Which Jeep model, introduced in 1984, is considered the first compact SUV?

The Jeep Cherokee (XJ), introduced for the 1984 model year, is widely considered the first compact SUV. American Motors Corporation developed it as a smaller, lighter alternative to larger, truck-based utility vehicles such as the full-size Cherokee SJ and Wagoneer.

The XJ’s most important engineering feature was its integrated body-and-frame, or unibody, construction. Instead of placing a separate body on a conventional ladder frame, AMC combined the structures into one rigid shell. This reduced weight while preserving useful four-wheel-drive capability and off-road strength.

The Cherokee XJ was offered in two- and four-door forms, with rear- or four-wheel drive. Its compact dimensions, practical cabin, and carlike packaging helped define the modern SUV formula and influenced later crossover designs. The model was produced in the United States from the 1984 model year through 2001, with production continuing in some overseas markets.

A common mix-up is the Jeep Grand Cherokee. That model arrived in 1992 as a larger, more upscale SUV; the earlier XJ Cherokee established Jeep’s compact-SUV breakthrough.