used a single axle tube from hub to hub with no differential between, resulting in an inexpensive front suspension.
For 1996, partially to comply with new U.S. OBD-II exhaust and evaporative emissions regulations, the engine management system was upgraded to Chrysler's then-new "JTEC" PCM. This added the side benefits of improving reliability and easing diagnostics.
American Motors's compact XJ Cherokee was to be replaced by a new and larger model known as the ZJ (later named the Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-size SUVs produced by the American manufacturer Jeep. At its introduction, while most SUVs were still manufactured with body-on-frame construction, the Grand Cherokee has used a unibody chassis from the ...
when introduced in 1993) that was under development by AMC. However, the smaller model's continuing popularity caused Chrysler executives to rethink this decision, and while the ZJ models were introduced in 1993, the XJ models were retained until 2001. The Jeep XJ has remained a popular choice by off-roading enthusiasts due to its potent off-roading capability in stock form. Its popularity has resulted in strong ongoing aftermarket support in the form of a wide variety of products.
Wagoneer
A variation on the Cherokee from 1983 until 1990 was the Jeep Wagoneer. These were unrelated to the similarly named full-sized Grand Wagoneer models that had carried the Wagoneer name before this point. The compact XJ Wagoneer was available initially in two trim levels: the "Wagoneer" and the "Wagoneer Limited" with the "base" Wagoneer version soon discontinued. Both Wagoneers were distinguished from the Cherokee for the 1983 through 1985 model years by a slightly different grille and a smaller "Jeep" emblem offset to the driver's side. The single rectangular sealed beam headlamps were changed for 1986 to vertically stacked quad low and high beam headlights with front turn signal lights relocated behind the grille. Where the Cherokee tail lights were 50-percent split with a red section above an amber section, the tail lights on Wagoneers had a single red lens. The Wagoneer Limited came with vinyl wood trim on the sides and cloth seats with leather bolsters. "Limited" was embossed on the front seat backs and in the center of the rear seat back. The standard equipment list was extensive and included air conditioning, cruise control, power disk brakes, rear window wiper and washer, and adjustable steering wheel.
Fleet markets
In the early- to mid-1990s, the Jeep Cherokee started becoming popular for government and police use. The Cherokee AHB police package was introduced during the 1992 model year. Starting in 1996, Jeep released a special version of the XJ Cherokee SE for police and fleet use. It featured no interior rear door handles and a revised high output version of the 4.0 L "Power-Tech" inline six-cylinder engine. The new HO engine replaced the previous version of the 4.0 L engine in all installations.
The Cherokee was also made in right-hand drive format, initially for the United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...
. As a spin-off, it allowed Jeep in later years to enter right-hand drive markets — the Cherokee went on sale in both the United Kingdom and Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
in 1993. It was also sold in Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, but due to the country's strict ''"Shaken"'' motor-vehicle inspection laws, many used Japanese-market Cherokees have found their way back to the U.S., for use by rural mail carriers.
Engines
1997–2001
After 13 years of production, February 1997 saw the Cherokee receive updated exterior and interior styling. Both the two- and four-door bodies remained in production, receiving a steel liftgate (replacing the fiberglass one used previously), restyled taillights, additional plastic molding along the doors, as well as a new front header panel that featured more aerodynamic styling. The spare tire remained mounted to the interior rear quarter panel on the driver's side in the trunk. A new, unique spare tire carrier was invented by Peter Gruich while working for Jeep Special Programs that utilized the trailer hitch bar and a unique pivot bracket and although it was the only external spare tire carrier to pass the full Jeep durability test, it was not offered for sale.
The interior was similarly updated with an all-new design and instrument panel featuring the first blow-molded symmetrical instrument panel retainer structure. This instrument panel featured a unique cluster/airbag bracket invented by Peter Gruich that allowed the interchange of the two components in order for the vehicle to be sold in the right-hand and left-hand drive markets with both driver and passenger airbags. A beeper also replaced the buzzer. A stiffer unibody frame brought improvements to noise, vibration, and harshness
Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), also known as noise and vibration (N&V), is the study and modification of the noise and vibration characteristics of vehicles, particularly cars and trucks. While noise and vibration can be readily measured, ...
(NVH) measurements. Also contributing to NVH improvements were new door seals that reduced wind noise at higher speeds.
