The Most Reliable Pickup Jeep Ever Built

Jeep has a reputation for producing some sturdy and reliable vehicles over the decades, but surely one model – the Comanche – requires even more praise than normal. And if you pair this 1980s vehicle with a 4.0-liter straight-six engine, you’re definitely looking at one of the most reliable pickups in the company’s history. This is the story of Jeep’s bold attempt to mix everyday truck utility with serious off-road prowess. The experiment worked so well that the sturdy Comanche commands plenty of respect more than three decades later.

The 4.0-Liter Inline-Six Makes All the Difference

Underneath the hood of the Comanche and cementing its legendary status lies the 4.0-liter AMC inline-six. This engine emerged from AMC’s original lineup as a heavily reworked version of the 258 motor, giving 173 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque when the vehicle first came out in 1986. Later, the Jeep bumped up the power to 190 hp in the early 90s, but why was this engine so good? To start with, it had a very robust construction, featuring a cast iron block and head, overhead valves, with a reliable and tested push rod design. It could keep going for ages with as much stress as you could throw at it and some units might routinely surpass 300,000 miles with just basic upkeep.

The engine also had a particularly long stroke, so it had excellent low-end torque, and this was perfect for ranchers, contractors, or weekend adventurers. The inline-six layout was no-nonsense, smooth and balanced and that was rarely the case in some of the V6 competitors of that day. It’s a word that’s often used in engineering circles, but this power plant was definitely overbuilt. There was nothing cutting edge or novel about it and its entire construction spelled reliability. You could get parts anywhere, and they were easy to fit, so this vehicle was perfect for someone who wanted a truck for real work or play.

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The Pickup That Was Also a Truck

Yet Jeep had gone a lot further with the Comanche and its construction was part conventional Jeep and part truck. It sat on the Jeep Cherokee’s unibody construction upfront, but the company reinforced the rear half with a full ladder frame. This unique hybrid structure meant that the Comanche was both lightweight and strong, giving it solid offload capability with a truck’s ability to tow and haul.

Buyers had plenty of choice, with multiple bed lengths, two- or four-wheel drive traction and several trim levels. You could choose the Pioneer, Laredo, or Eliminator, with the latter version offering the sturdy Command-Trac four-wheel drive system and heavy-duty Dana 35 or 44 rear axles. If you went for the top-of-the-line version, you could easily tow more than 5,000 lbs and haul more than 1,500 lbs, which was mightily impressive for a compact vehicle. For all its capabilities, the Comanche was also nimble. It had a narrow body and a short turning radius, so it could navigate tight trails and would typically leave a bulkier truck in its dust.

The 4.0-Liter Engine Got Plenty of Work Elsewhere

Jeep was so impressed with the 4.0-liter inline-six engine that it became a cornerstone of its range. You’d find it in various Jeep models throughout the rest of the century, ranging from the Cherokee to the Grand Cherokee, to the Wrangler. It may have been rather old-fashioned, but Jeep continued to believe in the combination until after 2006, even when most competitors had moved on to a newer design.

Of course, the 4.0-liter was particularly adaptable, and this undoubtedly contributed to its longevity. Over time, it would accept fuel injection and a complete head redesign, with coil on plug ignition in the later days. All the while, the engine continued to sing and cement its reputation as a dependable workhorse. Best of all, mechanics loved it for its simplicity. You could gain easy access to most components and weekend warriors could work wonders without too much drama. It was certainly possible for a DIYer to change a head gasket or service an oil pump on a busy Saturday with basic tools.

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Owners Still Love the Comanche Today

Those who are lucky enough to own a 4.0 Jeep Comanche today continue to praise its reliability. It represents a great balance of utility and fun, so it can crawl over rocks on a weekend and haul a load of cement on Monday. And to help owners keep on trucking, even the interiors of these older vehicles have aged well. Jeep employed the same no-nonsense approach inside with straightforward controls, analog gauges, and simple dials. The company clearly wanted this truck to last – and it did.

Why The Comanche Disappeared

All good things come to an end and, despite the Comanche’s merits, it disappeared as an option in 1992. This was largely due to Chrysler’s expansion, as it was looking to streamline its product offerings. The company wanted Jeep to be a pure SUV brand and felt that the Comanche would clash with the RAM offerings from its Dodge brand. As a result, Jeep moved away from the segment for decades and only returned to pickups with the Gladiator version in 2019. So, when the Comanche disappeared, this was sadly the end of a marvelously practical chapter in the company’s history. Certainly, there were many fans who wished that this story was open-ended.

What Collectors Look For

Today, it’s possible to find a clean and rust-free Comanche with that 4.0-liter engine, but good versions will typically come at a higher price. Collectors are especially interested in the later model versions, which had the high-output engine, as well as four-wheel drive. Still, there are many online communities and forums where it’s possible to find restoration projects and buy performance upgrades. Many of these community members believe that this was Jeep’s most underrated vehicle and people who remember that era well will often buy one for nostalgic reasons alone.

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How the Comanche Stacked Up Against Its Rivals

The Jeep Comanche with the 4.0-liter engine would definitely hold its own against contemporaries. For example, the Toyota Tacoma was reliable, but it didn’t offer the same payload capability and towing rating as the Comanche. The Ford Ranger and the Chevy S-10 were also good sellers, but again, they may not have had the mechanical simplicity or off-road pedigree that you’d find in the Comanche. And it’s also a lot easier to find aftermarket support for the 4.0-liter engine in the Comanche. You can get upgrade kits and source replacement parts, so owning and maintaining a Comanche today is certainly practical.

Why This Blueprint is Difficult to Recapture

In an era where digital, tech-laden trucks are everywhere, the Comanche represents something that is refreshingly analog. You could say that the Jeep Gladiator is its modern heir, but the Gladiator is a far more complex, larger, and certainly more expensive proposition. Remember that Comanche didn’t need flashy electronics or multi-mode four-wheel-drive systems. All it needed was a capable and cleverly designed chassis, that bulletproof engine, and Jeep’s already rugged DNA.

Sources: Bring a Trailer