I am looking to buy an older Jeep Cherokee, specifically the I-6 cyl engine. I have read enough reviews to recognize that the older jeeps with that engine if maintained will "run forever" most reviews I have seen average 250k plus miles.

I am going to look at a 1990 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 next week at a small used dealer and am curious what the "normal" gas mileage is? I have read where some have said they get 25 on highway and others say they barely get 18. I will be using this vehicle as main transportation. I curently have a small base model 2003 toyota tacoma and am going to sell it and "downgrade" to a older used Jeep Cherokee. ( My reason for doing so is I would like to have a larger vehicle with some off road capability to replace my small 2 door tacoma. )

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
JP

 

Get a Jeep and don't worry too much about gas mileage, you'll just fall in love with it no matter how crappy the mileage is. 1991 and up would be better for power and simplicity to work on because those use the Chrysler electronics. The 87-90 XJs use the RENIX electronics and are a little harder to figure out, plus they have about 20 less horsepower. But you really can't go wrong with the 87-01 XJs.

 

Haven't ever played with a RENIX XJs but I love my 99 XJ, and loved my old one. Awesome offroad even stock, easy to work on, the 4.0 is a bulletproof motor with proper maintenance, and is pretty powerful, stock with a proper tune up 20 MPG on the highway is possible, but think that your driving a brick so aerodynamics are against you, but gas mileage have never stopped me from driving my Jeep everywhere.
Just be careful if you get one you'll catch the Jeep bug, and the mods will take over your wallet!

 

u can get about 20 mpg if you drive exclusively highway. my platoon sergeant drives a '90 XJ and he gets about 21.

 

I got right at 20mpg average with mostly highway miles, some city. I used the cruise control on the highway and didn't play the 'mash game' (mash gas, mash brake....repeat) in the city. I don't have AC though, which could have helped a little bit.

Edit: To note, this was before I lifted it and put on 33's. It was stock with 30" tires. Now I'm loving when I see 15mpg.

 

25 mpg is unreachable, but I can get 20 mpg on the highway if I set the cruise for around 65 mph, but since I rarely do that I usually get around 18.5 mpg in my 2000 with stock tires. In mixed driving it's usually around 16/17 mpg.

 

Haven't done the math but in my 1990 that definitely needs a tune up I'm averaging about 350 to 375kms a tank thats better than my gfs 2010 patriot

 

I have a '91, And yes they do run forever. If you maintain them regularly. I get about 23 mpg, On highway. Less in town of course. Compared to other SUV's I've owned. Blazer, Explorer, Yukon, Suburban, Their pretty much the same. Except XJ's off road capabilities surpassed the others. Unfortunately they have the least amount of cargo space. Right now, I've just hit 69,000 miles with it. I'm in my 50's, so odds are I'll have this till my death. And I'm not planning on dying soon. Here's a picture. Attachment 28671

 

My 242 c.i. L6 just turned over 244,900 miles. Pulling a 2000;b trailer over the Sierras, and up The Rockies to Butte Montana, I was getting 13.7mpg. On The flatter ground even through Nevada and Idaho at various elevations, I averaged 15.9mpg. Then once home without the trailer I made a 400 mile trip each way to Wyoming and was getting 18.6mpg average. Other than a 2" Lift, its stock, running 205/75-15 tires with all-season treads...I did an oil change, brakes, Platinum Autolite plugs, and Standard Ignition, Cap nd Rotor, before I left California, Hope that helps...


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