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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  My second jeep cherokee - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By jasonc314 - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought this jeep off some goofy dealer in Ohio who i honestly think he was slow. I won a auction on Ebay and snagged it for $5000. It had 98k miles when i got it, it now has 106000. I like the jeep because of the first one i bougt was an89 with 88k. I still have it but has turned into a body work project due to rust but it never broke down. Anyway, we get a lot of snow and this thing is insane in snow/mud. Havent had a chance to get new one in snow/mud. THE GAS MILEAGE SUCKS BADLY, but i love the power. I could burn off the tires in three street blocks.Easy to work on.Nickel and dime problems Lose the liberty, bring back CHEROKEE.

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  Good Mid-Size SUV - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By JS - August 26 - 5:10 am

  Ive had my Jeep 18 months now and after initially being in the shop 6 times for transmission problems, the recall finally came out and the problem was fixed. I put this down to teething problems with a new model. Since then, this SUV has been fine as a family vehicle. Great ride and handling for an SUV. Interior a little dull - Jeep could have used better grade plastics on the trim. Overall, this SUV does the job and looks good.

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  1500 mile winter road trip - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By lamalips - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Just completed a ski trip to Banff,Canada from Seattle, Washington. The Jeep is an awesome performer in the deep snow. Very comfortable ride. Great head light system and a very smooth V8 engine and transmission. We just sold our 1994 6cyl Larado which we liked very much ,but what a vast difference between cars. We love this vehicle.

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  Happy Camper - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By Deb - August 25 - 1:56 am

  Purchased this Patriot in December 2007 after owning a Liberty for 4 years. Love the looks of the vehicle, spaciousness inside, and the gas mileage. Gas mileage is much better than what we were getting with our Liberty. Gets around in the snow fine without using the 4-wheel drive. Great vehicle for the price.

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  Only one: Jeep - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Yevgeny - August 24 - 2:23 pm

  Love my JGCL. 2500 trouble-free miles. Solid and functional design, no sqeaks or rattles. Quarda-drive is excellent in snow and on ice.

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  Fun and handles light offroading - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By ryry2 - August 24 - 12:41 pm

  I have a 2015 Patriot Sport with the Altitude package. The dealership was great and my patriot looks amazing all blacked out with the factory tinted windows and 17" all black wheels. Even though it is only FWD it can handle dirt/gravel roads no problem. That includes offroading as long as there isnt any deep mud or large boulders. So far I have had no build or mechanical issues whatsoever. Some people complain about the CVT but I love it, especially paired with the autoshifter. You can get better than listed mpg with proper driving and shifting with the autoshifter.

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  Jeep Grand V-8 - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By AJP - August 21 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a reliable and able SUV. Most mechanical problems occurred in the first few years and were covered under the warranty. Interior and exterior have held up well though you need a bug deflector to protect the hood.

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  I Love My Girl - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By jdcman - August 21 - 10:00 am

  This is easily the best vehicle Ive ever owned. Not only can it fit all my stuff and my friends, I can take them over the mountains of New Hampshire in a snowstorm. I spend most of my time in the city, and it is by far the easiest vehicle to parallel park (I used to drive a Neon and an Altima). The ride is solid, the pick up is there when you need it, and it sure does look great all cleaned up.

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  engine failuer - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By rocky79 - August 20 - 11:34 am

  I purchased my 2002 liberty in 2004. I have loved this vehicle since I first purchased it, the maintanence cost have been very low, I have maintained this vehicle almost to perfection with regular oil changes etc. One day it stopped working with no warning, Come to find out the engine is blown, now with more research I am finding this is a known issue. I dont even have 109,000 miles on this vehicle, it is in almost perfect condition. Now I am stuck with a worthless vehicle that I cannot even trade in, I am very disappointed I would have purchased another Jeep in a heartbeat had this not happened, now I will never touch Chrysler/Jeep again.

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  Jeep Owners Dream - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Geoffrey - August 18 - 5:13 am

  Wow. Its been 6 days and I am still in heaven. The Jeep Wrangler 4 door will go down in history as one of the best things to ever come from DC/Jeep. The 2007 Wrangler (4 door) rides high and comfortable. Entry and exit is something you may need to practice, but I have owned three Jeeps now and it keeps getting better. My one and only negative is that the upward (looking towards traffic lights) visibility is limited with the top on. My Jeep steers true and gets plenty of looks. The gas mileage is low, but again I have owned three Jeeps. The interior space/design is awesome. Plenty of room for 5 adults and a dog!