Throwback Thursday: 1995 Jeep Cherokee Retro Review
Jeep Cherokee now has airbags! In this MotorWeek retro review we take a look back at what made the XJ so special.
In 1995 Generation X was starting to hit their stride. Many were purchasing their first vehicle. And quite a few of those folks decided on the now iconic Jeep Cherokee XJ. Today those same Gen X’ers are looking to retire in a couple years. And how well that generation has aged is up for debate. But what is not up for debate is that the 1995 Jeep Cherokee is as appealing as ever. “Generation XJ” is doing just fine thank you very much. And even though it is now looked on as a classic, we must remember that at one point it was a brand-new Jeep.
This week’s “Throwback Thursday” is all about the 1995 Jeep Cherokee. The MotorWeek YouTube channel has released a series of Retro Review videos. And one that recently caught our eye was on the 1995 Jeep Cherokee. The XJ was manufactured from 1983 until 2001 so the 1995 model was towards the end of the model year. And the big news for 1995 was that the Cherokee now came with a driver side airbag! What else made the 1995 XJ stand out? Continue below for more.
A Bargain 4×4
The SUV craze was in full swing by 1995. And SUVs were getting more and more expensive. But Jeep was offering the Cherokee that gave drivers the SUV experience they wanted but at a price that was reasonable. The design of the Cherokee didn’t change much from the fall of 1983 when it debuted until this review that was done in 1995. But there was no need to. The Jeep was a perfect SUV design that still looks good even today. And that classic design is on the inside and out. Simple round gauges, and flat and square trim are the hallmarks of the interior design.
Engine
The Cherokee Sport that is reviewed in the video come with the legendary 4.0L inline-6 engine. It was good for 190 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque. That made the Cherokee engine nearly 20 percent more powerful than the competitor Ford Explorer. The Cherokee made the 0 to 60 mph sprint in a sprightly 8.9 seconds. It tripped the quarter mile in 16.8 seconds at 82 mph. Not bad for a compact SUV from 1995.
Off-Road
On the trail is where a Jeep makes a name for itself. The folks at MotorWeek felt that the 1995 Jeep Cherokee handled off-road duties with ease. Anyone that has spent any time wheeling an XJ would agree. And it did it on a budget. A base two-door SE model would set you back $15,215 in 1995. The four-door Sport would cost you $18,606. The well-equipped test Jeep in the video cost $23,943. That is about $46,000 in 2022 dollars. That is roughly what a 2022 Jeep Cherokee Limited with a few options would cost you today.
1995 Jeep Cherokee
Checkout the video below to see what MotorWeek thought of the Jeep Cherokee back in 1995. A lot of folks may look back at it through rose-colored glasses. But when you watch the retro review, you will realize that the Jeep XJ was always good. And if you can find a solid one, buying one even today is still a good idea.