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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  Ride and handling other suvs wish they had - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Frankly Texas - June 2 - 10:37 pm

  My wife and I were looking to replace our 3 year old Escape with 1.6 motor. We looked at and drove several other suvs but keep coming back to the 2016 Jeep 75th Anniversary Edition with the 2.4 motor. It just felt more solid, comfortable, quite and interior was laid out better to us. We wanted to like other models more, but the Jeep just won us over. Having owned and driven many cars from around the world, the Jeep just keep being the best option for us. The ride is solid, the seats firm, but not hard and the interior is very quite, which should make it a treat for long highway trips. Looking forward to our first. The 2.4 motor has plenty of power for anything we need, equal or better acceleration than our old 1.6 turbo, and surly better fuel mileage. We were lucky to see 25 mpg with eco motor even using a light foot. The best ride and handling Ive ever exeperienced was an older RR. The Jeep is the closes Ive come to matching it. So far we are both extreamly pleased with the Jeep. Now the cons: the dealers lack of knowledge of the product. Navaid a $600 addition cost on a $30,000 car, supplied by the same clueless dealer. Chrysler Finanical is the least customer oriented company Ive dealt with in the last 20 years, and unable to reconcile the difference between a 911 address and mailing address. My only hope is the Jeep will outshine our last plagued Chrysler vehicle, a 2006 Grand Caravan.

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  5 Star SUV - 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Michelle - June 2 - 7:04 pm

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  Patriot Update Bought a Second one... - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By NewJeepGirl - June 2 - 10:50 am

  Weve had 4 winter storms to date. Last storm dumped 10 inches. Drove home with no problems-slight slip in the intersections, but even our 97 Expedition slipped in that too. Very capable in the snow! Used 4WD lock to get in the driveway-works great! My husband loves mine so much, we just got him one yesterday-stripper for $17K-how can you beat that for the milage and 4WD? Even the vinyl seats dont feel cheap-looks like leather. Still has side impact airbags, ABS, electronic stablility control, tire pressure alarm light and outside temp guage. A lot of bang for the buck- plus its a nice Marine blue-very sharp! Looking forward to better milage. Trading 96 RAV 4 thats only getting 20MPG.

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  Loving my jeep - 2016 Jeep Wrangler
  By Kimani - June 2 - 8:47 am

  Im new to jeep. I commute over 120 miles per day and although I was aware of the mpg average of 19-20 hwy, I really needed the 4wd for winter and the top off for summer. I couldnt be happier with my purchase. 5,000 miles in and I havent had a single mechanical failure. I will say that the base speaker are beyond horrible, and the speaker bar sucks also. The wind noise at high speeds are to be expected with a vehicle that basically strips down to nothing in a matter of moments. The plastic interior doors can become a problem for long distance drives depending on driving position. Other than that, Its a total blast and I cant wait till summer!

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  I love this car - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By janlaw - June 1 - 3:18 am

  I love my 2014 JGC Summit. It drives so smooth and quiet. The bigger touch screen is great and makes it easier to see the maps. The sound system is the best I have ever had in a car and love it. The handling is so sweet, corners well and it has plenty of pick up and go. The gas mileage is so much better than my old Hemi. It looks beautiful on the outside and inside. I feel pampered and spoiled to say the least. A fun and great SUV to own. I say get one and enjoy it.

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  Love my Jeep - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rick - May 31 - 6:46 am

  I love my Jeep. Looks great. Drives great. Much more room than I ever anticipated. Cannot recomend it more.

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  First Jeep! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By James G - May 27 - 1:10 pm

  Smooth is the operative word when describing this vehicle. The suspension dampens imperfections in the road well, and the rack and pinion steering provides a solid and responsive road feel. The all-wheel drive grabs pavement with gusto and on tight roads this SUV is very nimble with minimal body roll. The Grand Cherokees seats are firm and supportive, and the two-tone perforated leather looks quite contemporary. Wood trim on the center console and door panels is very upscale.

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  Great car so far - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By DINLONG - May 26 - 10:00 am

  My 06 HEMI now has just over 90k on it. Has had no real issues. My only complaint about the car would be the awful Goodyear tires Jeep decided to use. I recently swapped them out for Firestone Destination ATs - what a difference! I also installed Bilstein shocks and SRT front and rear sway bars. This Jeep will go through anything now, and is very controlled and comfortable doing it. People complain about gas mileage on the HEMIs - are you kidding me? Coming from a F150 with the 5.4 I am completely happy. The Jeep weighs about the same, has way more power, and is way more fun to drive, yet I get about 5 more MPG - what is there to complain about?

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  I love it! - 2011 Jeep Wrangler
  By JeepLady - May 26 - 10:00 am

  They did a wonderful job redesigning the interior! I love the style. Also it is so much more comfortable to drive then my 2003! I would recommend this Wrangler to anyone whose interested. I have a soft top, and its not cold and noisy as people said it would be! Everyone should join part of the legacy and buy an American made Jeep!

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  I love Liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By il2queen - May 22 - 2:00 am

  My first Liberty was a company car that I picked. When the company took back their car, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted another Liberty. It is fun to drive and is just the right size for city traffic. This is my third Jeep and I love my Liberty.