Overview & Reviews

If you're thinking about purchasing a vehicle rugged enough to finesse rocky trails, chances are, one make comes to mind: Jeep. This specialty automotive manufacturer has a long history of producing trucks and SUVs capable of off-highway adventures — so much so that the term jeep is used by many to refer to all SUVs, whether the vehicle in question is a true Jeep or not.

Jeep took root in WWII as the name of the now-iconic four-wheel-drive military vehicle produced by Willys-Overland and Ford for the U.S. Army. The name's origin is somewhat of a mystery; popular belief is that it morphed from "GP," or "general purpose," though others have suggested that it was a nickname derived from a character featured in the Popeye comic strip of the time.

The mid-1940s saw the introduction of the first civilian Jeep, the CJ-2A. It offered many features not available on military versions, such as a tailgate, an external fuel cap and a side-mounted spare tire, and was targeted mainly toward farmers and construction workers.

Civilian Jeeps caught on with the public, and by the 1950s, new models such as the CJ-3B and the CJ-5 had been introduced. The CJ-5 had the longest production run of any Jeep vehicle, continuing for 30 years after its introduction in the early '50s. The company changed owners during this decade as Willys-Overland was sold to Kaiser in 1953.

Jeep broke new ground in the 1960s with the debut of its Wagoneer. Geared toward active families, this early SUV was the first four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. A new "Dauntless" V6 became available as an option on the CJ-5 and CJ-6 in 1965. This was the first time that a Jeep CJ could be equipped with a V6. Packing 155 horses, the engine's horsepower almost doubled that offered by the standard four-cylinder.

By the 1970s, Jeep had changed ownership yet again, with the purchase of Kaiser-Jeep by American Motors Corporation. New models like the CJ-7 and the Scrambler were rolled out. Additionally, the company unveiled some new technology with the introduction of the world's first automatic full-time four-wheel-drive system. Dubbed Quadra-Trac, it was available in the CJ-7 as well as in full-size Jeep trucks and wagons. During this decade, Jeep's fortunes soared as four-wheel-drive vehicles became increasingly popular with large sections of American buyers.

The 1980s saw the introduction of the Cherokee and Wrangler. The Cherokee was one of the first of the new breed of SUVs — high-riding midsize wagons that skyrocketed in popularity as the decade progressed. The Wrangler replaced the CJ series in 1987 and offered the raw functionality of the CJ along with more comfort features. That year also saw the purchase of American Motors by Chrysler, with the Jeep brand becoming part of Chrysler's Jeep/Eagle division. One of Jeep's most popular models, the Grand Cherokee, debuted for 1993. This handsome, midsize SUV offered considerably more comfort and luxury than the smaller Cherokee while still providing stout off-road capability.

Jeep fell under the umbrella of DaimlerChrysler after Chrysler and Daimler-Benz merged in 1998. This partnership resulted in a few new models, such as the Liberty and Compass, though none were able to attain great sales success. In 2007, Daimler sold the Chrysler Group to a private equity firm. It is now under control of Fiat.

More recently, the company has added a couple of enticing models to its lineup (including a four-door version of the Wrangler and the pavement-scorching Grand Cherokee SRT8) and made substantial performance and quality improvements under the hoods and within the cabins. As such, we expect Jeep will not only maintain a loyal group of customers but will also bring new fans into the fold.

User Reviews:

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  Once a Grand Cherokee Doubter - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By warreaglpam - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Overall, this has been an excellent vehicle. A couple quality problems at purchase, with stereo and front passenger seat. Quickly replaced. This car has been involved in 2 accidents with significant damage. Quality of repairs by Jeep Dealership excellent. Still a blast to drive and looks great. Interior holding up beautifully at almost 150,000 miles. Only mechanical problem experienced happened at around 144,000 miles: fuel pump. We have gotten a great value in this SUV.

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  Love my jeep - only one problem (so far) - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By SonoAndrea - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I leased my 2000 JGC brand-new, then purchased at the end of my lease. I had one problem that took a year and 6 visits to the dealership to fix - presented as a problem with the coolant resevoir and ultimately turned out to be a cracked head gaskets. No problems whatsoever since this was fixed. I drive 90 miles per day, mostly highway, and get about 21mpg. I have thought about trading for something with better efficiency or newer and more reliable, but cant find anything I like as much. Only time I have trouble is when the roads are icy (rear wheel drive), but thats my problem for not going with the 4x4. I love my Jeep and plan to buy another in future.

