Jeep Cherokee. 4×4 comfort and excellence
Jeep Cherokee is an all-wheel drive 5-door SUV from the Italian-American automaker, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. A rear-wheel drive version is available. Currently, there are 5 generations of the Jeep Cherokee on the market, and its latest restyled version of 2017 is offered to Israeli buyers.
Jeep Cherokee is definitely a pioneer in the modern history of SUVs, and the name ‘jeep’ has become a household name. With more than 45 years of presence on the market and more than 4 million SUVs sold worldwide, the Cherokee has managed to bring 4×4 vehicles to the perfection and comfort that many buyers have been looking for.
The first generation
It is generally accepted that the history of the Jeep Cherokee dates back to the 80s, when the XJ generation appeared. However, this isn’t actually the first generation Cherokee. And the first vehicle with this name was a two-door version of the legendary Jeep Wagoneer. At first, the two-door Wagoneer did not have its own name. But in 1974, these vehicles with the SJ manufacturing index got their familiar name “Cherokee”. The history of the Jeep Cherokee begins precisely with the Jeep Wagoneer, a model that was not sold in Europe but was very popular in the United States. This is the very first generation Jeep Cherokee, which was sold from 1974 to 1983, and it was considered a universal SUV.
The second generation
The second generation Jeep Cherokee XJ appeared in 1983 and became incredibly popular. The Jeep Cherokee XJ became a long-liver and lasted 18 years on the production line until 2001! Like its predecessor, the second Cherokee was a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive frame SUV.
The third generation
The third generation Jeep Cherokee KJ, released in 2001, boasted a Wrangler-style front face with characteristic round headlights and turn signals. However, the vehicle retained the ideology. It was still a classic longitudinal engine SUV, both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of which were available. The third Jeep Cherokee had a self-supporting body and better settings for driving on tarmac. And it was the first Jeep equipped with an independent front suspension. The Jeep Cherokee KJ was much rounder and less aggressive. It was marketed under the Jeep Liberty name in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but retained the Jeep Cherokee name in the rest of the world.
Jeep Cherokee is definitely a pioneer in the modern history of SUVs, and the name ‘jeep’ has become a household name. With more than 45 years of presence on the market and more than 4 million SUVs sold worldwide, the Cherokee has managed to bring 4×4 vehicles to the perfection and comfort that many buyers have been looking for.
The fourth generation
The fourth generation Jeep Cherokee KK, released in 2007 and sold until 2014, looked like a chopped XJ, but with more powerful engines. The fourth Cherokee was built on the Chrysler KA platform and still had both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive versions, but it was the Cherokee 4×4 that represented the lion’s share of sales. The fourth generation Jeep Cherokee had only two trim versions (Sport and Limited), but then special editions such as the Renegade, Latitude, Arctic and 70th Anniversary were added.
The fifth generation
The fifth generation Jeep Cherokee KL has been sold from 2014 to this day, although it underwent restyling in 2019. The fifth Cherokee was the first vehicle of this brand built on the Compact US Wide (CUS-wide) platform developed by Chrysler and Fiat. And this meant the definitive rejection of the frame structure and suggested a transverse engine and transmission. The 2014 Cherokee can decouple the rear axle if all-wheel drive is not required, it has a nine-speed automatic transmission and offers a variety of drive systems: Active Drive I, Active Drive II and Active Drive Lock to suit each customer’s needs.
The exterior of the fifth Cherokee raised many questions, as the front optics were divided into two parts. The hood of the 5th generation Cherokee has a lightweight aluminum structure with the LED lights installed on the bumper. The interior is made of better finishes and is more advanced.
After the 2017 restyling, the Jeep Cherokee boasts a new exterior that looks ‘calmer’ compared to the previous one, but retains various types of traction and engines. The front face of the upgrade Cherokee has become more conservative and recognizable. But despite moving away from the classic rear-wheel drive SUV, the Cherokee still retains its great off-road performance.
