1 Sep 1997
A smoother nose, a rounder tailgate, a redesigned, 1990s style interior, a much stiffer, stronger body featuring more glass area and bigger rear doors, and a new, part-time 4WD, 85kW/300Nm four-cylinder turbodiesel engine option broadened the appeal of the ageing Cherokee.
The latter was a five-speed manual only model.
A revised 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine now produced 131kW of power and 301Nm of torque. The Sport gained dual airbags, a limited slip differential, and better audio, while the Limited arrived late, in October ’98.
But sales slipped significantly in the face of newer, roomier, more competent Japanese 4WD rivals, car-based light 4WDs, and increased cannibalisation from the bigger, better, in-house Grand Cherokee range.
Nevertheless the range limped on until the all-new, third-generation KJ Cherokee arrived in September ’01.