In the middle of the 1999 model year, vehicles with the 4.0 L engine received a revised intake manifold. This was done to help counteract smaller exhaust porting on the latest casting of cylinder heads, which was done to meet more stringent emissions control laws. Both the four- and six-cylinder engines were offered through the 2000 model year, though only the straight-six was available in 2001. For the 2000 and 2001 model years, all six-cylinder XJs received a distributor-less ignition system using coil-on-plug ignition and wasted spark
A wasted spark system is a type of ignition system used in some four-stroke cycle internal combustion engines. In a wasted spark system, the spark plugs fire in pairs, with one plug in a cylinder on its compression stroke and the other plug in a ...
, replacing the distributor-type system previously used. Coupled with better exhaust porting and the newer intake manifolds, the coil-on-plug gave a minor increase in power and improved emissions performance over the previous models. Transmission, axle, and transfer case choices were carried over from the previous models.
However, major changes were underway with a new executive, Wolfgang Bernhard
Wolfgang Bernhard (born 3 September 1960) is a former member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG. He served as the former President and COO of Chrysler from 2000 to 2004.
Early life
Bernhard was born Wolfgang Ayerle on 3 September 1960 in Bö ...
, who was known as a "cost-slasher" nickname
A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...
d "whirlwind", who came from Mercedes-Benz to turn Chrysler around. "One of the first moves Bernhard made when he came to Chrysler in 2000 was to help kill the Jeep Cherokee, an aging, somewhat bland SUV." Thus, the (XJ) Cherokee line was replaced in 2001 by the Jeep Liberty (KJ)
The Jeep Liberty (KJ), or Jeep Cherokee (KJ) outside North America, is a compact SUV that was produced by Jeep from 2002 to 2007. Introduced in May 2001 as a replacement for the Cherokee (XJ), the unibody Liberty was priced between the Wrangler ...
, although it retained the "Cherokee" nameplate in most foreign markets.
The Cherokee (XJ) remains a popular vehicle among off-roading enthusiasts. Its design has been noted as one of the greatest of all time. ''Popular Mechanics'' listed the XJ as one of "the 25 greatest boxy cars of all time".
When (XJ) Cherokee production ended in June 2001, the portion of the Toledo South Assembly Plant devoted to its production was torn down.
Fleet markets
By 1997, the XJ Cherokee became popular in police and government fleets. Production of the Cherokee Special Service Package continued for the 1997 model year into the 2001 model year. It still had the same features as the 1996 Cherokee Special Service Package, but the engine now produced . In 2001, when the XJ Cherokee ceased production and was replaced by the Jeep Liberty
The Jeep Liberty is a four door unibody compact SUV four-door manufactured and marketed by Jeep for model years 2002–2012 over two generations, internally designed the KJ (2002-2007) and KK (2008-2012), respectively. Both generations were mark ...
, the Cherokee Special Service Package was discontinued. The Jeep Liberty never featured a special service package, however, police, and government agencies used the Liberty in their fleets.
Engines
Trim levels
*Base - 1984–1993 / SE - 1994–2001 included: vinyl or cloth upholstery, full-faced steel wheels, and AM radio with two speakers. SE replaced Base in 1994. In later years it was the only trim level offered for the two-door model.
*Chief - 1984–1990 included: cloth plaid-pattern upholstery, and AM/FM radio with two speakers.
*Pioneer - 1984–1990 included: cloth plaid-pattern upholstery, steel wheels, and AM radio with two speakers.
**Pioneer Olympic Edition - 1988 included: cloth upholstery, AM/FM radio with two speakers, and air conditioning.
*Wagoneer - 1984–1990 included: ribbed cloth upholstery with leather trim, faux maple-wood interior accents with wood laminate exterior decals, alloy wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette player and four speakers, infrared (single-button) remote keyless entry for 1990 model year, overhead console for 1990 model year, dual power seats, and air conditioning. Considered by AMC to be a separate model and not part of the Cherokee series.
*Laredo - 1985–1992 included: chrome accenting, cloth plaid-pattern (1985-1987) or "luggage fabric" (1988-1992) upholstery with the option of "Briarwood" style leather-and-vinyl seats for the 1992 model year only, five-spoke alloy wheels, AM/FM radio with four speakers and the option for six Jensen AccuSound speakers, infrared (single-button) remote keyless entry (if equipped with power locks) optional overhead console, optional dual power seats, and air conditioning. Replaced by the Country in 1993.
*Limited - 1987–1992, 1998–2001 included: monotone paint, leather-and-vinyl upholstery, color-keyed lace-spoke wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette player and six Jensen AccuSound speakers, infrared (single-button) remote keyless entry, an overhead console, dual power seats, and air conditioning. This trim model was replaced by the Country in 1993 and then rejoined the lineup in 1998 to replace the Country.
