The XJ-series Jeep Cherokee is a well-known quantity by this point, celebrated for its off-prowess, extremely reliable powertrains, and classic good looks. While we have seen some definite high watermark sales that show collectors love to find these in low-mileage condition with desirable factory options, there’s still room at the middle of the pack to find a collectible Cherokee that hasn’t quite cleared the threshold into becoming garage art. This rare Briarwood trim Cherokee is definitely one worth preserving, and as the current bid to $21,000 here on eBay shows you, these are no longer just the old hand-me-down first car from the parents.
The Briarwood seems like a precursor to the later Orvis edition, what with its wood paneling, multi-spoke alloy wheels, and loads of leather inside. While the fake woodgrain look was growing a bit long in the tooth by this point, the Cherokee wore it well, especially when paired to handsome colors like this hunter green. In many ways, the desirability factor that is driving the price of this XJ so high is wrapped up almost entirely in its appearance, as the Jeep has evolved to become something of a style icon. It embodies the early 90s upper-crustiness of life in the suburbs as a total mom or dad-mobile that was utterly uncool to be seen in then, but is now a fashion statement if you drive one out to dinner in Montauk today.
The Briarwood was a significant departure from the standard XJ, with loads of leather inside and other high-end touches throughout. While the luxury SUV model is one that is practically demanded by consumers of every manufacturer, this was an oddity back in 1991. Most of the large trucks were being bought out of necessity – i.e., you had five kids and gear to haul around – not because you wanted to be part of the jet-set. With only 60,000 miles on the clock, this Cherokee still looks quite nice inside, which is somewhat essential on a truck like this if you want to drive the maximum sale price. If you’re paying top dollar for an XJ because of how it looks, the leather better look as nice as it does in this example.
The later Cherokees were also available in a high-end trim, but those trucks seem to have their desirability shaped more by whether the truck in question is equipped with the Up Country package, which I believe adds a locking differential and higher ride height (and likely some other beefed-up components underneath.) The Briarwood was all about the looks and the comforts inside, but that didn’t mean you still didn’t get the venerable inline-six under the hood that could be beaten like a stubborn mule and still be ready for battle the next day. The XJ Cherokee is already a classic, and if you’re looking to get into one you can use and that won’t lose value, look for the high-end trim like this one or a model with all the tasty off-road equipment bolted on by the factory.
91 was first year for 4.0 HO,I currently own 3,2 YJ and 1 XJ.
That thing will go another 200k miles easy if you take care of it. Maybe more.
At this price, this thing is not going to get beaten like a stubborn mule, or any other mule. It’s going to be babied, pampered, and Zymoled, as it’s going to sell for the price of a brand new GTI Autobahn. Yowza.
Might this be the same one we saw here a few months ago?
Being a certified Jeepaholic, I like most older Jeeps. The XJ was probably the most refined and appealing to everyone up to that point. Jeeps were no longer these clunky military renditions that rolled when you sneezed, these were a vehicle everyone could operate, even grandma.. My brother had one, I almost bought a used one, the motor blew on the way home, which is rare, and I took it back. Good luck finding a low mileage one, like Subarus, they all have 200K+, many on their original motors. When they stopped making these( 2001?) and the traditional Wrangler( 2006?) I lost all interest in modern Jeeps. Fancied them up too much, and a nightmare of repairs. Naturally, it’s hard to argue with a 6 digit speedo, but I will anyway, I think this Jeep has more miles than that. Still a great find,,drop the last zero on the price, with over 3 million made, many still running, they aren’t that rare, and with no bids, this deserves a “nice try”,,,really, $5 grand tops for a nice one.
Howard A – a 95 XJ Country with 39k on it just sold on BaT for $31,000
And a newer XJ with 5,000 miles sold for 42 grand on BAT recently. Then you have to factor in the 5% buyers fee to BAT and then most likely transport or a possible long drive to pick it up. Granted, BAT is the car collecting playground of those with too much money. I actually bought an XJ on there in 2016 for a bit over 7, plus shipping, back when the site wasn’t so ridiculous. It’s worth somewhere between 15-20 now. Low mileage, pampered ones ARE rare. Most of them were beat to heck.
