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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  the true "ultimate driving machine" - 1995 Jeep Wrangler
  By jason coble - September 30 - 2:00 am

  whoever said that about BMW must have never driven a jeep.

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  blackwells review - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Blackwell - September 30 - 2:00 am

  my jeep liberty has been a pretty good vehicle. the biggest concern i have had with the suv is that the front brakes make a squeaking and a metal grinding sound. i took it to the dealership & they told me that it was normal for a new car??

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  1st jeep in 15 years - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Joe - September 28 - 7:26 pm

  I owned others SUVs for the past 15 years. This 2007 Jeep is the most elegant of them all. The Jeep is fun to drive and the weight of the vehicle makes you feel safe.

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  Too much FUN! - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Neophyte - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Awesome fun factor, but better as a second or third vehicle. Its unbeatable off road, but if you are considering all the car-like SUVs, remember that Wrangler is made with ONE purpose in mind: Off-road.

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  Too Late The Hero - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Dave Redler - September 26 - 4:13 pm

  I always wanted a Jeep Wrangler model; you know, topless summer fun. I remember test driving the then new Rubicon Model but it was too rough riding. I waited for the Unlimited version and finally bought the top-of-the-line model; the best of everything (all options & the automatic trannny). Its cutsie and all, but I guess the crux of the story is that wanting is often times more pleasurable than having. Im having a hard time readjusting from a full-size pickup to the small, narrow, cramped & difficult time getting in & out & the long drives. DC did a good job on the build-quality, very quiet & smooth riding but for you ol timers getting long-in-the-tooth you may rethink it.

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  winter security vehicle - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By doug - September 23 - 3:23 am

  The Jeep is a wonderful vehicle to have in winter; most times if you go off the road when slippery, put it in low range and get back on while cars are gonna sit and wait for a tow-truck. The Jeep gives me a feeling of safety when the weather is bad, as I can pull out of my driveway, with a foot of snow on the ground, in 4 wheel drive, and not spin a wheel. While doing this, my radio, with an awesome sound keeps me smiling!

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  Jeep Cherokee - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Waysco - September 21 - 3:23 pm

  This vehicle has been everything we could have imagined and more, and she still has a lot to offer. One of the best 4x4s we have ever owned. It would go through snow and ice like it was dry roadway. The Best.

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  Jeep liberty - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By ggall661 - September 20 - 11:10 am

  The Jeep liberty is fun to drive and is reliable, Im a little disappointed with the gas mileage and the positioning of the power window buttons. It has a sporty look and handles well on snow and ice.

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  Our first AWD Jeep GC - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By JerryP - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle purchased as a lease return with 36K miles. Overall it has been a good car for comfort w/o big money spent for repairs. AWD is nice in wet & rainy Puget Sound weather. The V8 gas mileage is just over 12 MPG after almost 5 years of ownership. Recently hadthe car at a Seattle dealer and were advised that the rear-wheel bearings and CV boots needed replacing. Other reviewers have also noted the interior failures of the linings of the doors but stuff like that IS fixable! Overall we are generally satisfied and feel we have chosen widely, having bought it used and not shelling out the original invoice of around $33K.

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  A deal despite the warnings - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Tony Ford - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I was warned not to buy a used Jeep because of several problems with wiring and such. So far, at 129000 the worst proble I have had was the squeaky fan belt and occasional slip of the transmission when the fluid got low because of a loose cooler line.