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:

• 

  one year later - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By rog4kneer - August 17 - 10:00 am

  This Jeep now over one year old is running well with no mechanical problems. Find the interior way to small. I tend to get cramped on long trips. Came from a Dodge Durango and wish I had that type of space. Ride a little rough, but handles well. NO regrets, and would happily recommend this vehicle to anyone.

• 

  Best Small SUV - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By FirstJeep - August 15 - 9:13 am

  This is the BEST small 4X4 SUV around. With its pure Jeep look to the new interior for 2009. It has CHARACTER compare to the others, but this SUV have to be driven to understand why it is better than its competitors. It handles well in city & highway driving. With its 4x4, traction control, EBD, Hill decent control, & Electronic Roll Mitigation, you can be safe in any driving situation If you are looking for a small 4x4, take a test drive, compare it to CRVs, RAV4s & others; sure you will be sold on the Patriot.

• 

  wow, i love the power and design - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By MuscleLegs - August 13 - 3:56 am

  I test drove a Liberty Limited about 6 months ago and fell in love with it; so, when the time came to purchase I knew exactly what I wanted. Am impressed with the turning radius, the cargo space (roomier on the inside than it looks like from the outside), and the look of it -- is truly Jeep with sophistication. Love that on the weekends can take it camping and off road, then wash it up and out to dinner and downtown Chicago other times. Really impressed all the way around ... one minor flaw, the obvious; gas mileage is a little steep for a "compact" SUV. Jeep should be overall pleased with the product they have produced, I sure am!

• 

  Love this Jeep - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By DrBill - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Great fun to drive, solid feel, easy shifting into 4WD.

• 

  Best Vehicle I have owned in 25 years. - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By Jim - August 12 - 5:20 am

  If you are in the market for an excellent all around vehicle. Do not hesitate to buy a commander. Shop around a little and you will not only get a great vehicle, but a bargain in the deal. Do not buy if you are wanting a 3o mpg vehicle. These weigh almost 5,500 lbs. But the plus side is how well they drive. Quiet, handles very well for its size. Acceleration with 5.7 hemi is awesome. Buy the hemi! This thing can accelerate from 50 to 100 in a heartbeat. And is just as quiet and confident at these speeds. The equipment included is awesome. The sound system ( Boston accoustics ) is audiophile quality. Go drive a limited or overland with a 5.7 hemi for about 100 miles. You will buy 1 maybe 2.

• 

  Its a JEEP thing - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Andie - August 7 - 6:33 pm

  I love this rig! I have actually taken it to a JEEP JAM in Maine and it did great with the stock package. The only flaw in the interior design that I see is the cupholder placement.

• 

  my baby - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By delidel66 - August 6 - 4:36 pm

  This the best small suv I have driven. It looks small but is very roomy. Drivers side floor area is too small for someone big like me but I still can enjoy long rides and short fast breaks. I am at 62,900 miles and never a problem except mirrors. Power mirror has a short occasionally. It sometimes wont work, but only for a few minutes. I dont know why, I just accept it. I highly recommend this Jeep.

• 

  Only Jeep - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By teamcolvin - August 5 - 6:10 pm

  I traded in a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with 130k miles. I looked at Lexus SUV, Cadillac and 4 Runner. None of them compared to the Jeep. Rugged, as always, but very refined compared to older Jeeps. Variable displacement is crucial. A big improvement from my old Jeep. Extremely fun to drive. If you are worried about fuel economy, buy a car. If you are looking for a class ride with a whole lot of muscle, drive this beast!

• 

  My new 2002 Wrangler S.E. - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By T. E. Turner - August 5 - 12:56 pm

  I am pleased with my new Jeep. We got a Wrangler SE with the 2.5L 4cyl, and the 5 spd. manual transmission, along with an upgraded cloth interior. Transmission is silky smooth. The 4cyl. has more than adequate power for my use. I am impressed with the build quality - tight & rattle free, and even the convertible top is quiet.

• 

  Love this cherokee - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By vlowe945 - August 4 - 6:21 pm

  my wife & I wasnt fans of the front end design but all it took was a test drive to forget about that! it stickered $31,380 minus the rebate you CAN NOT go wrong it had the features we wanted & nothing we didnt. we traded our loaded challenger rallye sst and it beats that car in comfort and drivability alone! the dealership was 102 miles away we got 31 mpg, storage space is everywhere, the manual passenger seat is comfortable, the upgraded Uconnect 8.4a is user friendly not to mention the electronic dash, the gas gauge :( cant tell if its at 3/4 or 1/4 tank. BUT weve only had it 2 days and 3xs its had trouble starting not for sure why only got 165 miles on it. didnt like NO CD player.