1996 Jeep Cherokee

Rating from Cherokee man

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"The very first car I ever bought is a 1996 Jeep Cherokee with a manual transmission and two wheel drive. This particular jeep didn?t even come with the more popular inline six engine but has the inline four under the hood. To a jeep enthusiast this would be the least sought after Cherokee on the planet but I love it. It is not because this vehicle does anything particular well but it always does everything that I ask of it and it never complains. This vehicle has a soul and loves to be driven. The rumble of the four cylinders as I accelerate and shift gears, the squeaky brakes the masculine look of the square front fascia and rectangular head lights everything about this SUV reeks of an attitude that I think has gone missing from more modern SUV?s. Back when this vehicle was designed car companies did not care about selling to people that wanted a car that could carry children and didn?t want to drive a minivan or a station wagon. They were not advertised to soccer moms and people who have too much money for their own good. They were not built to handle like cars nor would they ever win the plushiest interior. This vehicle was suppose to be able to go wherever you wanted it to go and bring you back time and time again without the driver having to worry about scratching the leather seats or having to repair a headlight that got knocked out. This vehicle was built to be both sporty and have a decent amount of utility without the owner having to worry about thousand dollar repairs. Modern SUV?s I believe are missing this point. Too much effort it put into making them luxury vehicles than handle like cars. As time progresses SUV?s are becoming more and more like regular cars. For example as of recent the Ford Explorer was placed on a car chassis instead of the more durable truck chassis. SUV?s were never supposed to replace sedans or mini vans as the people carriers of today. SUV?s were suppose to be fun go anywhere vehicles that were not too expensive to neither purchase nor maintain. They were supposed to be a way for the wealthier to show off. This is why I believe the Jeep Cherokee is still the best SUV ever built. It epitomizes what SUV?s are suppose to stand for. They were cheap, reliable and could go almost anywhere and unlike say the Jeep Wrangler were just big enough to have a decent amount of interior space to pack camping equipment and a couple buddies for weekend of adventure. Even mine, which is only 2wd and is the least sought after of the breed, is still able to drive though an ice storm without slipping and get me from Oxford Ohio to Cleveland quickly and safely. The owner did not have to worry about how much it would be to fix interior parts or to replace exterior parts such as the lights or the bumper. The Cherokee was built to be rugged and cheap to fix. Even today if you go on say Amazon.com you can find Cherokee parts for bargain prices when compared for parts form more modern SUV?s. Thus I lament the path that automakers have chosen to take the SUV. They have left the path the Cherokee started. True there are still some SUV?s such as the Toyota FJ Cruiser or the Nissan ExTerra that have the ability to go almost anywhere and are still relatively cheap but they are becoming more and more scarce and time progresses. Instead of being fun cheap go anywhere vehicles most are expensive, boring and not much better at driving on the road than a modern front wheel drive sedan. Most importantly of all they have lost their souls. My chunky ancient Cherokee with the rusty floor panels and the squeaky breaks still makes me smile every time I look at it as it has a personality all its own which just beckons me to get behind the wheel. It may not be the most comfortable or the most practical but I still love it for all it stands for, the idea that I can go anywhere and not have to worry about fancy interiors or expensive fixes. I don?t feel any sacrifices that had to be made to make it more practical for larger families. Instead I revel in its simplicity and the fact that it was never meant to be anything more than a Sport Utility Vehicle."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun

Rating from 96 XJ Offroader

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Comfort: Hands-down, the XJ has the most comfortable seats out of any vehicle that I have ever been in (in the front). They are akin to your favorite overstuffed sofa. I have no problems with headroom or legroom, which is saying something since I'm pretty tall. Any roughness in the ride is nicely offset by the seats (and in my case, by running partially aired-down 33s). Performance: The I-6 is simply unstoppable. I have over 150k miles on my XJ and have had no problems with it. The 4x4 capabilities of the stock transfer case are terrific. Running 33s on a locked rear 8.8 axle and locked Dana 30 front, both regeared, with no problems. The XJ is a vehicle that will just keep chugging along. And if something does go wrong (short of the fabled head gasket), Cherokee are the best vehicle to work on. Exterior styling: Love it or hate it, the utilitarian and no-BS design of the XJ is iconic. I happen to adore it, and even find the late-model XJs to be too 'refined,' as it were. The unibody design allows sturdy body panels to be used, while keeping the overall vehicle weight very low. Interior design: Simple, practical, comfortable. Controls and dials are intuitive. I keep the back seats folded, which gives me enough room to carry 3 extra 33s, my toolbox, camping gear, recovery gear, and even my dogs. Value: Unbeatable. While these do not have great gas economy, they will not die on you. There are ample XJs in junkyards and slews of aftermarket parts. Reliability: One of the few vehicles that you can pound the pavement and pound trails repeatedly with no or few problems. A Jeep is the vehicular version of a dog. Hardy, loyal, loving. Just keep a firm hand on it and you will love it and it will love you."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Off-roading

