The 1990s started 35 years ago (yikes!) but, in many ways, the decade of the Clinton administration and the Dallas Cowboys winning Super Bowls is still going strong. There are people out there who watch Friends every day. You can buy baggy, oversized clothing from J. Crew and Polo. And the XJ Jeep Cherokee, which was primarily produced in the ’90s (1984-2001), is a perennial favorite of off-roaders and those who enjoy nostalgic vehicles. Our Pick of the Day, a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Country 4X4, is even more representative of its time for one major reason.
Any guesses? You could say the Cherokee’s boxy design is from an era in which car companies didn’t give their SUVs fast rooflines to make them look like sport coupes, but that’s not what I’m getting at. The reason this XJ is super ’90s is its color: the Bright Jade Metallic on this rig fits right in with the teals, greens, and aquas that seemed to be so popular back then. Silver bumpers, wheel arches, and lower-body cladding keep it from being too visually loud.
The 1990s was also before most vehicles had infotainment screens in them, so the cabin is pretty straightforward. That doesn’t mean it’s spartan, though. Yes, it has light gray cloth and vinyl seating, but it also comes equipped with power windows and locks, cruise control, air conditioning, four-speed automatic, and a Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit. The trusty 4.0-liter inline-six and the lever for the dual-range transfer case are great for making sure this Jeep gets out of the sticky situations that Cherokees typically encounter.
Over the past 29 years, this XJ has racked up only 115,904 miles, which is significantly lower than the mileage you usually see on Cherokees of this age (many of which have been extensively modified and trail-beaten). According to the CARFAX report, it has received several mechanical updates along the way: in 2016, the serpentine belt was replaced, and new cooling and exhaust system parts were installed in 2018. Plus, within the past two years, the power steering system has been equipped with fresh hardware. In a previous listing for this vehicle, the seller at the time noted the presence of corrosion on the undercarriage; the CARFAX indicates an undercoating was applied in June of this year.
Whether you want to throw on your favorite Starter jacket and head to the mountains, or jam out to Soundgarden during a windows-down drive to the beach, an XJ Cherokee is a great retro way to get there (just don’t expect to get a McDonald’s Arch Deluxe or a Crystal Pepsi on your way out of town). To start going on adventures in this 1996 Jeep Cherokee Country 4X4, it’ll cost you $13,995.
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