1996 Jeep Cherokee Consumer Reviews

rust over exhaust, bad suspension, motor is really reliable and so is the transmission, body rust and mileage

Reasons to love it: 1) You can go pretty much anywhere unlike most modern SUVs. Drove up an icy hill where AWD modern crossovers were unable to go up with just 4HI and all-season tires. Use it as my vehicle to the ski mountains 2) Surprisingly nimble for a vehicle with solid axles and rear leaf springs. Handles and grips better than my 2019 4Runner but it still feels like a truck. But I personally enjoy the old truck feeling 2) I think it's one of the most good-looking SUVs to have been built 3) Love the simplistic interior 4) It's a pretty small vehicle. It's shorter in length than a 2022 honda civic. It's easy to find a parallel parking spot 5) Great platform for offroading 6) The XJ is famous for being reliable as long as it's been maintained. I haven't had any issues with it after replacing maintenance items (gaskets, seals, fluids, u-joints, brakes, bushings, shocks, ball joints) 7) Great visibility 8) The 4.0L has 190 hp and 235 ft-lb which isn't a lot but a stock XJ will typically weigh around 3100 lbs so the XJ gets moving pretty easily Things that are not so great: 1) Terrible gas mileage if you have the 4.0L Incline 6. Expect to range from 13-20 miles per gallon depending on how you drive. It's obvious the XJ isn't aerodynamic. When you let off the gas, you can feel the drag physically slowing down the car. 2) Although the steering is quite direct when cornering when you're going in a straight line the steering wheel has quite a bit of dead play. This is because it uses a steering box and not a steering rack. 3) Things to watch out for: a) Although the 4.0L is reliable, they like to leak oil, typically the oil filter adapter and rear main seal on these vehicles will be leaking and if you're not handy, it'll be expensive. b) The cooling system will keep the Engine at 210F in 110F weather while in traffic on the condition the cooling system is maintained. If it's not maintained, the engines can overheat in slow traffic with weather as cold as 60F c) Rust is commonly found on these cars. It's hard to find one without rust on the wheel wells, floors, or trunk floor. If there's a lot of rust on the frame rails, it's not worth fixing. d) if the front suspension has not been maintained, it's possible to experience death wobble while driving at speeds higher than 45 mph. It happens in any front solid axle vehicle with a non-maintained front suspension. I've never personally experienced it and I drive consistently at speeds of 85 mph but my XJ is well-kept. 4) Rear legroom could be better but I've managed to fit my 6'7" friend in the rear

My 1st new vehicle after college was a 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4x4 4-dr in a golden tan metallic

Excelente vehículo , buen motor y transmisión , resiste mucho trabajo diario . Las piezas no son costosas

Toughest, most versatile, most loyal-hardcore following, customizable as heck. MPG is not a disappointment. WON’T QUIT! My Jeep is a rebel and has saved my butt more than once.

It doesn't work not drive able now it need alot of work done to it no battery in it transmission got work done to it

I don’t have the 4.0, rather the 2.5 4 cylinder. It’s not fast, it’s not quick, it’s slow. Slow as a turtle. But I love it. For a 4 cylinder, it offers some hefty peak torque that’s made right around 2k, and that’s all you need to drive around with. She’ll hold 80 on the freeway, but it’s pretty scary at that speed. As far as gas mileage go, when the 2.5 is combined with the AX5 5-speed manual and 2wd, I net about 21 in the city, and nearly 28 on the highway. This is of course due to the few “upgrades” i’ve done, like better fuel injectors and a bigger throttle body, and some little gimmicks here and there. The ride isn’t that great, but given how old it is and how many miles are on her, she rides pretty smooth cruising down the freeway. And i’m not afraid to hit bumps anymore, because it takes anything I throw at it like a champ. It’s also really easy to maintain, and i’ve had very few issues with my XJ since I got it near the middle of summer last year. She keeps on trucking, and I get great gas mileage.

i owned this vehicle for one year, and i loved it. it was capable on and off-road, and it was very practical.