While Jeep will currently sell you any number of loud, hyped-up off-roaders (most of which will never see a trail or mountain in their lifetime), they quietly unveiled a very well equipped XJ Cherokee that came with all the goodies an enthusiast would throw at it after the warranty expired. This package was called the Up Country, and it offered XJ buyers a lifted suspension, skid plates, and an optional limited-slip differential. Eagle-eyed XJ enthusiasts can likely spot the ride height differences, but it’s not until you do a VIN analysis that you can determine if it’s the real deal and not just some aftermarket tweaks. This example is a low mileage Up Country listed here on eBay with bids over $11K and the reserve unmet.

Now, XJs in general have been appreciating for some time. They are a modern classic, epitomizing the square body SUV design. Not only that, but they were also quite capable out of the box on-road or off, and the 4.0L inline-six is practically a meme at this point in terms of its bulletproof reliability. Now, there’s a relatively endless supply of these Cherokees on craigslist and eBay at any given time, but finding one that hasn’t been abused is step one, and then finding an example with rare options or upscale trim is step two if you wish to own an example that will continue to appreciate. This Cherokee has no wood paneling or leather, but the Up Country option makes all the difference.

Plenty of enthusiasts will likely debate the merits of factory enhancements, choosing to point to the aftermarket as the superior choice if you want to build a rig that can tackle the gnarliest trails. But if you’re a purist who wants to own a rare truck built with the type of products that only a major OEM would feel comfortable adding to their marquee 4×4, then the Up Country model is definitely your ticket. The low mileage is an added bonus, which translates to a minty body, unmarked upholstery, and plastics and trim that still looks new. Now, the XJ wasn’t known for its luxury appointments, but that’s not why you bought one – the Limited models and Grand Cherokee Orvis editions is where you looked if leather trim was a priority.

The seller mentions some other factory upgrades this Up Country model came with, including tow hooks, three skid plates, HD radiator, and a transmission cooler, but doesn’t specify whether it has the limited-slip differential. I suspect if it did, they would mention it. Regardless, this is a very nice example of an XJ even without the Up Country kit, but that certainly pushes it over the edge of the top of the desirability scales for a Cherokee nut. Of course, it’s so nice you’ll likely never take it far off-road, but it’s nice to know you could if you wanted to. If the reserve is somewhere around $15K, I can see this being a reasonable buy at that money, or maybe even slightly more if it’s as nice as described.