The 1987 Jeep Cherokee enjoyed solid sales in the U.S. and growing sales internationally, consolidating its position as one of the most popular compact sport utility vehicles in the world. The '87 Cherokee filled an important market niche: Its sturdy unibody construction and innovative Quadra-Link suspension made it a tough, reliable vehicle for passenger and business use.

Some of the features that had made earlier SJ-Series Cherokees so popular with the off-road set remained in the XJ-Series Cherokee. High ground clearance and rugged 4-wheel drive took the 1987 Cherokee over a variety of terrains with ease; its hefty metal construction enabled it to brave the elements and the wilderness.

Thanks to some innovation from the folks at AMC, the 1987 Cherokee had a bit more to offer under the hood. The SUV shipped off the line with a 2.5-liter AMC inline 4-cylinder, clocked at 121 horsepower; as of this model year, buyers could upgrade to a new 4.0-liter AMC fuel-injected inline 6, which put out a healthy 173 horsepower. Power and torque were back, and Cherokee drivers were thrilled!

Although General Motors acquired AMC during the 1987 model year, the core design and production supervision teams remained in place during the transition. It took a while for GM to start making its mark on the AMC models, especially the more popular ones.