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Leith Cars Blog

Check Out Jeremy Clarkson’s Jeep XJ Review On the Old Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson isn’t the world’s most likable automotive journalist. In 2006, he got in trouble with the BBC for calling a car “a bit gay.” In 2009, he upset the Romanian government when he referred to it as “Borat country.” And in 2015, he went all fisticuffs on BBC Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon. Clarkson’s always been quick to speak his mind, and slow to consider the sensitivity of others – a quality that has probably helped him as much as it’s hurt him.

Despite all his public mishaps, Jeremy Clarkson remains one of the most trusted and experienced automotive journalists of our time. So when you see him reviewing this Jeep Cherokee XJ as a young(er) Top Gear presenter, his words shouldn’t surprise you.

Even then, it was clear that Jeep had created a real gem. At the time of the video, the 1993 Jeep Cherokee XJ was not all that popular, but in the years following it would shape the way consumers looked at SUVs. Some people even credit the XJ as a precursor to today’s growing crossover segment.

Something about the video really sparked a feeling of nostalgia. We’re not sure whether it was seeing young Jeremy Clarkson in the early days of Top Gear, or a factory-new Cherokee XJ rolling through the Alaskan hillside, though. Perhaps it was the parallel between car and the reviewer. Both early in their career, full of spunk, and still kicking to this day.

Or maybe we just really like Jeeps. It’s probably that.

Do you like Jeeps? Of course, you do. That’s why you should check out more Jeep stories on LeithCars.com! And if you’re more kinesthetic, come by one of our Jeep dealerships in Raleigh, Cary, Wendell, and Aberdeen, N.C. to check out a new or used Jeep for yourself! We get that you’d rather be behind the wheel, and we’re more than happy to put you there.