*Sport - 1988–2001 included: cloth-and-vinyl upholstery, AM/FM radio with two speakers (later, it added a cassette player and four speakers), full-faced steel or optional alloy wheels, optional infrared (single-button) (1988-1996) or radiofrequency (dual-button) (1997-2001) keyless entry (if equipped with power locks), and air conditioning.
*Briarwood - 1991–1992 (succeeded Wagoneer) included: leather-and-vinyl upholstery, faux maple-wood interior accents with wood laminate exterior decals, lace-spoke wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette player and six Jensen AccuSound speakers, infrared (single-button) remote keyless entry, an overhead console, dual power seats, and an air conditioner.
*Country - 1993–1997 included: two-tone paint similar to "Laredo" with upgraded color-keyed pinstripe and the option for "champagne" gold along with silver as accent options, the replacement of several interiors, formerly chrome accents with flat black (Base and Sport models, as well, starting in 1993 model year), cloth-and-vinyl ("luggage fabric") upholstery with the option for leather (excluding 1993 model year), faux mahogany-wood interior accents, lace-spoke wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette player and four speakers with the option for six Jensen AccuSound speakers, optional overhead console (excluding 1993 model year), infrared (dual-button) (1993-1996) or radiofrequency (dual-button) (1997) remote keyless entry (if equipped with power locks), optional dual power seats, and air conditioning. Replaced by the Classic and Limited in 1998.
*Classic - 1996, 1998–2001 included: monotone paint color, cloth upholstery, 16" alloy wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette player and four speakers, infrared (dual-button) remote keyless entry, overhead console, and air conditioning. Briefly replaced by the Limited in 1997, and rejoined the lineup below the Limited in 1998.
*Orvis - 1999–2000, Limited-production model, only available in the United Kingdom, included: Special Orvis badging, special Orvis floor mats (with enamel logos stitched into them), 16" 'Icon' alloy wheels with a two-tone color scheme, simulated hood vents, tailgate spoiler with integrated LED brake light, ruffled leather seats with 6-way electric adjustment, leather door-panels, leather spare wheel cover. Orvis logo is embossed into each headrest, golden Orvis logo on top of the ashtray lid. AM/FM radio with cassette, Infinity amplifier and six Infinity speakers, remote keyless entry, cruise control, driver and passenger side heated mirrors, and air conditioning. Available with the inline-six with the Aisin AW-4 4-speed automatic. Also available was the VM Motori 2.5 L Turbo-Diesel four-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual transmission.
*Freedom - 2000 included: special badging, SE appearance group on sport body, 16-inch Ultrastar alloy wheels (the same as the 1998 5.9L ZJ), AM/FM radio with cassette, radio frequency remote keyless entry, and air conditioning. Based on the Sport trim level. Available in 2wd or 4wd.
*60th Anniversary - 2001 included: special badges, special floor mats, monotone paint color, 16" alloy wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette, radio frequency remote keyless entry, and air conditioning. Based on the Sport trim level. 2001-only model.
Available driveline components
Manual transmissions
*1984: Borg-Warner ''T-4'' four-speed manual, used with 2.5 L I4 only, 21 spline output
*1984–1987: Aisin-Warner ''AX4'' four-speed manual, used with 2.5 L I4 only, 21 spline output
*1984: Borg-Warner ''T-5'' five-speed manual, used with 2.5 L I4 and 2.8 L V6, 21 spline output
*1984–2000: Aisin-Warner ''AX5'' five-speed manual, used with 2.5 L I4, 2.1 L I4 diesel, and 2.8 L V6, 21 spline output
*1987–Mid-1989: Peugeot ''BA-10/5'' five-speed manual used with 4.0 L I6, 21 spline output
*Late 1989–1999: Aisin-Warner ''AX15'' five-speed manual, used with 2.5 L I4 diesel, 4.0 L I6, 23 spline output
*2000–2001: New Venture Gear ''NV3550'' five-speed manual, used with 2.5 L I4 diesel, 4.0 L I6, 23 spline output
Automatic transmissions
*1984–1986: Chrysler ''A904'' three-speed automatic, used with 2.5 L I4 and 2.8 L V6
*1987–2001: Aisin-Warner ''AW-4'' four-speed automatic, used with 4.0 L I6
*1994–2000: Chrysler ''30RH'' three-speed automatic, used with 2.5 L I4
Transfer cases
All the transfer case
A transfer case is a part of the drivetrain of four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and other multiple powered axle vehicles. The transfer case transfers power from the transmission to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts. It also syn ...
s used on the Cherokee were chain-driven two-speed units with aluminum housings. Command-Trac was standard on XJ models built with 4WD.
