JEEP Cherokee

49 YEARS AND OUT FOR MIDSIZE STALWART

- ANDY ENRIGHT

THE LAST JEEP Cherokee rolled from the production line at Belvidere, Illinois on 28th February this year, bringing to a close production of a nameplate that stretches back across five model generations to 1974.

The original SJ Cherokees had an Australian connection, being assembled for right-hand drive configuration in Brisbane, Australia from 1981. Due to Aussie tariff regulations which defined 4x4 vehicles as having a ladder frame, local assembly of the old SJ versions continued for three years after its more modern unibody XJ replacement was launched in other world markets.

To many, the XJ was 'the' Cherokee. On sale for fully 18 years, total production topped over three million units. It spawned the Grand Cherokee, originally designed as its successor, and was a massively superior vehicle to its Wagoneer-based predecessor.

Not only was it over 500kg lighter, it was also 79cm shorter and 30cm narrower yet retained 90 percent of the SJ's interior volume. With superior approach, breakover and departure angles, it was better off road.