But the Wrangler is not Jeep’s most influential vehicle. That honor goes to the more humble, XJ-generation Cherokee, which Jeep built from 1984 to 2001. How awesome was the XJ Cherokee formula?

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Stellantis’ Jeep brand may abandon the Cherokee name for its next SUV; it’s a name that has been controversial for some time.

With only around 10,000 of them made, the pillar-less XJ-C was much rarer than the more iconic E-Type, and even fewer of them packed the 5.3-liter fuel-injected V12 engine.

Jeep plans on bringing an electrified off-road capable model to the masses in the form of the 2026 Jeep Recon. Inspired by the Wrangler (although supposedly designed in tribute to the XJ Cherokee ...