Cherokee

The Cherokee nameplate has been used on several distinct Jeep sport-utility generations rather than one uninterrupted model run. It first appeared in the mid-1970s as a sporty, youth-oriented full-size two-door version of the Wagoneer, later expanding into additional body styles before that original SJ-era Cherokee ended in the early 1980s. Jeep then revived the name for the 1984 Cherokee XJ, a major turning point for the brand: it was smaller, lighter, and far more modern in layout, with unibody construction and a compact SUV formula that became highly influential. The XJ’s long run made it one of Jeep’s most recognizable and enthusiast-loved models, especially for its trail ability and adaptability. After the XJ ended in 2001, the Cherokee name disappeared again for more than a decade. Jeep brought it back for the 2014 model year on the KL-generation midsize SUV, replacing the Liberty and repositioning Cherokee in the heart of the brand’s mainstream utility lineup. That modern revival carried the historic name into a new era with a very different mission and body style. Because the nameplate has returned after production gaps, the Cherokee should be treated as a multi-period model history rather than a single continuous production run.