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Driving Impressions
The optional 4.0-liter six engine and the four-speed automatic transmission, coupled with nimble handling, made the Jeep Cherokee Sport a joy to drive. While you won't set any speed records, you can chirp the tires accelerating from stops, and there is ample power for freeway passing and merging. The engine seemed to get a little noisy at speeds over 45 mph, but it quieted down at freeway cruising.The suspension is what Jeep calls Quadra-Link." It includes a solid front axle, coil springs, track and stabilizer bars in the front and rear and gas-charged shock absorbers. Quadra-Link works well both on the street and off-road. The standard brake system consists of front discs and rear drums. An anti-lock braking system is optional but requires the 4.0-liter engine. One serious omission is the lack of either a driver- or passenger-side air bag. Safety features include the usual passenger restraint systems and side door beams for crash protection. We took our Jeep Cherokee Sport for a short cross-country jaunt, and although the standard Command-Trac part-time 4WD system was dated technology, it did work well and offered shift-on-the-fly capability. Our Jeep Cherokee Sport managed some hill climbing and rut slaloming with ease. We would choose the skid plates group option, which includes protection for the transfer case, fuel tank and front suspension. We are confident that we could take a Jeep Cherokee anywhere a 4WD vehicle can go."
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