Sharing the name of the original, full-size Cherokee SJ model, the 1984 XJ Cherokee was Jeep's first all-new design since the 1963 SJ Wagoneer, as well as the first American off-road vehicle built with fully integrated body-and-frame (unibody) design,[5][6] and formed the mechanical basis for the Jeep Comanche (MJ) pickup truck (1986–1992).

[7][8] The XJ is credited for spawning competitors, as other automakers noticed the design cannibalizing sales from regular cars,[9] supplanting the role of the station wagon and transforming the vehicle type "from truck to limousine in the eyes of countless suburban owners,"[10] though GM had also launched road-biased, RWD and 4WD compact SUVs, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and GMC S-15 Jimmy, one year earlier, initially available in two-door form only.

"[10] Designs of the compact-size XJ Cherokee date back to 1978 when a team of American Motors (AMC) and Renault engineers drew several sketches.

Early sketches of the XJ Cherokee had a European influence, and most of the styling cues were done by AMC engineers under the direction of Dick Teague, vice president of design.

[16] Renault's François Castaing developed the drivetrain using a much smaller engine than normally found in 4WD vehicles and reduced the weight of the new model.

"[13] The unconventional design enhanced XJ's durability and off-road capability and eventually won over most critics, even those models with early underpowered GM engines.

"[14] The design and market positioning of the XJ, along with the AMC Eagle essentially "foreshadowed the car-based crossover utility-vehicle fad.

[19] British TV presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson described the XJ Jeep as "a real 4x4 icon" and one of the "few truly great cars... which, despite being left behind by newer models, still offer fresh and urgent possibilities.

"[21] The XJ Cherokee introduced for the 1984 model year was the first Jeep with a ladder-boxed chassis integrated into a single monocoque unit rather than the traditional separate body-on-frame construction.

The design was rigid and sturdy with approximately 3,200 welds in a completed body, "yet wonderfully lightweight, [the] Uniframe permitted outstanding performance even with AMC's new 2.5 L (150 cu in) four-cylinder engine.

Two-door models, however, received longer doors and front seats that could fold forward to assist in rear passenger entry and exit.

For 1996, partially to comply with new U.S. OBD-II exhaust and evaporative emissions regulations, the engine management system was upgraded to Chrysler's then-new "JTEC" PCM.

[29] Both Wagoneers were distinguished from the Cherokee for the 1983 through 1985 model years by a slightly different grille and a smaller "Jeep" emblem offset to the driver's side.

The standard equipment list was extensive and included air conditioning, cruise control, power disk brakes, rear window wiper and washer, and adjustable steering wheel.

It featured no interior rear door handles and a revised 190 hp (142 kW) high output version of the 4.0 L "Power-Tech" inline six-cylinder engine.

As a spin-off, it allowed Jeep in later years to enter right-hand drive markets — the Cherokee went on sale in both the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1993.

It was also sold in Japan, but due to the country's strict "Shaken" motor-vehicle inspection laws, many used Japanese-market Cherokees have found their way back to the U.S. for use by rural mail carriers.

Both the two- and four-door bodies remained in production, receiving a steel liftgate (replacing the fiberglass one used previously), restyled taillights, additional plastic molding along the doors, as well as a new front header panel that featured more aerodynamic styling.

A new, unique spare tire carrier was invented by Peter Gruich while working for Jeep Special Programs that utilized the trailer hitch bar and a unique pivot bracket and although it was the only external spare tire carrier to pass the full Jeep durability test, it was not offered for sale.

This instrument panel featured a unique cluster/airbag bracket invented by Peter Gruich that allowed the interchange of the two components for the vehicle to be sold in the right-hand and left-hand drive markets with both driver and passenger airbags.

This was done to help counteract smaller exhaust porting on the latest casting of cylinder heads, which was done to meet more stringent emissions control laws.

Coupled with better exhaust porting and the newer intake manifolds, the coil-on-plug gave a minor increase in power and improved emissions performance over the previous models.

After the XJ Cherokee production ended in the United States, the Jeep Liberty replacement did not offer a Special Service Package.

The live axle configuration offers advantages in off-road capability and performance at the expense of some on-road comfort and driveability.

Available in both right- and left-hand-drive models, they were designed to comply with relaxed motor tax regulations in some EU member states governing vehicles intended for primarily commercial use.

Two- and four-wheel-drive variants were available, powered by the VM Motori 2.5 L diesel engine mated to the Aisin AX-15 manual transmission.

[50] It is notable that AMC's original Cherokee design continued to be built and sold after being virtually unchanged for over twenty years.

[52] After 2009 Beijing Auto Works continued the production of the Chinese-market XJ Cherokee as the BAW Qishi 骑士 (Knight in Chinese).

[54] The XJ was manufactured in Toledo, Ohio, USA; Beijing, China; Ferreyra, Argentina; Cairo, Egypt; and in Valencia, Venezuela, with production reaching approximately 3 million between 1983 and 2001.

[18] On February 22, 2013, Chrysler released press photos of the new replacement for the Liberty, and also announced that the new model would bring back the Cherokee name.