2000 Jeep Cherokee

By Bob Storck

Three years ago Jeep gave us the first overhaul of the Jeep Cherokee since it was introduced by American Motors in 1984. It was the first of the four door small sport utes and stole a march on the competition that took them the rest of the decade to catch up. This year it will be overhauled, but it is still a top seller. Major 2000 changes are in packages, and Limited is now a separate model.

Cherokee SE's standard engine is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder and the spirited 4.0-litre high-output six-cylinder engine is more efficient and powerful than most V configurations. This year the six has again been made more quiet and smoother running. There's a choice of part-time Command Trac, or full-time Selec-Trac four-wheel drive on all but SE models.

Rugged design and strength comes from its UniFrame construction. Cherokee still offers two door versions and a manual transmission, features that most of the competitors with their unit bodies have eschewed.

The coil suspension was adapted for the new Wrangler, and offers a smooth ride over the leaf springs, since there is none of the friction and binding that beats you up on urban roads.

One of the most welcome features added recently is the smoothly integrated rear liftgate window hatch.