The only American car that I really like is the AC Cobra — and that is a beefed-up Brit breathed on by US racing legend Carroll Shelby. All the other stuff is too big, too brash or too slow. But I do have a soft spot for American 4x4s, or more specifically Jeep’s Cherokee.

I drove a Cherokee for the first time in 1994 and was blown away by how quick it was, how well equipped it was and how good it looked.

Eight years later you can buy one for as little as £4,000. So if you fancy a bit of the rugged four-wheel-drive motoring, a used Cherokee could be your ideal partner.

The Jeep Cherokee was introduced in Britain in January 1993 and the basic shape remained pretty much the same until 2001. Externally, minor changes took place in 1997, bumpers became rounder, rear lights were modified and the front window quarterlights disappeared. Inside, the dashboard was freshened and the steering column became adjustable, but there was nothing major enough to date the pre-facelift cars too badly.

Jeep launched the new model last year and it looks quite different. Gone is the angular jaw of the original, replaced with a softer, wide-eyed look that takes some getting used to, in my eyes at least.

Under the skin the Cherokee is built according to some pretty basic engineering principles, with no fancy suspension to break and no fancy computers to crash. A Jeep is an American Land Rover. Which is no bad thing because it means that maintaining a Cherokee should be well within the capabilities of your local garage.

There is a choice of three engines, two petrol and one diesel. The 2.5 litre petrol engine has just four cylinders and 121bhp, which is only 7bhp more than the 2.5 turbodiesel. Both come with a five-speed manual gearbox but the extra torque of the diesel makes it a nicer drive.

The 4 litre, six-cylinder petrol is a gem; with 181bhp channelled through a four-speed automatic gearbox, it will get you from 0 to 60mph in about 10sec.

If fuel economy is an issue the diesel will return about 25mpg, but if you do low mileage then consider the 4 litre petrol, and with more of them about they tend to be cheaper.

One of the Cherokee’s biggest virtues is its size. While it may look big on the road, it’s actually 6in shorter than a Land Rover Freelander and 1,102lb lighter than a Land Rover Discovery, making it relatively easy to drive and park. Interior space is pretty good, although headroom is tight for taller drivers.

The must-have options on a used Cherokee are leather upholstery and air-conditioning. The grey cloth trim fitted to some basic models is pretty revolting and knocks about a grand off the car’s value. The best colours to hunt down are metallic blue, grey and green. Black is an attractive alternative but can be quite difficult to keep looking good.

With the early cars now nearly 10 years old, many will be changing hands privately. Even at £4,000 there are some nice examples to be found, but check these carefully as suspension and transmission problems can be costly to put right. Newer Cherokees bought through an approved Jeep dealer will have the protection of a 12-month warranty and authenticated service history.

Boot Spare wheel is stored upright at the side of the boot and takes up valuable space

Towing All models have great hauling ability but heavy loads can punish the suspension

Wheels Cross-spoke alloys and Goodyear Eagle tyres are standard on most models

Underside Most cars have never been off road, but good ground clearance encourages some owners to try it and damage can follow

Transmission Check underneath for oil leaks and signs of impact

Tyres Tracking is prone to being knocked out on kerbs leading to uneven wear

Upholstery Avoid cars with cloth upholstery unless they are cheap

Air conditioning Check for hot and cold adjustment, a faulty compressor is expensive to replace

Headlamps Make sure the self-levelling system's electric motors work because they are costly to replace

Vital statistics

Engine 3960cc V6
Power 176bhp @ 4400rpm
Transmission Four-speed automatic
Fuel 18.2mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0 to 60mph: 9.5 sec
Top speed 112mph