Although some complained that it was long overdue for a redesign, the 1989 Jeep Cherokee continued to be a strong seller in the compact SUV market. Part of the Jeep XJ line, the '89 Cherokee offered rugged reliability, a roomy cabin, and plenty of cargo space.

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 four-wheel drive took the 1989 Cherokee over a variety of terrains with ease; its hefty metal construction enabled it to brave the elements and the wilderness.

Although it didn't have the power of the original Cherokees, the '89 Jeep Cherokee had some decent muscle under its hood. The SUV shipped off the line with a 2.5 liter AMC inline-4, 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.