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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  Acceleration Problems - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Kathy - April 10 - 9:06 am

  I bought this car in September 09 even though the reviews here mentioned acceleration issues, stalling and electric problems on the 07s. 3 weeks into owning the car the CHECK ENGINE light came on and the car stalled at 10mph/ 2RPM it wouldnt move no matter how hard I pressed the gas! I took it to the dealer and they replaced my gear shift Modual under warranty. Without a warranty it would have cost me $1,000! UNBELIEVABLE. Jeep needs to RECALL the gear shift modual on these cars before someone dies from losing power on the road.

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  Electric Window Problems - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By Bones - April 9 - 1:36 pm

  I too have had problems with my electric windows. Have had the car exactly 1 year now three of my windows have broke on me. Ridiculous that so many of us have repeatedly experienced the same problem, but no fix actions have been taken. Have heard many negative reviews about Chrysler products and this is making me think twice about purchasing another one. Several of the fitting for the outside plastic trim were also broken and the trim loose when sold to me. Again, quality control really needs to be addressed.

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  JEEP STILL #1 4X4 - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By sjustice64 - April 8 - 6:56 am

  My first car was a 76 CJ5, but I ended up flipping it and blowing the engine. Ten years later, I still drooled at every Jeep, so I finally went out and bought one. I never regret it! Added a 4" lift with 33" tires with a winch and I can go ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE!

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  Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Ron - April 7 - 2:50 am

  I absolutely love my Jeep. I got a dark blue Grand Cherokee Laredo and it is very nice inside and out. I was very skeptical about Jeep from what others have said, but mine is very reliable, pretty good on gas, and a comfortable, but fun ride. The stereo is nice sounding, and the seats are a very nice, comfortable cloth. I really love mine and looking forward to trying out the 4x4 in the future. I was honestly surprised by how well mine is with gas. I drive a fair amount and my gas is barely gone. I definitely recommend the car overall.

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  2010 Wrangler Unlimited Mountain - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By Dave - April 4 - 2:33 am

  So far reliability has been excellent. Mileage with combined city/highway averages about 16 mpg. The engine could definitely use a horsepower boost. The standard stereo, while ok, lacks wattage and sound quality. Interior could use more storage space. The freedom hardtop is great for driver "open air" while remaining good for northern climates. Shortcoming aside, I love the Jeep personality and have a lot of fun with the vehicle.

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  First Jeep - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Jerry - April 3 - 6:10 pm

  This is my first Jeep. At 3500 miles theres been not one problem. Fit and finish of interior and exterior is great. Having been the owner of Honda and Nissan I expected less. Will be using it as a tow vehicle for a 2000 lb. 18ft pontoon boat as well as our daily driver. Wife loves it.

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  good value - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By d0nman - April 3 - 12:24 pm

  Ill start off by saying I was intending to buy a Subaru Crosstrek or Forester this time around, after owning one of the FDII trail-rated Patriots previously. Ive always been a big fan of Japanese vehicles for the mix of compactly packaged capability and good fuel efficiency. Turns out, though, that you can get 90% that stuff in a well-tested US-designed vehicle for thousands of dollars less. Im not saying the Patriot is better than one of those Subarus (and sometimes I still wish I had forked over the extra cash), but I am saying it is a more competitive choice than theyd have you believe here. The Edmunds review exaggerates all kinds of perceived shortcomings while ignoring the fact that you get a compact, serviceable AWD crossover for 20k. Yet, if you read the review for the Crosstrek, they immediately claim it has "relatively strong off-road capabilities" despite its Pinocchio nose that youll scrape just backing out of your driveway. I replaced the stock tires with Toyo all-terrains right off the bat. I dont intentionally go off-roading and probably dont need them, but I do occasionally get plowed in by the maintenance guys and Ive barreled through snow piles up to the front grill without a problem. Blocked in by a delivery truck? Up over the curb and down the sidewalk! On the road, its no sports car, but the steering feels responsive (if a little light-weighted) and theres no problem getting up to speed on the highway (at least with the 2.4L). Ive had one issue so far with the ignition system, with no warning. One cold and dry winter evening it simply would not even attempt to start. After about 10 minutes of research I found that over the years people have had trouble with static electricity locking up the anti-theft electronics in the ignition, especially in dry weather. I pulled the appropriate fuse for about 30 seconds and it started right up after that. Currently having an issue with concerning vibration noise somewhere in the transfer case (according to local shop); will update once I get it dealt with by the dealer. Visibility is not a strong point. The A-pillars are pretty large and Ive been surprised more than a few times when making a left turn by cars that were completely blocked from my view. Windows are pretty small all around. Resale value will suck. There are plenty of Patriots/Compasses available out there, and unless gas prices skyrocket again or the economy tanks (and we probably have a few years before regulation rollbacks lead us into The Great Recession II), most people that have a choice are going to choose bigger and/or nicer vehicles.

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  Satified - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By dsippin - April 1 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this car has been excellent, although now that I have over 70,000 miles, there have been a few minor annoyances. The driver window switch stopped working and had to be replaced. Replacing the headlight bulb is a hassle. The gas milage has been disapointing- about 14.5 mpg. The engine is great- lots of power and acceleration. Other than the few minor items above, it has been a great car. The ride is a little harsh. The exterior styling looks great.

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  Black Beauty - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jon Boy - March 31 - 11:33 am

  The Jeep has been a wonderful all purpose vehicle. I have had no problems other than typical for an auto, regular maintenance. The interior layout is good, although the rear tire does take up some cargo space. The stereo is great although I have the infinity system upgrade. The GC rides and drives great, the 4x4 is flawless, i must admit it can be alittle thirsty at the pump and i have the 6 cylinder. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an all purpose suv.

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  Nice to own - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Ian Neal - March 29 - 10:33 am

  Went on a trip just after buying the Jeep. I was impressed with the fuel mpg. It got 30 mpg on average. I had a small oil leak on the transfer case but got fixed under warranty. Other then it`s been fine. Put about 4500 km on that trip in one week with no problems at all.