He thought of offering an even more versatile car: he saw that this type of car worked wonders among young people and families who did not use the car for pure off-road driving. That is why the Jeep Cherokee XJ was developed with a self-supporting body and a set-up much more focused on asphalt, yes, without losing its off-road capacity, of course.
The Jeep Cherokee is considered by many, especially in the US, as the father of modern SUVs, since it was the one that began to change the philosophy and the one that opted for refinement and comfort in the 4x4 concept, in order to be attractive to an audience. much wider. The result was an absolute success and as a consequence, the future of Jeep would revolve around it.
The Jeep Wagoneer would be produced until 1991, but in its final days it was clearly overshadowed by the Cherokee within the Jeep lineup. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was an evolution of the second generation Cherokee, larger and more refined, also more luxurious, but somewhat smaller than the Wagoneer. The market trend was clear: practical cars, family cars, luxurious and refined, but also with good off-road behavior were in demand.
The second generation of the Jeep Cherokee was the most loved by all, it was a resounding sales success and very varied versions were created, both for the different levels of finishes that were available and for body types: a low pick-up was even created the name Jeep Comanche. An absolute success!
The third generation of the Jeep Cherokee, known as the KJ, was launched in 2002. The main novelty of this model is that it changed its name in its main markets: the US, Canada and Mexico. It was called Jeep Liberty, although in the rest of the markets it kept its original name, Jeep Cherokee.
Its design was much more rounded, less dramatic and more thought out for a much more variable use. This car can already be considered an SUV with good off-road behavior. Gasoline engines between 150 and 210 hp and a 143 hp diesel completed the range. The third generation Jeep Cherokee was no longer as innovative as its predecessors and it showed: it was only on sale for 5 years.
And it is that in 2007 the fourth generation of the Jeep Cherokee was presented, with internal code KK. Its lines recovered part of the original robustness, with a more square design. The range of engines was much more powerful, with two 215 and 289 hp V6 petrol engines and a 177 hp diesel with a variable geometry turbocharger.
Jeep had been somewhat relegated compared to European and Japanese SUVs, so little by little it was losing market share. Its more robust design was liked in its original market, but outside of that it had a more discreet presence. At the beginning of the first decade of the 21st century, Jeep was clear that it had to radically change the concept to remain competitive. And they did!
The fifth generation of the Jeep Cherokee (KL) arrived with an absolutely groundbreaking design, where modernity was the protagonist. He took a big risk with a much more peculiar and sharp design, a necessary change after two generations that had not convinced and with one goal: to enter the league of the best SUVs on the market. In an SUV universe, Jeep opted for refinement, image and off-road capability, a key formula in the future of Jeep.
Thanks to the Trailhawk versions, the fifth-generation Jeep Cherokee is one of the best SUVs on the market for off-road driving and that has given it a good commercial response throughout the globe. With him, the story of the Jeep Cherokee comes to an end: what's next? What is clear is that it must continue to combine image, refinement and off-road capability. That was the key to its early success and Jeep must remain true to its principles to survive in an uncertain future.
