2001 Jeep Cherokee - The Original Unit-Body SUV

 The Jeep Cherokee may be considered to be outdated and behind the times, consumers keep buying it. With rumors of it getting the axe for years, the Jeep Cherokee returns for 2001.  The Jeep Cherokee holds five passengers and for this model year the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that had been the base engine is gone. A 4.0-liter inline-six-cylinder with 190 horsepower is now the only choice. In 1999 the exterior appearance of the Cherokee Sport was upgraded to include body-color bumpers, wheel flares, grille and headlight bezels. Since then, little has changed. The Cherokee is known for it's off road abilities and rugged appearance. The 2001 Cherokee originally had an Original Invoice Price of $17,804 to $19,168. Kelley Blue Book now lists it in the 5 to 6 thousand dollar range.

Jeep Cherokee Handling

Cherokee wavers a bit on uneven pavement at highway speeds.  The Cherokee is really designed to be an off road machine, so a lack of refined handling on the road is understandable.  It really shows its abilities off-road. The Jeep Cherokee has good ground clearance; a short wheelbase and a favorable power-to-weight ratio make this vehicle take control in the woods.  The Selec-Trac four-wheel drive system, which can be used full-time, comes in handy. Thanks to its relatively low curb weight, the Cherokee is a step above its competitors when it comes to off-roading. Its on-center steering feel leaves much to be desired, however. Cherokee's optional four-speed automatic is a smooth operator, and there's enough torque in the venerable inline six-cylinder engine to generate excellent stoplight getaway, automatic or not. 

2001 Jeep Cherokee Appearance

The four door version of the Cherokee is the most popular, but there is also a two door available. The two-door comes in a Sport trim, and the four-door comes in Sport and Limited.  After a long overdue redesign in 1997, the Cherokee still looks similar to its previous generation.  Still, though, its corners were softened at the nose and tail and the wheelwell flares were blended into the bumper ends. The front vent windows were dropped for a cleaner look and lessened wind noise, and larger side-view mirrors, new bodyside moldings, new wheels, optional deep-tint glass and a center high-mounted stop lamp completed the changes outside. The Cherokee is 167 inches long, 14 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee. The Cherokee most certainly carries classic Jeep styling, the Cherokee is a familiar face, and is easily recognizable with its upright angles and square corners. The Cherokee was the first unit-body sport-utility vehicle, as distinct from the traditional body-on-frame approach. The advantages are much higher rigidity and much lower weight, which contribute to the Cherokee's hot-rod performance and good handling. 

Cherokee Cabin

The Cherokee does not have the most comfortable seating area, and still lacks what many competitors off in their interior spaces. Thankfully though, the 1997 redesign brought a more modern cabin for the Cherokee.  This was a much needed design change as the previous generation was outdated in many ways.  The 2001 Jeep Cherokee gets modern cabin features such as ergonomics, safety and style. The Cherokee now has suitable and up to date door panels, lighted power mirror and window switches, a trip computer for the overhead console and a new center console that boasted integrated cupholders. A new dash (with a passenger airbag), revised gauges and a new center stack with easier to use controls for the stereo (now available with both cassette and CD players) and climate control system shows that the Cherokee cabin is a clean, simple ad easily useable space. Cherokee holds five people, though the rear seat is cramped compared to some rivals', and the narrow rear doors can be tight to negotiate. The spare tire is mounted upright in the cargo area, using up valuable storage space.   In the end, though, you have to remember that consumers are not buying Jeep Cherokees for comfort and convenience, they are more interested in its overall reliability and rugged abilities not found elsewhere.

2001 Trim Levels

Sport models are fairly basic, with power steering, power brakes, full carpeting, four-speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo, a clock and tachometer, variable intermittent wipers and a five-speed manual transmission. Limited models add only a luggage rack, power mirrors, upgraded seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear wiper, four-speed automatic transmission and an upgrade from 15-inch steel to 16-inch aluminum wheels.

Powering the Cherokee

For 2001, Cherokee comes with two-wheel drive, part-time four-wheel drive or full-time 4WD that can be used on smooth, dry pavement.  The 2.5-liter four-cylinder that had been the base engine was eliminated. A 4.0-liter inline-six-cylinder with 190 horsepower is now the only choice.

Final Words

The Jeep Cherokee was an instant hit when it was rolled out in the 1984 model year.  It was the first compact 4-door sport utility. Over the years it has developed a loyal following, not only among the public but also among business and government agencies. When the Cherokee was redesigned for the first time in 1997 it didn't stray far from the successful original Cherokee look, yet at the same time it achieved a reasonable modern design.   In 1999 the exterior appearance of the Cherokee Sport was upgraded to include body-color bumpers, wheel flares, grille and headlight bezels. The Cherokee serves well as a basic, reasonably priced SUV with convenient 4WD systems and enough utility for a small family. For a closer look, view a Jeep Cherokee photo gallery. After years of speculation that production of the Jeep Cherokee would end, the 2001 has been the final year for the Cherokee.  Jeep is replacing it with more modern, aerodynamic, and technically advanced products, such as the Liberty.