Jeep Cherokee Engines by Year

Jeep has used the Cherokee name on three different vehicles in the US: a two-door version of the full-size Wagoneer (1974–1983), the compact unibody XJ (1984–2001), and a front-drive-based model sold from 2014 to 2023. The 2002–2012 US model in between was sold as the Liberty.

Pick a year to see every engine offered that model year, with its code, rated horsepower and the trims it came in. Each engine links to its full specs.

Jump to a year

SJ (full-size): 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983

XJ: 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001

KL: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023

SJ (full-size) (1974–1983)

The full-size Cherokee used AMC's 258 six and 360 and 401 V8s. Jeep's literature stopped quoting horsepower after 1974, so most later years show no rating.

1974 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	175 hp net	Optional
360 V8 AMC 360 4-bbl	195 hp net	Optional
401 V8 AMC 401 4-bbl	215 hp net	Optional

1975 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional
360 V8 AMC 360 4-bbl	—	Optional
401 V8 AMC 401 4-bbl	—	Optional

1976 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 1-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional
360 V8 AMC 360 4-bbl	—	Optional
401 V8 AMC 401 4-bbl	—	Optional

1977 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional
360 V8 AMC 360 4-bbl	—	Optional
401 V8 AMC 401 4-bbl	—	Optional

1978 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional
360 V8 AMC 360 4-bbl	—	Optional
401 V8 AMC 401 4-bbl	—	Optional

1979 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional

1980 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional

1981 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional

1982 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional

1983 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
258 inline-six AMC 258 2-bbl	—	Base (standard)
360 V8 AMC 360 2-bbl	—	Optional

XJ (1984–2001)

The XJ started with AMC's 2.5 four, a GM-built 2.8 V6 and a Renault 2.1 turbodiesel. The 4.0 six replaced the V6 for 1987 and was rated 190 hp from 1991.

1984 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	105 hp net	Standard
2.8L / 173 V6 GM LR2	110 hp net	Optional

1985 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.1L / 126 inline-four diesel Renault J8S	85 hp net	Optional
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	105 hp net	Standard
2.8L / 173 V6 GM LR2	115 hp net	Optional

1986 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.1L / 126 inline-four diesel Renault J8S	85 hp net	Optional
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	117 hp net	Standard
2.8L / 173 V6 GM LR2	115 hp net	Optional

1987 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.1L / 126 inline-four diesel Renault J8S	85 hp net	Optional
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	121 hp net	Standard
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	173 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1988 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	121 hp net	Standard
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	177 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1989 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	121 hp net	Standard
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	177 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1990 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	121 hp net	Standard
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	177 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1991 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	130 hp net	Standard
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1992 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	130 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1993 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	130 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1994 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	130 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1995 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	130 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1996 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	130 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1997 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	125 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1998 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	125 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

1999 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	125 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2000 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.5L / 150 inline-four AMC 150	125 hp net	Base / SE (standard)
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2001 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
4.0L / 242 inline-six AMC 242	190 hp net	All

KL (2014–2023)

The last Cherokee offered the 2.4 Tigershark four, the 3.2 Pentastar V6 and, from 2019, a 2.0 turbo four.

2014 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	184 hp net	Sport, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2015 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	184 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2016 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	184 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2017 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	184 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2018 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	184 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2019 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 122 inline-four turbo GME-T4	270 hp net	Optional (upper trims)
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	180 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2020 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 122 inline-four turbo GME-T4	270 hp net	Optional (upper trims)
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	180 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2021 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 122 inline-four turbo GME-T4	270 hp net	Optional (upper trims)
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	180 hp net	Base trims, FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2022 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 122 inline-four turbo GME-T4	270 hp net	Optional (upper trims)
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	180 hp net	Altitude (limited availability), FWD and 4WD
3.2L / 198 V6 Pentastar 3.2	271 hp net	Optional; standard on upper trims

2023 Cherokee engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 122 inline-four turbo GME-T4	270 hp net	Trailhawk 4x4
2.4L / 146 inline-four Tigershark MultiAir2	180 hp net	Altitude LUX 4x4, 4WD only

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