I have a 1990 Laredo with 250K and still going strong.
Pros:
1. Solid axle front and rear for maximum articulation on uneven terrain. Disconnect your anti-sway bars when going off road to keep all four tires in contact with the ground.
2. Huge selection of aftermarket upgrades. I installed a suspension lift, larger tires, and locking differentials. Still rides nice on the road and yet it can conquer the most extreme terrain.
3. Inline 6 cyl engine. Incredibly durable power plant with plenty of low-end torque for slow crawling on rocks.
4. Rock solid tranfer case with 2.73 ratio reduction in low range.
5. Plenty of cargo space.
Cons:
1. Solid axles and truck-like suspension mean rougher ride on the street. I like it, but your grandma might not.
2. Hard on gas.
3. Noisy in cab.
4. For the off road enthusiast, some components need replacing. The rear shaft is 'slip yoke' style that is weaker and more prone to vibration after a lift than a double cardan shaft. The rear Dana 35 axle is know to break in off road situations with bigger tires and lockers.
If you never go off road, get a pretend SUV like a CRV or something. For an inexpensive SUV with truly amazing off road capability, you really can't do any better than a Jeep Cherokee.