Axles
The Jeep XJ utilizes front and rear beam axle
A beam axle, rigid axle or solid axle is a dependent suspension design in which a set of wheels is connected laterally by a single beam or shaft. Beam axles were once commonly used at the rear wheels of a vehicle, but historically they have als ...
components (live axles) as opposed to an independent suspension
Independent suspension is any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i.e. reacting to a bump on the road) independently of the others. This is contrasted with a beam axle or deDion axle system in w ...
. The live axle configuration offers advantages in off-road capability and performance at the expense of some on-road comfort and driveability. Mid-1985 and later two-wheel drive models used the same suspension and steering mechanisms with a single tube connecting axle ends, which also meant no transfer case, no front driveshaft, and no front differential.
Front axle
*1984–1996: Dana 30
The Dana/Spicer Model 30 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation. It has been manufactured as a beam axle and independent suspension axle with several versions.
General specifications
* Ring Gear measures
* OEM Inner ...
, high pinion, reverse cut, 27-spline axle shafts (1989 – 1995 : with ABS used 5-297x universal joints, non-ABS had 5-260x universal joints. NP228/229 "Selec-Trac" equipped XJ models were also produced with constant-velocity joint
Constant-velocity joints (also known as homokinetic or CV joints) are mechanical joints which allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or Backlash (e ...
s instead of universal joint
A universal joint (also called a universal coupling or U-joint) is a joint or coupling connecting rigid shafts whose axes are inclined to each other. It is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion. It consists of a pair of hinges lo ...
s.)
*1996–1999: Dana 30, high pinion, reverse cut, 297x/760 universal joint, 27-spline axle shafts
*2000–2001: Dana 30, low pinion, standard cut, 297x/760 universal joint, 27-spline axle shafts
*1985–2001: straight non-driven front axle for two-wheel drive only
Rear axle
*1984–1989: Dana 35
The Dana/Spicer Model 35 is an automotive axle. It has been manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation since 1985 when American Motors (AMC) sold its axle tooling equipment to Dana. The axle was named AMC-15 when it was first made in 1962. Dana upgra ...
, non c-clip, with anti-lock braking system (ABS) or non-ABS; dana 44 on some models
*1987–1991: Dana 44
The Dana 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and is used among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned wit ...
, models w/tow package only, 30-spline axle shafts, non-ABS
*1990–1996: Dana 35, c-clip, ABS or non-ABS
*1997–2001: Dana 35, c-clip, ABS
*1991–1996: Chrysler 8.25", c-clip, non-ABS, 27-spline axle shafts
*Late 1996–2001: Chrysler 8.25", c-clip, non-ABS, 29-spline axle shafts
Axle gear ratios
Jeep XJs came in several standard gearing ratios:
*3.07:1, manual transmission, I6 engine.
*3.54:1, automatic transmission, I6 engine with Dana 44
The Dana 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and is used among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned wit ...
rear differential
*3.54:1, manual transmission, I4 engine with Dana 35 rear differential
*3.55:1, automatic transmission, I6, inline 6 engines; manual transmission, I4 engine
*3.73:1, automatic transmission, I6, tow package, UpCountry package, 2.5 VM diesel manual
*4.10:1, 2.5L I4 engine, early models with tow package
*4.56:1, automatic transmission, I4, offroad or tow package
Suspension
The Jeep XJ utilizes a coil spring with a separate shock absorber front suspension and a leaf spring with a separate shock absorber rear suspension.
Front suspension
The Quadra-Link front suspension design locates the axle with four leading control arms to control longitudinal movement and rotation about the lateral axis (drive and braking reaction), two above the axle and two below it. A panhard rod
A Panhard rod (also called Panhard bar, track bar, or track rod) is a suspension link that provides lateral location of the axle. Originally invented by the Panhard automobile company of France in the early twentieth century, this device has been ...
, also referred to as a track bar, is used to locate the axle laterally. Two coil springs are seated on top of the axle housing as well as two gas-charged shock absorbers. The suspension used on vehicles with the optional UpCountry package provided one inch of lift over the standard suspension. A sway bar
An anti-roll bar (roll bar, anti-sway bar, sway bar, stabilizer bar) is a part of many automobile suspensions that helps reduce the body roll of a vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities. It connects opposite (left/right) whee ...
is utilized to reduce body roll in turns.
