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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  Air Bags - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By LeeF - August 3 - 10:00 am

  I loved my Jeep until I ended up in a frontal collision. The airbags did not deploy at 50-55 mph. I refused to buy another even though to this day I miss my old one! According to AllData - there was a recall in December 2002 re: Sensors that could be sheared off in a frontal/side impact. DaimlerChrysler lied to me in their "investigation" that the vehicle acted as it was supposed to.

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  freedom v8 - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By granddad - August 3 - 10:00 am

  this jeep is sharp, with the options that i wanted and the power there when needed. easy to drive .

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  "Jack-of-all-trades" yet master of many - 1997 Jeep Cherokee
  By Mr. Sam - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Cherokee for almost two years now and I still love it. Only problems Ive had have been the O2 senser and a R134a leak (which is still not solved). No major problems (knock on wood). Bullet proof off-road capiblity. One of the fastest SUVs out there. Buy one and join the family!

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  03 Wrangler X - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By NPFiveAgainstOne - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I got rid of my SE because it didnt have enough power and purchased an X. As expected, the 6 has much more kick than the 4. The fuel economy sucks, but its a Wrangler not a Civic. The rebates were great at this time of year and my dealer had a lot in stock. Black with a khaki soft top, sharp!

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  Improvements Needed - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By John Palma - July 26 - 11:53 pm

  I find that the Jeep Liberty is a solid reliable vehicle. Fit & finish is of high quality. Excellent driving manners,with plenty of power. The 3.7 engine performs beautifully. However the drawback to the Liberty is that the driver seat doesnt have enough cushion. The interior lighting is very poor. Engine can be loud when you accelerate. Its a Jeep, and I mean it does have a rough side to it. I have to say in the snow there is no other vehicle I would rather be in. Its a blast to drive when snow starts to fly. Would I purchase another Jeep? I would consider it. I would look at the fuel consumption to determine if it would be worth my while. Aside from that I would say yes, Im am pleased with it.

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  Great Vehicle - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Diablo47 - July 24 - 7:20 am

  Bought Jeep 5 years ago with 161,154 miles. Now has 247,896. Still runs great and looks great. Very little maintenance. Second set of tires after 64,000 miles. Ill run it for another 100,000 probably

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  Excellent Jeep - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By John - July 23 - 6:36 pm

  I bought this jeep with 113K miles on it, and it is solid. Right now it is 17 years old going on 18 and I have never been more satisfied with any suv like this one. It is by far the best suv in the snow (as long as you get the 4x4 of course). Gas mileage is definitely a downfall on this vehicle as I get only about 11-13 mpg in the city and maybe 15 on the hwy. Besides the occasional repairs I done on this vehicle, it is still running on the original, engine, transmission, and even alternator. Jeep nailed it with this grand cherokee, I look forward to purchasing maybe an 05 or 06 in the upcoming months.

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  What More Could You Ask For? - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By espo - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this Jeep in 95 with a little over 40,000 miles on it. Since then I have put on a ton of miles with little or no problems. It now has over 287,000 miles on it and it still runs strong. I have had to replace certain items, like a water pump, the front drive axles, and the catalytic converter, but I have had nothing but great experiences with this Jeep. As long as you do the required maintenance, these vehicles will run forever!

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  Wrangler X model - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jlemma - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 8 wranglers over the years. They are the most reliable go anywhere vehicle around. Owning a Jeep Wrangler is a love affair. There is no in between.Its off road capability is the best I have seen. Its rugged,good looking in a boxy kind of way.

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  The Lego car - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By cbb - July 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is great, if you are willing to sacrifice comfort for an extremely fun car. Its a bumpy ride (but much better than the older models) that doesnt handle well at high speeds (75+MPH). I switch my hard doors for cloths ones and have switched the full top for a half top for the summer. There is very little you cant do with this car. It would make a great second car however its my only one and works fine for me.