'97 Jeep Cherokee Sport

'97 Jeep Cherokee SportOur "classic" sport/utility is not a super-comfortable, mausoleum-quiet highway cruiser, but then Jeep never claimed to have designed the Cherokee for the permanently pavement bound. The boxy, budget SUV is a back-to-basics, go-anywhere truck with a well-deserved off-road reputation. Admittedly, the long-term Cherokee has spent most of its time on asphalt, where it has proven to be fun to drive due to the lively 4.0-liter/190-horsepower inline six, fleet-of-foot handling, and lightweight feel. The black dirt devil has inspired colorful logbook quips such as, "The thrashy engine feels and sounds like it was forged by Paul Revere's blacksmith." Perhaps, but could his steed run 0-60 mph in 9.1 seconds? Harder to refute is the logbook entry, "It blatantly feels like a model that's existed since '84." Another passage reads, "The seats don't provide enough support. My back aches to drive something else." Although less than perfect, as the cargo-space-invading spare tire attests, the Cherokee does possess a trusty St. Bernard personality, eager to play or pull its master out of trouble. Clearly these are the reasons people are attracted to the timeless sport/ute.