Rear suspension
The XJ uses a leaf spring rear suspension. Each leaf pack contains four leaf springs with a fixed eye at the front of the spring and a compression-style shackle at the rear of the spring. Two gas-charged shock absorbers are also used, along with a mild anti-sway/anti-roll bar. The suspension used on vehicles with the optional UpCountry package did not employ the rear anti-sway/anti-roll bar and provided one inch of lift over the standard suspension.
XJ in Europe
The XJ was introduced to left-hand drive European markets in 1985, one year after its American debut. However, right-hand drive European markets only began to officially receive them (in RHD form) in 1993, although a small number of personal imports had been reaching the UK in left-hand drive form for a number of years before that. Models were offered in both markets until the XJ's discontinuation in 2001, at which point it was replaced by the Jeep Cherokee (KJ) which retained the Cherokee name for sale in Europe despite sharing little mechanical heritage with its predecessor. The Cherokee was often sold in Europe as part of Renault's lineup and was occasionally referred to as the Renault Jeep Cherokee in marketing, although it was never sold with Renault badges. However, motorsports versions of the Cherokee that competed in the Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally (or simply "The Dakar"; formerly known as the "Paris–Dakar Rally") is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Most events since the inception in 1978 were staged from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal, ...
did wear Renault badges.
A van version of the XJ was offered in addition to the standard passenger vehicles in some European markets. Available in both right- and left-hand-drive models, they were designed to comply with relaxed motor tax regulations in some EU member states governing vehicles intended for primarily commercial use. Both two- and four-door versions are known to have been sold, with the main differences from the standard models being metal panels in place of the rear side windows, no rear seats, and a completely flat cargo area. Two- and four-wheel-drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...
variants were available, powered by the VM Motori
VM Motori S.p.A. is an Italian diesel engine manufacturing company which is wholly owned by Stellantis. VM headquarters and main production facilities are located in Cento, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
History
VM Motori was founded by two entrep ...
2.5 L diesel engine
The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-call ...
mated to the Aisin AX-15 manual transmission. Photographs of this model can be found here.
XJ in China
American Motors established the first automobile manufacturing joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acces ...
in the People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
to assemble the four-door Cherokee. Production continued after Chrysler's buyout
In finance, a buyout is an investment transaction by which the ownership equity of a company, or a majority share of the stock of the company is acquired. The acquiror thereby "buys out" the present equity holders of the target company. A buyout ...
of AMC. The Chinese market BJ 7250 (rear-wheel drive) and BJ 2021 (four-wheel drive) had a raised roof in the rear, as they were often meant to be chauffeur-driven. The BJ2021 was available with a 2.5 L engine and a 4-speed manual gearbox for the 1985 through 2005 model years. For 1993, a 4 L 6 cylinder version was available paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The BJ7250 uses the same 2.5 L engine as the BJ2021, but has a 5 speed manual gearbox instead of a 4-speed unit.
The BJ2021 is 4290 millimeters in length, 1800 millimeters in width, and 1620 millimeters in height as well as sitting on a 2580 millimeter wheelbase. The BJ7250, however, is 90 millimeters shorter in length, 40 millimeters shorter in width and 10 millimeters taller in height and is 5 millimeters shorter in wheelbase
Production under Mercedes-Benz continued in the partnership that was renamed Beijing-Benz DaimlerChrysler Automotive
Beijing Benz (officially Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd) is an automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Beijing, China, and a joint venture between BAIC Motor and Mercedes-Benz Group.
It was originally established in January 1984 as ...
. The most recent model with an updated grille, headlights, and other upgrades was known as the Jeep 2500 and was produced until 2005. It is notable that AMC's original Cherokee design continued to be built and sold after being virtually unchanged for over twenty years.
The design of the Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
market Jeep
Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...
s was similar to that of the U.S.-market Jeep
Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...
s, with the exception of a new front grille
Grill or grille may refer to:
Food
* Barbecue grill, a device or surface used for cooking food, usually fuelled by gas or charcoal, or the part of a cooker that performs this function
* Flattop grill, a cooking device often used in restaurants, ...
and headlamps
A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term for ...
, as well as new tail lamp
The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted to or integrated into the front, rear, sides, and in some cases the top of a motor vehicle. They illuminate the road ahead for the driver and increase t ...
s. The interior also got a new steering wheel
A steering wheel (also called a driving wheel (UK), a hand wheel, or simply wheel) is a type of steering control in vehicles.
