I can’t recall a time when I didn’t recall seeing a Jeep Cherokee on the road. They seem to have been around since the SUV was created. The truth is, they didn’t hit the road until 1974. The Cherokee was considered a downsized version of the Jeep Wagoneer. The two vehicles were remarkably similar. The Cherokee was the sportier of the two. They shared more of the same features as the Wagoneer, including engine selections and dimensions. The main difference between the two was that the Cherokee was less expensive. In 1974, the Cherokee was only available in two doors. The two doors featured the same wheelbase and length as the Wagoneer. The four-door didn’t join the line until 1977.
In 1984, most of the cars made in America were downsized to meet the needs of their customers. The Cherokee was no different. The Jeep Cherokee that was released in 1984 shared nothing with its predecessor, except for the name. The vehicle had a shorter wheelbase. The wheelbase was just over 7 inches shorter than older models. The overall length was also 21 inches shorter. The Cherokee was also a much lighter vehicle. The Cherokee weighed around 3,100 pounds, which is more than 1,000 pounds less. Being lighter, the vehicle saved more fuel and was easier to maneuver on and off the road. The lighter jeep Cherokees were well received by the general public. This propelled Jeep to the leading place in the four-wheel drive market.
In 1985, the Lardo was added to the Jeep Cherokee family. The Laredow is a stylish version of the Cherokee. The vehicle included improvements; like the plush interior, the alloy wheels and the chrome grille treatment. The same year additional revisions were made to the Cherokee. They included front head restraints and passenger assistance handles. Two-wheel drive versions were added for those consumers who did not need the capabilities of a four-wheel drive. Additional options were also included; like, keyless entry and four-cylinder turbodiesel engines from Renault.
In 1986, two crucial hardware upgrades were added. They redesigned the powerful four-cylinder engine and replaced the fuel-injected carburetor. By 1987, serious power had become an option. Now they had a six-cylinder engine. 2000 was the last year that substantial changes were made to the Jeep Cherokee. They refined the vehicle and introduced the Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee had a revamped engine, which ran quieter and cleaner.