Which Jeep compact pickup was based on the Cherokee XJ?

The Jeep compact pickup based on the Cherokee XJ was the Jeep Comanche, designated MJ. Jeep sold it for the 1986 through 1992 model years as a pickup counterpart to the compact Cherokee SUV.

The Comanche shared the XJ’s basic engineering, including its front suspension architecture and unibody-based design. It was unusual among pickups because its cab and front structure were integrated rather than built as a conventional body mounted on a separate full-length frame. The rear section used reinforced construction and leaf springs to handle cargo loads.

Buyers could choose rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, along with six-foot and seven-foot cargo beds. Engines included four-cylinder, inline-six, V6, and diesel options depending on year and market. Higher-capacity versions such as the Metric Ton package added stronger springs and axle hardware.

The Comanche followed the CJ-8 Scrambler in Jeep’s compact-pickup lineage and was eventually discontinued in 1992. Jeep later returned to the pickup market with the Wrangler-based Gladiator, introduced for the 2020 model year.