Kent L

Reviewed a 1991 Jeep Sport 4-Door RWD on Jun 16, 2009

Back in the day, the Jeep name represented some specific ideas. Toughness. Basic. Proven. Reliable. Unsophisticated. Rugged. Those words pretty much summarize my '91 Cherokee. 'Course, in more recent days, the folks at Chrysler produced flashes of brilliance like the Jeep Compass--perhaps the worst vehicle I have ever driven. In every way. In fact, I don't think it's a stretch to say that the Compass and other similar Chrysler products are one reason why the company is now owned by Fiat following a government-induced Chapter 11 filing. But I digress... In my humble opinion, this generation of Jeep Cherokee was a no-excuses kind of truck. The kind of truck that said, "I'm a Jeep. If you want comfort, then go jump in a wimpy luxo-barge, baby!" Truth be told, the ergonomics were terrible, it was very difficult to get in and out of the back seat, and the interior fit and finish were pretty rough. Of course, it was also extremely reliable, the 4.0 liter straight six had an amazing amount of torque, and it had a certain angular, old-fashioned look that reflected it's 'tough-guy' reputation. I enjoyed this truck a lot simply because there was no pretense whatsoever. The Jeep Wrangler is the only current model that still reflects this type of ethos and perhaps that's somewhat of an indication of why Chrysler is struggling. I'm not saying that outdated engineering and poor ergonomics equals successful product, but the old Cherokee's had a certain 'Jeepness' that is lost of most of the current product line. And they really ought to try to get it back.