These Briarwoods and the earlier Wagoneer Limited version of the XJ are the most valuable, but any good, solid, reasonably stock XJ is increasing in value. The ones that have been lifted and beat to death off-road will always be around for a couple grand (they made 3 million of them) but this one will likely go for $25k or maybe more.
Exactly.
Beautiful looking Jeep XJ Cherokee. I remember when this version was on the market. I find it way more attractive than the current generation Jeep Cherokee. Although I love its condition, I think the asking price is a tad steep. I’d be willing to pay close to $15,000 for a vehicle in this nice condition.
This doesn’t have the Upcountry package and isn’t needed for the new buyer who will never take it off road. I’m sure it will be driven sparingly and enjoyed as is. Surviving XJ’s like this are scarce indeed.
FYI, the Upcountry package gave the XJ a 1 inch lift and had skid plates for the front, transfer case, and fuel tank. It would probably have a rear LSD, but I’m not 100% sure about that. I have the Upcountry on my Ex USFS XJ with a working LSD and it works quite well off road.
This vehicle was listed several months ago….think it sold for $16,000…..
This looks like the one I used to own. Mine was an 85 with the 2.8L carbureted engine. Same color. It had a 3in lift. The wood vinyl siding was awol, and looked good without it. Mine was a 5spd! Unfortunately, I traded it for an 84 Mercury Cougar LS because it had fuel injection. lol. I wonder what happened to that Jeep Wagoneer? I have a feeling that it was trashed.
I have a 90 Cherokee Limited, white with gold lattice wheels and with the skid plates mentioned. Unfortunately it also has the ill fated two years only ABS system that self destructs which this one has, but I understand there is a lifetime replacement warranty recall that should apply if I can find a dealer to honor it on a 32 year old Jeep. So is the Limited the same as what is being called the Up Country here? I also have a 96 Country model, but it does not have the skid plates or the lift mentioned.
I thought the lift kit and skid plates were what made up the Country package?
I found this at hotcars.com
This upcountry suspension package was a feature that the Jeep Cherokee came in; it was a limited edition package included in the models from 1993 to 1996. The upcountry feature was exceptional; it was like adding everything you need to make an off-road jeep reach its peak. It has an optional factory lift kit that offers springs, full skid plates, front, and row tow hooks, a rear LSD, no sway bar and full spare tires. The upcountry first debuted in 1993 with the Grand Cherokee model and was later added to its trim level model, this package remained an option till 2001, but the Grand Cherokee still kept the package till 2003.
not sure where you are.. but if you are anywhere close to dallas, tx.. check with Dennis Collins at Collins Brothers Jeep in Wylie,Texas. If anyone will honor a 32 yr old warranty.. it will be him. He has a YouTube channel.. Coffe walk.. check him out.
Nice looking we had 2 of them and downsized after fuel prices started to rise they will tow 5000 lbs so nice for a travel trailer
I had three XJ’s but now I have two. I sold my daily driver ’93 with 250,000 miles and 20 years of ownership and it was still running great. I had a mint ’99 that I have owned for 21 years and had stored away for 10 years until my son needed it after his car was lost in storm Sandy. He was in an accident with my ’99 XJ and it’s not mint anymore but is now my daily driver. I had to have another one to store away and so I found a like new ’97 XJ with 12,000 original miles. My daily driver ’99 has 111,000 miles so it will be a long time before I will need the ’97.
Buy your low mileage XJ while you can. They are like a fine wine and I would say its the most bullet proof vehicle that I have ever owned.
Have 91,94,01, different auto trans, different gear ratios,14maybe 16mpg, that’s a badass 4.0
RW – My Wife’s 00 gets 20 (and no not down hill with a tail wind!! ;) ). My 01 WJ 4.0 gets 18 but I will admit in both of them I avoid E10 gas. There is a local Murphy/Mavrick that has 91 No E. Not cheap, but great mileage so it most likely isn’t worth the difference, but it at least is a break even I’m pretty sure
Probably not a good time to be buying gas guzzlers our 99 Cherokee got 14 mpg around town abd 17 on a trip Cali is phasing out now Wa
https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwest/washington-state-sets-2030-goal-to-phase-out-gas-cars/article_f09fc6b6-c61f-5517-98cc-09293cb46e4b.html