• The 1998 Jeep Cherokee is a compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) from U.S. automaker Chrysler. It appeared during the vehicle's second production cycle with the XJ mechanical platform, and it had an original manufacturer's suggested retail price range of $15,665 to $24,605.
  
  

Engines and Transmission

• The SE is the only one of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee's four trims with a 2.5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine. The engine generates 125 horsepower at 5,400 revolutions per minute and 150 foot-pounds of torque at 3,250 RPM. It has a 3.88- by 3.19-inch bore and stroke, and a 9.2:1 compression ratio. The other trims--the Sport, Classic and Limited--have a 4-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that produces 65 more horsepower at 4,600 RPM and 85 more foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 RPM than its 2.5-liter counterpart. Additionally, it has 12 valves instead of eight, with a bore and stroke of 3.88 by 3.41 inches, and a compression ratio of 8.8:1. The SE and Sport trims come with five-speed manual transmission while the Classic and Limited trims have a four-speed automatic gearbox.
  
  

Fuel Economy and Towing Capacity

• With a 20-gallon gas tank, the mileage figures vary for the 1998 Jeep Cherokee according to trim and drive train. The rear-wheel drive vehicles (2WD) have the better fuel economy: The SE gets 21/25 (city/highway) miles per gallon, the Sport gets 18/22 MPG, and the Classic and Limited rate 16/21 MPG. As for the four-wheel drive vehicles, the fuel economy drops from 18/20 MPG for the SE to 15/21 MPG for the other trims. The maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds for all versions of the '98 Cherokee.
  
  

Interior Specs

• Chrysler designed the 1998 Jeep Cherokee as a five-seat vehicle, with a cargo volume of 32.9 cubic feet. Its front space consists of 37.8 inches of headroom, 41.4 inches of legroom, 54.7 inches of shoulder room and 54.8 inches of hip room. Its rear space provides 38 inches of headroom, 35 inches of legroom, 55 inches of shoulder room and 44.3 inches of hip room.
  
  

Exterior Specs

• The SE and Sport trims are available as two- and four-door SUVs while the Classic and Limited trims come only with four doors. All vehicles ride on 15-inch wheels--with those for the SE and Sport made of steel and those for the Classic and Limited made of aluminum. Body measurements come in at 167.5 inches in length, 69.4 inches in width and 64 inches in height. They all share a 101.4-inch wheelbase, and a front and rear track of 58 inches. The curb weight ranges from 2,979 pounds for the two-door SE 2WD to 3,354 pounds for the four-door SE 4WD, the Classic 4WD and the Limited 4WD.