Old Badge, New SUV: The 2026 Jeep Cherokee vs. Its XJ Ancestor

For more than 50 years now, the Jeep Cherokee name has evoked images of a rugged SUV tackling hardcore trails and dusty highways alike. Over its storied history, the Cherokee has evolved from a simpler, compact off-roader to a more modern SUV, offering a balance of everyday practicality and do-everything capability along the way.

With the arrival of the all-new, sixth-generation, KM-series 2026 Jeep Cherokee, the iconic brand is taking a dramatic and somewhat controversial next step in the model’s evolution, rolling out an upscale, hybrid-powered version. But before we dive into its present and future, let’s pay homage to the Cherokee that made its rep: the now legendary second-generation, dubbed XJ.

The Cherokee: A Quick History

Introduced in 1984, the four-door XJ Cherokee represented a bold new direction for Jeep. Unlike the larger Wagoneer, the Cherokee XJ was relatively compact and versatile, sporting a no-nonsense SUV design that appealed to a wide audience. Unlike the two-door Cherokee, the four-door version provided the practicality families and outdoor enthusiasts alike wanted, helping it stick around for a remarkable 17 model years through 2001.

See All 12 Photos12

Why did it last so long? A few key reasons. The XJ’s 4.0-liter inline-six engine became legendary for its durability, delivering 190 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque in a package that rarely left owners stranded. Its uniframe construction (a type of unibody) was strong but lightweight, giving it excellent off-road capability without the bulk of a body-on-frame SUV.

And then there’s its styling: angular, functional, timeless. Unlike some SUVs that look dated within a few years, the XJ aged like a fine wine, its boxy silhouette remaining instantly recognizable decades later.

Size Matters: From XJ to KM

The original XJ is dimensionally compact by today’s standards, with a length of 165.3 inches, a width of 67.9 inches, and a height of 63.8 inches. Its 101.4-inch wheelbase provided just enough room for five passengers and a cargo area that held 32.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 69.0 cubic feet with the seats folded.

Front headroom measured 37.8 inches, rear 38.0 inches, and legroom was 41.4 inches up front and 35.0 inches in the rear. For a smaller SUV of the era, these dimensions were generous and practical.

Fast-forward to the 2026 Jeep Cherokee, and the overall size difference is striking. Jeep has stretched the SUV to 188.1 inches long, 74.7 inches wide, and 67.5 inches tall, riding on a 113.0-inch wheelbase. But somewhat surprisingly, that only translates to slightly more interior space in most dimensions, with front headroom between 38 and 40.3 inches and rear headroom of 38.1 to 40.2 inches. Legroom measures 41.3 inches up front and 38.5 in the rear.

Even more striking, cargo space is nearly identical at 33.6 cubic feet with the seats up and 68.3 cubic feet with them folded. While the new Cherokee has clearly grown into the modern SUV mold, offering more of the comfort and space today’s buyers expect, the XJ more than holds its own when pitted against the 2026 model.

See All 12 Photos12

Engines and Performance

The XJ was available with a smorgasbord of engines and engine tunes during its run, among them an AMC-sourced, 2.5-liter inline-four. Output ranged from 105 to 130 hp and 132 to 149 lb-ft of torque depending on the model year. Although it wasn’t exactly a powerhouse, the 2.5-liter could motivate the Cherokee to 60 mph in a decent 10.5 seconds. On the fuel economy front, a 1990 four-door manual XJ achieved roughly 20 to 22 mpg combined for RWD models and 17 to 19 mpg combined for 4WD early in the run.

Jeep also offered a 2.8-liter V-6 supplied by General Motors 1984 to 1986, producing 110 to 115 hp and 150 to 155 lb-ft. While a V-6-powered, 1984 two-door XJ could only reach 60 mph in roughly 11.8 seconds, it returned a respectable 19/28 mpg city/highway with a manual transmission and 4WD. Jeep even flirted with a Renault-produced, 2.1-liter turbodiesel from 1985 to 1987, but low sales and limited power ended that experiment.

The engine that made the XJ famous though was its venerable, AMC sourced 4.0-liter inline-six. Available from 1987 to 2001, it pushed 190 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque in its highest tune and could motivate it from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.8 seconds while achieving anywhere from 15 to 20 mpg combined.

See All 12 Photos12

Today’s KM Cherokee goes a very different route. Its hybrid powertrain combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four with two electric motors to produce 210 hp and 230 lb-ft. The result is a 0–60-mph sprint of 9.4 seconds, only slightly quicker than the 4.0-liter-powered XJ but with jaw-dropping fuel economy: 42/33 mpg city/highway and a driving range of 507 miles. It’s a reminder that Jeep is playing in the modern era when it comes to efficiency. That said, it’s been more than a little disappointing to our staff how slow it is.

Off-Road Geometry

The XJ earned its reputation for capability thanks in part to its impressive off-road specs. Ground clearance ranged from 7.3 to 8.4 inches, approach angle 38 degrees, departure 31 degrees, and breakover 21 degrees. These numbers make it a competent trail runner even today, capable of tackling steep inclines, rocky paths, and moderate water crossings with confidence. It also served as a good jumping-off point for modifications.

The 2026 Cherokee maintains respectable clearance at 8.0 inches, but approach and breakover angles shrink to 19.6 and 18.8 degrees, respectively, while the departure angle measures just 29.4 degrees. In short, the new Cherokee isn’t the off-road monster the XJ was, but it’s more capable for mild trails and rougher roads (just don’t try anything too challenging, at least in the initial versions we’ve tested), all while offering the refinement and comfort that modern buyers demand.

See All 12 Photos12

The Verdict: Then and Now

Comparing the XJ and the KM generation is a fascinating exercise in automotive evolution. The XJ is legendary for its simplicity, ruggedness, and versatility. Its 4.0-liter inline-six remains one of the most durable engines ever fitted to an SUV, and Jeep’s uniframe design was ahead of its time. The XJ’s compact footprint, ample cargo capacity, and solid off-road geometry made it a do-it-all SUV, equally comfortable on city streets and mountain trails.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee, on the other hand, is bigger, more powerful, and far more efficient thanks to its hybrid powertrain. It keeps the baseline utility of its predecessor (similar cargo capacity, generous head- and legroom) while introducing modern technology, a higher-class cabin, elevated safety standards, and class-leading fuel economy. It’s not an off-road specialist like the original XJ, which our staff has called out as a demerit in addition to its slow acceleration, but it’s far more refined, comfortable, and capable as a daily driver.

Jeep fans will always love the XJ for what it was and still is, a rough-and-tumble hero of the 1980s and ’90s that’s still relevant today. And while the new Cherokee may not be the match of the vaunted XJ out on the trail (we expect more off-road themed variants in the future), Jeep doesn’t completely abandon that heritage. Instead, it attempts to build upon the Cherokee’s classic foundation with a blend of modern efficiency and comfort—all wrapped in a contemporary package.