Rating from onenicelady

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I have owned 4 Jeep Cherokees with 5 speed transmissions and 2 wheel drive. I purposely looked to purchase those vehicles. I have owned many cars and trucks and this is by far the best performing vehicle I have ever owned. I have never put one cent into repairing an engine. They just do not fail unless someone does not put oil in them or lets them overheat. They go and go and get superior gas miledge. I get 30-38 miles per gallon. The overall parts replacement cost compared to the many years you can drive this vehicle is very small compared to an automatic. The hydrallic clutch is so easy that anyone can learn to drive it. Once you drive one of these, you will wonder why you choose an automatic. Superior handling in quick stops, and turns. Also this jeep can go offroad, you dont need four wheel drive at all. I drove my jeeps across the country from new york to los angeles without a hitch. I saw new cars broke down. The jeep with 300k on it just wizzed by. Also the 4.0 engine with a six cylindar drives like a 8. You can haul anything from boxes to a couch. I once put mylarge black leather couch in the back. The seat folds down or you can easily remove it. You can also carry things on the roof with nice luggage rack."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Wheeler

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"These trucks can be driven with care or complete disregaurd. You can them to the store or to the top of a mountain in any weather. Powerful and quickly can get out of the way of any danger. Decent fuel mileage and confort. Parts are easy to find and dont cost an arm and leg"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Off-roading

Rating from martin

(3)
Comfort:		2 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		3 out of 5

"I bought my truck used in decent condition, it has about 150k miles on it now. Major mechanical problems that I had to fix: automatic transmission had to be rebuilt; pretty much entire cooling system had to be replaced. Other than that I had to perform regular maintenance and engine tune-up. Something that also needs attention is that these trucks rust, especially on bottom of doors. I tried some preventive measures, but nothing will work short of replacing an entire door. Overall this truck is poorly designed, and I'm not quite sure why it's a popular choice for off-roading. The stock 4wd system is actually not that good, so unless you want to spent money on upgrades, get a Subaru or something like that with a proven system. I will admit that the 4.0L engine is not bad in terms of reliability, but it gets poor gas mileage."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from duramax diesel12

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"great car great buy would do something to it like lift it a turn it into a 4 wheeler and for 400 dollers who wouldn't"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Dog Hauler

(4)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Handling:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"Being a long time Jeep owner I have to agree with many of the comments by the other reviewers. While the Cherokee may not be the perfect vehicle I truly believe it is the perfect platform. I've had my '96 4 dr Sport for 6 years now and put almost 100K miles on it for a total of 183K. In that time it's been to downtown Chicago and northern Wisconsin. Being a daily driver the entire time I can say a few things for sure: * When you go the auto parts store get the premium parts. Don't over pay, but don't get the cheapest either. * Same goes for oil. Mobil 1 full synthetic buys years of loyalty from the torquey 4.0 * Check the 4wd system in fall. When the snow falls and you yank that transfer case lever you'll find any problem lurking around. A foot of wet snow is not the time to find that out. * Yes, you will only get 17+/- MPG from the 4.0 * The '80s interior is VERY cheap looking. However, there tends to be less regret when your German Shepard covers it with hair or your Weimaraner puppy eats parts of it. * The fold flat floor makes it easier to haul gear than you'd expect. * It's not huge so best for 2 people, gear or dogs. Might want to consider a Grand Cherokee or Commander for families. * The technology is not there. No gizmos to keep you on the road of soften the ride. It's up to you to use the 4wd in adverse conditions. New shocks and all season tire keep the ride descent. Don't skimp here either. This is a terrific vehicle if you need an all around SUV that offer a good driving position, all weather capability, durable life span w/ cheap repairs, room to haul moderate loads and an overall flexible platform for life."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from John Slow

(4)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Handling:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		2 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Features:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"My Jeep Cherokee Country is a pretty good vehicle. The 4.0 liter 190 horsepower engine has a fair amount of torque. It really moves from about 0-35 mph. I am disappointed with the gas mileage, I only 17 mpg. It is very good off road even with street tires. It has good on-road handling despite what it was designed for. I don't the interior very much at all. It is very small. It has a very, very cheap stereo, the sound quality is awful. It very reliable. The Jeep Cherokee is not the most beautiful car on the road but it does what it was designed to do."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from I want a new car

(3)
Comfort:		2 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Handling:		2 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Features:		2 out of 5
Value for the Money:		2 out of 5
Reliability:		3 out of 5

"The car has some unrealiable hondling issues in the rain. It is a very light car sitting up high so flipping is easier to do. I would recommend the Grand Cherokee it is more luxurious and safer and you can still take it on the back roads. The cherokee is a good car but i would recommend that you test drive it first. For a weekend."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from BP

(3)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Handling:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Features:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I have owned this SUV for several years now and it has been a reilable and enjoyable vehicle. The 4.0L/V6 Engine is a beast and it is capable of towing and hauling just about any size load within reason. This Jeep feels like a tank and handles reasonably well considering its purpose. Overall I give it a thumbs up but I'll be glad to buy a Toyota."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A