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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  Excellent - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By Wow Commander - April 25 - 4:30 pm

  Fun to drive and really useful for families. it has many standards that are luxury and useful.

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  My 97 Wrangler - 1997 Jeep Wrangler
  By Aaron - April 25 - 2:20 pm

  I am very pleased with my purchase. It is a well put together machine and it is a ton of fun to drive. The only drawback is the fuel economy, but its still worth it. I use it as my daily driver and on weekends take it off-road for a little fun.

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  Outstanding! - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By RTM - April 25 - 1:36 pm

  Absolutely incredible vehicle. I traded in my 2005 Audi A8 with no regrets. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 is an absolute blast to drive. Dont get this vehicle if you dont like gawkers and car questions for strangers!

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  Outstanding for what it is - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By ARod - April 22 - 11:38 am

  Make not mistake, this is a compact crossover that is semi-rugged, not fully rugged. In that sense, this vehicle is great. Theyve packed a lot into this body. Likes: Love the V6, mileage isnt great if you like to open her up but if you treat her nicely it will return decent mileage. Very quiet cabin, only really hear the engine loudly when flooring it. Alpine sound system is very nice. Lane Departure system works as advertised. Rear view Camera is awesome on the 8.4" screen, the computer is fast, recognizes your phone quickly and responds to commands quickly. Highly recommend getting the Safety/Convenience package that nets you the 3 items mentioned above. Interior space is decent. Dislikes: None yet really. The start/stop system when you are at the red light or at a stop seems to stop too late and start to early. Havent looked at the settings yet to see what is up with that. Overall, really like it. What it offers that the others really dont is a nice V6 that provides sweet acceleration for zipping about......a major plus for me. Also, from a cost standpoint it is a good value after rebates etc. Mine MSRPd at just over $30k and I got it for just above $24k. Lot of vehicle for $24k.

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  Best Vehicle Ever - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Computer Karl - April 21 - 10:00 am

  I have owned many vehicles, domestic and import, but the new Liberty is by far the best ever. There have been NO defects in over 6 months of driving. I have gotten up to 24MPG hwy and overall about 18MPG (more than I expected). Fit and finish rivals anything in its class. My wife had refused to drive it before I bought it, but now I cant get her out of it. AWD option delivers peace of mind on pavement.

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  Utah Road Trip - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By SDS - April 21 - 10:00 am

  On a summer off-road trip through scenic Utah with my wife, Libertys performance was flawless. Our 3.7- liter effortlessly crawled up rocks that had claimed a variety of paint chips from other vehicles before us. Throughout the entire tour over hot rocky terrain we remained comfortable in our well air-conditioned cockpit. I even caught my wife letting go of the "Oh My God" passenger handle up front several times. Most non-luxury SUV buyers want true off-road capability to be coupled with a coupe- like ride to work everyday. Jeep has finally addressed this dichotomy with the affordable Liberty.

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  A Real SUV - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By HeartDoc - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Simply put, a great SUV through and through. The Overland is not for everyone, and are best suited for those enthusiasts of true off-road vehicles. Remember, the Jeep will behave and react like an SUV should, and when properly maintenanced will provide years of inexplicable joy and recreation.

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  Unbelivable! - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By JohnBoy1248 - April 20 - 3:10 pm

  Although this is my second Jeep Wrangler I still can not believe how capable this Jeep is! No matter what the weather or where you are this Rubicon has no problem taken you where you want to go. Classic Jeep interior and exterior lets you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Interior comfort is not that of a BMW 7 series, but it it a Jeep it is built for functionality and fun. The most capable Jeep EVER built!

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  Dream Jeep - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By fathergoose4 - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Jeep off a lease with 36k miles. I now have over 92k with very little trouble,Only wear and tear stuff.The biggest job was I had to change front axle due to a broken cv boot. Overall it is an excellent experience and I am very happy.

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  Samis review - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By Sami - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I love this car!!!!!!!!!!