・Great condition throughout

・One lady owner from new

・Stunning colour

In the beginning, there was Jeep, and Land Rover, two giants on opposing sides of the planet who would go on to spawn an entire sub-genre of cars - the SUV, which would change the way we look at cars forever. 

Back in the late 1980’s, Jeep were making significant movements towards the SUV which we know today, when they launched the XJ-generation of Cherokee in 1984. For example, gone was the traditional and outdated ‘body-on-frame’ construction, replaced with a ladder-style chassis integrated into a modern monocoque construction, which was not only stronger but lighter which paid dividends in the performance department.

Power for the XJ came from the 4.0-litre ‘High Output’ inline-six petrol (or should that be gasoline) engine, which was so large the firewall had to be notched to accommodate the engine. A 2.5-litre inline-four was also available, should the owner want a more frugal driving experience.

Clearly, all this new technology and weight-saving paid off, with renowned journalist Quentin Wilson calling the XJ “a real 4x4 icon, one of the few truly great cars… cars which become more relevant the older they get.”

The major selling point of this car is its ownership history, having enjoyed the company of one lady owner since new.

First registered on 28 April 1995, this Cherokee has clocked up only 47,264 miles during its lifetime, averaging out as around 1,817 miles per year - incredible!

Having been enjoyed, evidently cherished and reportedly regularly maintained, this time-warp Jeep is now up for sale with the trade. 

Despite the ownership provenance of the vehicle, the service history is somewhat on the light side, showing only two stamps in the accompanying Jeep service record.

That’s not to say this example hasn’t been maintained. The story goes that after the aforementioned stamped services, the car was serviced by a local garage who was a friend of the owners, with the work being cash-in-hand, hence the lack of receipts.

It has, however, since been serviced during October 2019 at 44,397 miles with a recorded oil and filter change carried out as part of a ‘short service’ in Merseyside. 

In addition to the service invoice and aforementioned handbook, the V5 is also present confirming the one-owner-from-new provenance, along with an extensive history of MOT certificates. 

If that isn’t enough, the vendor has stated a full service and a fresh MOT exam will be carried out prior to the completion of the sale.

Come, step inside, and be transported back to the 90s.

The cabin on this Cherokee really does have to be seen to be believed, as it remains virtually unmarked throughout.

The seats are all near-pristine with only minor signs of wear-and-tear, and it’s the same story for the carpets and over mats. The headlining, too, is excellent and shows no signs of any staining or sagging.

The dashboard is free from cracks or sun damage, and the walnut trim is in outstanding shape with no noted cracks or lacquer damage that we saw during our inspection. 

As far as we could tell, all the switchgear worked correctly, including the (rather annoying) buzzer to let you know the door was open while the engine is running, or that you’ve left your keys in the ignition. There are no warning lights present on the instrument panel, either, which is always a bonus!

On the outside, this boxy, thoroughly-90’s Jeep is in excellent shape, with the rich metallic paintwork positively sparkling in the sunlight we enjoyed during the photo shoot.

There are a few marks here-and-there, with the majority having been touched-in as a temporary measure, though these are largely hidden without close inspection, and even then only the small marks on the rear bumper are particularly noticeable, with all noted marks being documented in the gallery below. 

All four wheels are in excellent condition, and the roof bars fitted to the car also look to be in fine fettle. Overall, it’s hard to believe this example is now 26 years old.

As with the exterior and the interior, mechanically this Jeep seems to be spot-on. 

It starts on the button, settles into a refined idle and simply awaits its next command. The engine came up to temperature nicely during our photo shoot, and it was happy to sit and idle for long periods of time with no notable issues or weird noises detected. 

Underneath, this Cherokee looks to be in good order, with no noted causes for concern. There are, of course, a few patches of surface ‘bloom’ which are to be expected at this age, but there has not been any corrosion-related issues on any MOTs in recent years, so it’s pretty safe to assume there are no issues waiting to be discovered.

Jeeps of any nature will forever be interesting, and retain a loyal and dedicated fan base who love their style, usability and practicality. 

This particular 1995 Cherokee Limited H/O benefits from being owned by the same family since new, with 0 former keepers noted on the logbook. In excellent condition throughout and with the desirable 4.0-litre inline-six engine up front, this Cherokee is a true ‘youngtimer’ classic, and would make for a wonderful addition to any collection, fleet of cars or simply as a unique and cherished daily driver for the next lucky owner.