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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  Nothing but Problems - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Brad - April 9 - 10:10 pm

  Bought this Jeep with 51K miles on it. Not even 12 months after buying it the problems started and they havent stopped since. Ive replaced the following: front passenger window motor, rear passenger window motor, radiator fan (2x), radiator fan relay (2x), A/C coolant, rear brakes, turned front rotors, and the gas cap. I still am in the process of replacing the passenger side mirror and both tweeters. I now have 82K miles on it and I havent had any problems with the engine and transmission. There are more minor problems that I have but not enough room to write about it.

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  Liberty Rides again - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Liberty, Limited - April 8 - 10:43 pm

  Gas, Gas, Gas. It likes to drink. That is the only negative feature. I have a hard time not turning down every dirt road just to have a reason to go 4-wheeling.

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  Some Good - Some Bad - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Hoopermeadows - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my new 2001 well into 2002 and it was a spur of the moment purchase, which was unfortunate because I should have done more research - I may have passed. Its been a nice ride, but dont expect it to have a long life.

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  1400 Mi Highway road test - 2016 Jeep Renegade
  By M Pate - April 8 - 4:23 am

  I was really curious about this vehicle, so I rented one to drive from NC to FL. It was a 2WD 2.4L 9A Latitude trim level. The seats are very supportive, the steering was tight and I thought the vehicle handled very well. The ride was a little choppy for what I consider a car more than a truck. The very first thing I did not like was the automatic transmission. It was constantly changing at speed and almost drove me nuts, felt like the engine was missing or something. Finally, I discovered the way to overcome this was to pull it over to manual mode and shift it yourself. On the first leg of my trip I only averaged 27mpg allowing the vehicle to shift itself. I checked the mpg history on the computer and it read 21.5. Not good. On the way back, I manually shifted it and achieved 32mpg, which I believe exceeds the manufacturer claims. This was averaging about 65mph. So the folks that claim you need a manual transmission may have forgotten the auto has a clutchless manual mode. The 2.4 also has a lower torque curve than the turbo. I had a dealers license for almost 20 yrs as well, and from a resale perspective I would suspect a manual transmission might be very difficult to sell. This is not a Wrangler. I have 3 Jeeps, 2 XJs and a Comanche. They all have the 4.0L six, feel nothing like this car, but Id like to hear what folks have to say about the Trailhawk.

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  Mid-Term Review (2 yrs) - North Edition - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By quattroNORTH - April 6 - 10:00 am

  The Pat can rattle driving on gravel roads or offroad. Esp annoying are rattles coming from inside the steering column & the int. dr panels. Gas mileage can be sensitive, so stick to the manuals instructions. Take-off & passing perf are slow, & youd have to make your engine scream. But once momentum kicks in, it can be quite quick. Extreme cold weather starts (even plugged-in) can hesitate. Looks are great w/ lift kit & interior is roomy for its class. Pkg & value are superb, and offroad abilities are still good for its class. But too many Dodge Caliber parts. And 4WD LOCK doesnt seem to make much difference. Great looks & handling in snow and otherwise. SIRIUS reception can be spotty.

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  What do you expect? - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By caljeepster - April 5 - 6:37 pm

  I drive a 2004 Grand Cherokee 4.7 HO, 200k+ miles and going strong. I will keep this Jeep through 500k+ miles. When I was looking for a capable off-road with luxury comforts I found the WJ Jeep was best of the best. You will spend money on this vehicle, especially if you take it 150k+ miles but so what? You can find one used for $5,000. I typically spend 3-4,000 a year on my jeep but that is including lifting it 4", new tires and wheels and I use the 4x4 for fun on trails. That averages out to $300/mo. Not bad for vehicle that gets compliments every week and has rescued its fair share of other off roaders who lacked the power or traction to keep up with my Jeep. I love this Jeep.

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  Nice Rig - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Paul - April 5 - 9:16 am

  I traded a 2500HD to get my Dream Jeep. After a week of driving, it was more than I had hoped. The six speed is a good box. It has a tight gate, but easy to get accustomed to. The ride is a lot better than in the "shorty" Wrangler. The Jeep tradition lives on.

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  4 weeks and 4300 miles....great vehicle! - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By capt_flounder - April 3 - 4:28 pm

  I bought my Limited with Hemi about a month ago and promptly moved coast to coast. It is a comfortable, well equipped SUV and our first new vehicle in 17 years. We drove the LR2/4, Q5, XC60/90 and ML350 before buying the Jeep. The Jeep has the ride of the Germans, the Offroad capability of the British and the styling of the Americans. Without a doubt, the best capability/performance/value out there today. After a week and 2800 miles, I know we picked a winner.

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  Beware of 3.7 - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By MostAnnoyed - April 1 - 2:46 pm

  Absolutely loved the vehicle, turning radius was incredible, seats very comfortable, power was more than adequate, absolutely loved our Renegade UNTIL at 85,000 the engine seized up at a stoplight, never to run again. Web search indicates there seems to be a random behavior of these engines gumming up no matter how religiously you change the oil and filters or how well you maintain the vehicle. Most disappointed. After five years, the vehicle is worth $1000 as SALVAGE.

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  Not Bad... - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jim - April 1 - 10:53 am

  Overall, its not a bad vehicle. This is my third Jeep, and I have no major complaints. Reliability has been pretty good - Ive had a few minor warranty repairs, but thats it. Engine runs and pulls like a champ, and I get lots of compliments on the styling. Build quality could be a little better, but its not awful either. Ill be honest - I didnt spend Toyota money and I dont expect Toyota quality. Gas mileage is 15 city / 20 highway, but that drops pretty quick if I drive it hard.