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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  GREAT SUV, FUN TO DRIVE - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By GPD315 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  FIRST SUV IVE EVER BOUGHT. ITS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE. FUN TO DRIVE, GREAT GAS MILAGE, 6 CYLINDER HAS PLENTY OF POWER. EXTERIOR IS PLESING TO LOOK AT, UNLIKE THE OLD BOX STYLE IT USED TO HAVE. INTERIOR IS DESIGNED APPROPRATLEY FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER NEEDS.

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  Jeep Rubicon - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By RubiOwner - April 3 - 2:00 am

  My new Rubicon almost immediately destroyed my life - my wife, and oldest son were constantly trying to take it away from me. I broke down and bought a second Wrangler for them to fight over - a 2003 Sport. I bought my first Jeep back in 1977. They have sure come a long way since then. Both my Jeeps are hard tops - they are asy to remove and the heater and A/C both work better. Gas mileage is unjustifiably poor - the excuses dont cut it. My bigger, heavier Suburban with a much bigger engine gets better mileage than either one of the Jeeps and there is nothing aerodynamic about a Suburban. Expect 15-17 TOPS!

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  Happy with change - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By MFM440 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  We decided to trade our very nicely equiped Grand Cherokee Ltd. for an 04 2wd Liberty Renegade. Retired, we didnt need the larger vehicle and felt we could live without the thirsty 4.7L. I was concerned about performance going to V-6. Not any more. We are very happy with the Libertys performance, fuel economy and overall handling.

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  2004 Jeep Cherokee Ltd. - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Rcon13 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I have had the Grand Cherokee Limited for over 4 months and all I can say is I LOVE THIS vehicle! It rides smoothly, handles well, and is so comfortable to drive I am always wanting to drive more. The high ground clearance makes travel over rough conditions a breeze. The back is spacious and can carry lots of equipment and supplies.

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  The First of Many - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Luke753 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  This is our first jeep. My wife and I are hooked. We are currently in the process of purchasing our second Grand Cherokee Limited.

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  Overland is awesome! - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeepdoc - April 3 - 2:00 am

  As with previous Jeeps, the maintaing of the vehicle is the secret to its longevity. What can I say? Its a Jeep. It goes when and where I want it to in luxury. The door panels could be a little slimmer. Big peoples knees go where the window switches are. Gas mileage is not terrible but that is not why I bought it.

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  TWO CAR JEEP GC FAMILY - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ronsboys - March 31 - 7:54 pm

  My wife and I both own a Jeep GC Overland. She has the 2013 V-8 Overland and as a result of our enjoyment of her car, I leased a 2014 V-6. Overall, excellent. Gas mileage on the V-6 is excellent for the vehicles size. Interior is well laid out and very comfortable as we are both over 511" tall.

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  Great Car - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Happy Jeeper - March 31 - 1:16 pm

  I have read these reviews and I have been very lucky with my Liberty. I drive both city and highway. I get 20 miles per gallon when I drive smart. No jack rabbit starts. As for the brakes I have 78,000 miles on it and still have original front brakes. I have had one window break and fall down and had a friend wedge it up. (it is the back drivers side) So I cant roll it up or down. I have had this car for almost 4 years and have only put new tires on at 55K, new back brakes at 65K, and did tuneup, transmission and raditor service at 55K. This has been a great car and I would buy another in a heartbeat!

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  Great car... - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By socalbound2004 - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased a jeep wrangler, and its definitely the most fun car I have ever driven. The manual 6 cyl has lots of power, great pickup, and the ride is smooth. It sits high above the road, so you see pretty much everything. The only bad part about the jeep is that the ride can be a bit noisy, and unless you buy it new, its difficult to find a decently priced wrangler with air conditioning. All of these negatives are easily overshadowed by the positives of the car.

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  Blammo Good Jeep - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By mmcevoy - March 29 - 10:00 am

  Almost 1000 miles on my new Liberty. Traded in as Escape for the Liberty. WHAT a huge difference. Escape feels like a tin bucket compared to the Liberty. Rides great, looks great. I get the oddest looks from friends and co-workers, who remark that it looks SO expensive. Renegade package is cool. Only downside is the Renegade rack doesnt fit in my garage.