Steering wheels are used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles, buses, light and ...
and center console.
The BJ2500, produced by Beijing Jeep
Beijing Benz (officially Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd) is an automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Beijing, China, and a joint venture between BAIC Motor and Mercedes-Benz Group.
It was originally established in January 1984 as ...
was available with the 2.4 L 4G64
The Mitsubishi Sirius or 4G6/4D6 engine is the name of one of Mitsubishi Motors' four series of inline-four automobile engines, along with Astron, Orion, and Saturn.
The 4G6 gasoline engines were the favoured performance variant for Mitsubishi. ...
engine from Mitsubishi, 2.5 L and 2.7 L engines known as C498QA. Pricing ranged from 115,000 and 127,900 yuan (16,600 to 18,470 USD) for 2.5 L models and was 128,000 yuan for the 2.7 L version ($18,480 USD). while 4.0 L and 4.7 L engines were known as C698QA1 and C8V93Q respectively, and both power the Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ)
The Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ) is the second generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle. Unveiled in Detroit, Michigan on June 16, 1998, production lasted until 2004 in the US, continuing in foreign markets until 2005. The WJ was co ...
.
After 2009 Beijing Auto Works continued the production of the Chinese-market XJ Cherokee as the BAW Qishi 骑士 (Knight in Chinese). The Qishi uses a 2.0 L I4 and 2.2 L I4 known as the 4G20 and 4G22, both old Nissan units, and a 5-slot grille, along with 6-lug wheels. Production ended in 2014. All Chinese specification Jeeps had a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard.
Chinese car manufacturer Shuanghuan Auto, who are known for their copy of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (J120)
The is a full-size four-wheel drive vehicle in the Land Cruiser range produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Prado is one of the smaller vehicles in the Land Cruiser range. From 2009, the Prado is based on Toyota's J150 platform. In ...
front end, BMW X5 (E53)
The BMW E53 is the first generation BMW X5 mid-size luxury crossover SUV. The vehicle was the first SUV ever produced by BMW. It was produced between 1999 and 2006 and was replaced by the E70 X5.
The E53 X5 was developed just after the acqui ...
rear end and BMW X3
The BMW X3 is a compact luxury crossover SUV manufactured by BMW since 2003, based on the BMW 3 Series platform. Now in its third generation, BMW markets the car as a ''Sports Activity Vehicle'', the company's proprietary descriptor for its X- ...
side skirt designed car, the Shuanghuan SCEO, also made a copy of the Jeep Cherokee XJ known as the Shuanghuan SHZJ213. The BJ212 platform was used to make the car. The SHZJ213 used a 2.4-liter BAW 492 engine paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Production ran from 1994 until 1997.
Manufacture
The XJ was manufactured in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
, USA; Beijing, China
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
; Ferreyra, Argentina; Cairo, Egypt
Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...
; and in Valencia, Venezuela
Valencia () is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela.
The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. It is also the largest city in the Valencia-Maracay m ...
, with production reaching approximately 3 million between 1983 and 2001.
Name revival in the U.S.
On February 22, 2013, Chrysler released press photos of the new replacement for the Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
, and also announced that the new model would bring back the Cherokee name. The new Cherokee (KL) is built on the compact U.S. wide platform, and features a nine-speed automatic, a choice of a 2.4 L Tigershark I4 with Fiat
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary ...
's electro-hydraulic MultiAir 2 variable valve timing and variable valve lift or a 3.2 L V6 based on the Pentastar
The Chrysler Pentastar engine family is a series of aluminium ( die-cast cylinder block) dual overhead cam 24-valve gasoline V6 engines introduced for model-year 2011 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. The engine was initially named " Phoenix ...
3.6 L V6, and front and four-wheel drive (the latter courtesy of Jeep's Selec-Terrain system). The Liberty was sold outside of North America as the Jeep Cherokee (KK), allowing the new Cherokee to be easily marketed globally. Jeep also believes the Cherokee name will attract previous Jeep owners, because of the name's heritage. The new Cherokee is built in Toledo, Ohio. As of mid-2017 the new Cherokee (KL) is produced in Belvidere, Illinois.
References
External links
*
* Jeep Cherokee Wikibook
Jeep Cherokee Service Bulletins and other downloadable files
Cherokee Forum
- Jeep Cherokee discussion forum
North American XJ Association
- Jeep Cherokee discussion forum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jeep Cherokee (Xj)
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Compact sport utility vehicles
1980s cars
1990s cars
2000s cars
Cars introduced in 1983
Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States