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Jeep Cherokee XJ (2nd Generation)

1984–2001 · XJ · suv

The first American off-roader built with fully integrated unibody construction — 1,200 pounds lighter than its SJ predecessor while keeping 90% of the interior volume. Engines: 2.5L AMC inline-4, 2.8L GM V6 (early), 4.0L AMC inline-6 (the legend — 190hp high-output from 1991-2001), plus 2.1L and 2.5L Renault/VM Motori diesels for export. Built in Toledo from 1984; global production continued in China through 2014. Robert Cumberford called it one of the 20 greatest cars of all time.

Watch out: Rust. Coastal and Rust Belt XJs rot through the unibody — the rear cargo floor (under the carpet), rocker panels, rear quarter behind the wheels, and the rails ahead of the rear axle are the worst spots. A clean Western/Southern truck is the only safe buy now; anything else needs to be inspected from underneath. The 4.0L itself is famously bulletproof if you change the oil, but the radiator and 0331 cylinder head castings (1999-2001) crack — Jeep settled a class action on it.