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  My 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokke LE4x4 Review - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Geico - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I have driven my Jeep to the Extreme, I have made it go into 4 feet of water with absolutly no problem. I like the the way it picks up speed quickly. Ride is not so soft but its not too hard like the Nissan X-terras. The SUV looks quite stylish and a little expensive looking. The Tailgate door needs a little more of a matching design. the rear tailgate door looks a lot like its relative the Dodge Minivan. Ive seen the new 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee they look nice but still no third row seats. But yes I do recommend eep other than it seems like most Jeeps have a rear light problem.

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  2nd wrangler - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By RC - November 8 - 2:50 pm

  I had a 1997 wrangler soft top w/ a 4 cyl and I loved it. Finally drove it into the ground so I bought a 2008 x. Coming from a 4 cyl to the new v6 I dont have a problem with the power that many ofter people seem to. The 2008 has power everything, 6 speaker stereo system, a 3 piece freedom top. Its a huge step forward over my old Jeep and I love it. The only thing I dont like as much as my old Jeep is the fact that the passenger seat does not roll forward like my old Jeep did which makes it harder to get into the back seat.

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  Fun SUV with Great Value - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By DEMucha - November 7 - 5:23 pm

  I love driving this Jeep! It handles and brakes extremely well and is fun to drive. I have had no mechanical repairs with 80,000 miles. The paint was quick to chip though. The cost to own is very low. The cargo area is a bit small and fuel mileage is lower than it should be for a small SUV. For a $27,000 SUV, it was an excellent value. I would recommend this Jeep for small families with limited hauling or trailering needs.

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  Not bad overall - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By alenart - November 6 - 2:00 am

  So Im not the only one who has had an unexpected rotor warping or two. I love the power of the V8, but dont love the fact that Im stopping for gas every 250-275 miles. The whine from the quadra-drive is very noticeable above 65mph. At 32k, the drive shaft to the front wheels had to be replaced since it clunked every time I would take off from a stop. The front window pillars are so thick that it makes it difficult to see other cars at 4-way stops. Im short, but there isnt even enough leg room in the rear seats for me. All that aside, the heated front seats, decent ride for an suv, 4wd system overall, sunroof, and stereo all exceed my expectations.

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  Run away from this GREEDY manufacturer! - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By BlueSnow - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Another disappointed Daimler-Chrysler buyer gets the shaft! From day one corporate has been the worst when it came to getting things resolved. The care for customer is nonexistent and the attention to quality leaves much to be desired. Do yourself a favor and save yourself many ulcers and headaches, forget the Daimler-Chrysler lineup until they can get their act together. Boosting the corporate bottom line is their primary concern while deleting 26,000 jobs and refurbishing top-level executive offices. Dont reward the crooks like so many of us have already done due to poor research, heres your warning.

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  Not the 300, but.... - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By Ray G. - November 4 - 7:55 pm

  I own a Chrysler 300 AWD and a Ram 1500 Tradesman RWD truck. I bought the Jeep Patriot with a five speed manual because my wife and I wanted another Jeep, and the sale price of this Patriot 4WD was never to be repeated... under $18000 new, with air. I love the manual transmission, brings back memories from my younger years. My wife loves the ride and seating so much that we often leave the 300 at home when we go out together. The machine is fun to drive, surprisingly quiet for a jeep, and reasonable on gas. My reason for a four star rating is not because of any disappointment or fault found in the vehicle... other than the lack of telescoping steering... I was rating it according to looks, style, and appearance of similarly priced SUVs on the market today. For me, I love the older look, the manual crank windows and manual locks, and all the other stuff that I wanted to have when I was a youngling but couldnt afford to buy a jeep then. If youre looking for a fun machine that you can take out for a cruise, fight a sudden snow squall in, or drive along a sandy beach or wooded field on occasion, then I recommend the Patriot.

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  Watch out for fender defects on new 2017s - 2017 Jeep Wrangler
  By Betty - November 2 - 10:24 pm

  I ordered a 2017 Jeep Sahara. It came with defects in the paint on the fenders that look like scratches. "Chrysler Care" offered no help, advising me to work with the dealer under the warranty. The dealer didnt build or paint the Jeep. Chrysler Care just closed the customer complaint number and moved on to their next complaint not resolving anything for their customer. So far the dealer has offered (through the warranty) to repaint the fenders on my brand new Jeep. Not happy. This is my 4th Jeep.

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  American Icon Reborn - 2012 Jeep Wrangler
  By johntesh71 - November 1 - 10:55 pm

  Ok first off I would like to congratulate Chrysler for finally fixing the Wrangler...and ridding the world of that POS 3.8L V6 it had previously....Although I really wish the 6Speed in this thing didnt sound like it was on its last limb with only 22 miles on the odometer.....Other than that a very pleasant and comfortable ride on or off road.