The new 2014 Jeep Cherokee was just as controversial in China as in the rest of the world, but Chinese car buyers are slowly warming up to it, again just like on the rest of the planet. The Cherokee was launched on the Chinese auto market in January, and today I met my first example in Beijing, and I must say it looked rather good, especially in white.

China has a long history with the Cherokee. The Jeep Cherokee XJ was made in China from 1984 until 2009 by the Beijing-Jeep joint venture, and Beijing auto still makes a semi-legal clone called the Beijing Auto Works Knight S12. On pic my very own 1998 Beijing-Jeep City Special, still runs like a happy baby.

It loox very tall from the rear though. The Jeep Cherokee is currently imported, local production at the Guangzhou-Fiat joint venture will start in 2015, bringing the Cherokee really back to China. Price starts at 375.900 yuan and ends at 549.900 yuan ($62.118 – 90.873). The only engine available is the 2.4 liter four-cylinder with 177hp and 229nm, mated to a 9-speed automatic.  The 3.2 liter V6 with 271hp and 324nm will join the line-up later. The Chinese name of the Cherokee is Ziyou Guan, 自由光, or Liberty Light (liberty as in Jeep Liberty and light as in sunlight).