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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  poor interior design - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By gram gram - July 4 - 10:00 am

  the inside was poorly designed. there isnt enough leg room on a long trip. not enough places to put glasses and things. I feel closed in the jeep should be wider. Other than that I love my jeep

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  all right by me - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By car-nut - July 2 - 2:00 am

  trucks,95 Laredo, more trucks, 03 Laredo much nicer than 95. Of course this one is loaded. very comfortable, and fun to drive. feels solid. needs better gas milage on 4.0! Should get at least 20 mpg all around. That is my only complaint.

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  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By YellowRubi - July 1 - 12:40 am

  This Unlimited Rubicon is so much fun to drive. It looks very sharp and it looks much better than the new 07 design. The best thing about this Jeep is it is a convertible. The soft top is super for the beach and summer driving. The hard top is best for winter. I took the Jeep 101 course offered through the dealership and it really showed me what my Jeep was capable of doing off-road. I feel very safe in this Jeep...much safer than in the standard wheel base model. The longer wheelbase "feels" safer on the highway and provides a better ride.

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  Like a good old friend - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Car_Crazy - June 26 - 7:16 am

  I bought my v8 5.2 liter engine Grand Cherokee in 03 with 116,000 miles on it and I have had it for two years now with 127k miles. The performance, comfort, and looks are just excellent. However, the fuel economy is extremely poor. Driving in the hot summer days with A/C on I get around 12 mpg. As for reliability, I havent had any major problems so far. Just one time the A/C broke down but my friend is a mechanic and fixed it at no charge.

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  Poor mileage - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Afficiendo - June 26 - 5:40 am

  The Wrangler is in a class all by itself. Its fun to drive, iconic, easy to maneuver and has the perfect blend of technology with simplicity. You will never know how much all that technology is really unnecessary and annoying until you have owned a Wrangler. Nonetheless, my Wrangler gets terrible gas mileage.

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  Leak is a Design Flaw - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By Pesmith - June 23 - 4:43 am

  If you have a sunroof your Jeep will leak in a rain storm. Here is the problem; the drain tubes are too small to handle the amount of flow in a rain storm. Every sunroof on the market leaks, you cut a hole in a roof and it will leak, but there are drain pans around the edge of the sunroof and 4 drain tubes, but when it rains and rains, the drain tubes cannot handle the amount of flow. The jeep will only flood if you park it outside setting in the rain. Have fun, I sold my Jeep and lost about 6k.

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  Fun, but expensive to drive - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By NadineB - June 22 - 2:33 am

  Bought it used with 41,000 miles on it. Have had no problems, have not had to have any repairs so far. Very roomy even with full passenger load, but not a lot of cargo space. Handles better than any 4WD we have ever owned, We have taken it places others would not dare go. Just wish it would be better on gas, very low gas mileage for a V6. Tends to get around 16-17 mpg. Other than that would recommend to anyone.

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  Loyal Jeep owner for 22 years. - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By chris - June 22 - 1:16 am

  I have owned 4 jeeps and this one may be my last. Terrible engine. The 4.0 L is a more responsive, more powerful and yes stronger engine than the 3.8 L. I dont care what the numbers say. A stock 4.0 Jeep with 33" tires, lights, brush guard and only a k&n filter, absolutely walks away from the new 3.8l on road and off. Did mention the 4.0l has 140,000 miles on it? Jeep really blew this one. Buy the way the 4.0l Jeep is mine also, so it is a good comparison.

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  one and only - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jay jay - June 21 - 10:30 am

  This car is great. It has so much going for it. Time will tell how reliable it is, but for now Im very happy. The fact that I dont see many on the road is another good quality. Some would say Im stepping down from a BMW x5 4.4, but Im in the know. Ill have the last laugh, and at the finish line. I could care less for status symbol. I want performance. I get all the same perks navigation system, park assist, and hands free Bluetooth technology and great sound system. I can not compromise that. I paid an extra $1200 to BMW to get the premium sound. SRT-8 kicks.

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  Watch the brakes - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By SDS - June 20 - 10:00 am

  This has been a pretty good car for us, with two exceptions. First, there was a knock in the rear end that could not be found for over a year. The "spider gear" in the differential was rattling and had to be replaced. Second, the front end braking system is too small for the weight of this vehicle. You will go through rotors very quickly. My first set was replaced at 15,000 miles. I am goint to have to replace them again at 45,000. This time, with a very heavy duty, heat displacing rotor.