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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  Its been great! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ksgirl1 - October 28 - 1:12 am

  Wow! I was surprised at so many negative reviews I felt I had to share my experience. I am the original owner of my Jeep and currently have 88K miles. I have had no signifigant problems. At about 85K the liftgate has started to not stay in the up position but the parts online are under $100 and we plan to fix this. We have also had the plastic break a bit on the rear doors behind the handle but I think this could also be due to my kids hanging on it. Again that was over 80K miles. Mechanically it has been great. have the Nav and it has been great to. I have loved it so much that I have decided to buy a Commander since we are outgrowing this. I love it

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  Love it but - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By LOVE IT BUT - October 27 - 10:53 pm

  This is my 2nd Jeep with the first still in the family. My Commander is very comfortable, spacious and quiet. Ive had it for 11 months and the only real problem experienced is with the rear shocks or springs. From the first month, I had the shock replaced, then replaced again, now going back for the 3rd time. The constant squeak is very annoying. Steering wheel has also started whistling - odd? If I can get this resolved, I will be very happy with my Commander.

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  excellent - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By ronangerard - October 27 - 10:00 am

  the best vehicle ever

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  Very Impressive SUV - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By teebyrd86 - October 24 - 11:10 am

  I traded in my 05 Toyota Corolla S for my new 08 Patriot with upgraded rims, tinted windows, keyless ect. (everything the limited has but those cheap looking leather seats!) I do miss things about my Toyota but the Patriot suites me a lot more. It has plenty of room for my frame (64) and it very comfortable. The best thing about my Patriot was the price. I totally recommend this vehicle to anyone who wants a nice SUV at a great price. Going from a Toyota to a Jeep is a big difference but I am glad I made the transition back to Jeep (my first car was a Wrangler!) You definitely get more for money with Jeep.

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  lets play in the mud - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By phillip bollinger - October 24 - 2:23 am

  Love the vehicle, downsized from a 04 Denali XL with the 6.0 engine, so even with the hemi I love the gas mileage. Plus its fun to dust all of these people in cars who have no clue that a suv can move like that. Great to drive, biggest and best surprise was how good the ride is. I really thought that moving down so much in wheelbase would make it ride much worse than the Denali, I can hardly tell a difference. Already had to pull a full size Ford out with it, the 4x4 system is amazing-especially to be able to pull that much weight (F-250 on grass) and be able to maintain traction was phenomenal, much better than the one I had in the Denali and it was good. Last thing-I love it!

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  Love it! - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Matt - October 23 - 9:33 pm

  I have owned a 2001 Liberty and leased a 2005 Grand Cherokee prior to this. The 08 Liberty is my favorite! Im getting about 19mpg, which isnt bad for a trail rated Jeep!!

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  Compares nicely to more expensive competition - 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Randy G. - October 23 - 8:12 pm

  I did a lot of research and reviewed Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Land Rover and Lexus online before narrowing things down to the Mercedes GLC and Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit due to number of factors including price, proximity to dealer, reviews, etc. My estimated budget was $50k. I test drove both cars and gave them both high marks. However, Jeep blew me away. It is a solid, quiet, well put together car with fit and finish as good as the Germans. While the Merc may have a slight edge on technology, ease of use goes to the Jeep. It is intuitive and requires little training to understand where all the controls are located. The Jeep is also a larger, more capable SUV than the Merc GLC which gives more flexibility. Value-wise, the Grand Cherokee Summit was several thousand less than the comparably equipped GLC and the dealer was willing to give me quite a bit more in trade than the Mercedes dealer. After a few weeks of owning the Jeep, I continue to be a happy owner. The car runs great and the 6 cylinder engine provides even more power and response than my previous Lincoln MKX 8 cylinder while getting around 22 mpg combined. I am also greatly enjoying the Harmon Kardon sound system that comes in the Summit version. One of the best factory installed car stereos Ive heard.

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  Outstanding Thus Far! - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By TJ - October 23 - 5:17 pm

  I recently purchased a Summit V6 Platinium Edition. I will not bore you all with a regurgitation of all of the positive reviews. But thus far, Ive nothing but very positive remarks concerning this truck. I am a long time BMW/Range Rover/Mercedes/Porsche owner/fan and believe me when I say that I am pleasantly surprised as the GC Summit has all of the amenities pound for pound of a much more expensive vehicle! Im deeply impressed with the transmission, infotainment system, 825 HK sound system, ergonomics, etc! I paid 47K and trust me there is not a better ride per the price point! Below, Ive listed my hits/misses. Pls note I test drove the RR Sport, BMW X6, Mercedes ML, Audi Q5/7 , and the Porsche Cayenne. All are fine vehicles in their own class but I chose the Summit based off of the criterion listed below coupled with the ability to take it off road. The RR Sport came in a close second but I was highly annoyed to find that it (as well as many other vehicles) utilize a sound resonator to give the vehicle a "acceleration growl". Maintenance was also a huge issue. Hands down, the BMW has the best warranty but initial cost of a similarly equipped vehicle would run over 70K. I also drove the GC SRT, V8, and V6. The SRT is a hug miss and although very aggressive, it seemed to be very clumsy. The V8 is outstanding but poor gas mileage was a deterrent. I chose the V6 as although it is short 30 HP less than the V8, it is peppy, uses regular gas, and gets over 26 MPG on the HWY. The vehicle lofts a bit (typical truck/SUV) when driving but I did not purchase for a sporty ride. I wanted a tough truck that I could utilize as a daily driver as well as take off road for the occasional camping trip. This vehicle has yet to disappoint thus far, Im hoping the trend continues. Great Job Jeep! Hits: Air suspension, off road prowess/toughness, good looks, 825 watt sound system, ergonomics/display, usb/power ports galore, large heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, warning/safety features, heated/cooled seats, panoramic roof, voice control, multifunction display, smooth transmission, drive / ride comfort quality, and gas mileage...by the way, the V6 uses regular unleaded gas! Misses: Front seats are too boxy/boring and are the same found in some other Chrysler vehicles. There is an immediate need for thigh/side bolsters, quality of leather, the nav system is highly functional but looks cheap / cartoonish, heat/ac thermostat is not accurate, headlight washer only comes on every 12 swipes, wiper fluid is not heated, there is no dead petal for foot fatigue, the rear hatch should have an adjustable height option along with a glass panel opening option, sport mode is pretty much a waste of time, and the 36 month warranty reflects a lack of confidence in this vehicle.

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  Good compromise - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By ex-p t woody - October 23 - 6:20 am

  I traded in a 4x4 Dodge Dakota and a PT Cruiser woody with 16000 miles on it. I was looking for a combination of the 2 vehicles and after driving the Compass I knew this was the vehicle to fill the bill. I love driving the vehicle and its more comfortable than both of the vehicles I traded in. I am getting 23-24 mpg with the air conditioning on.which is a lot better than the Dakota and PT Cruiser. I love this vehicle.

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  Best kept secret out there for an SUV - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By jim wilson - October 21 - 4:36 pm

  Everyone is abandoning SUVs because of the bad MPG and costs overall to purchase. So, I figured I would see if there was a "steal" out there in the mass exodus/hype to leave SUVs. And, I found one. I got my Patriot (a complete base model that now in 2008 at least has AC standard) for $12,400 after rebates, incentives and military discount. Just drove it 220 miles across parts of Carolina and got 33 MPG highway going 65 mph. Its manual transmission, which is fine with me. Windows, locks are manual -- again, OK with me. The best thing is the larger engine (4.2) gets better MPG with manual transmission The only complaint is that options add up FAST, which is why I kept it basic.