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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  Oh, What a Feeling....Jeep - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Squirt - April 26 - 10:00 am

  This is our third jeep, my 91 Wrangler has 251K and our old Cherokee had 165K. Our basic philosophy is why buy an imitation when we can have the real thing.

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  Jeep Overland - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By smavridis - April 26 - 10:00 am

  Luxurius, very powerfull and fun to drive. Comfortable on very long drive (19 hours), as well as very responsive and confident driving in the city. I feel very safe and in control when driving my Jeep. I am very satisfied with it so far in every aspect.

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  Fuel Economy the worst!!!! - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By rickyrick - April 24 - 11:43 pm

  My wife purchased the non hemi V8 with 0 miles back in 06. Very strong engine, quiet interior, very smooth ride. Solid distinguishable looks. exterior, however the interior pretty bland w/ too much plastics. This model is supposed to get phased out in the next couple years, we got rid of it do to the worst gas consumption this beast would take. even on all hwy cruising trips this rig got 14 miles to the gallon @ best(calculated an average of 10 miles a gallon one time as well, pretty pathetic) and w/such a small 18 gal gas tank, that didnt help matters any more as we were filling up @ the gas stations 2-3 times a week! Traded it in for a brand new Hyundai Sonata Limited V6 just recently!

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  I LIKE IT - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By FRANK63 - April 23 - 10:00 am

  THE 5.9 IS VERY TORKY IT REVS ONLY 4500RPM. IF IT COULD WIND UP A LITTLE MORE IT WOULD BE A HOT ROD. eVERY THING WORKS GOOD I HAVE AN ACURA LEGEND WITH 52000 MILES AND I WOULD TAKE THE JEEP.

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  Very high build quality & fun to drive - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By djd - April 23 - 10:00 am

  This is my fourth Jeep and the build quality is far better than my last three Jeeps. There were no factory defects at all. The engine is very powerful and smooth running. The ride is far smoother and quieter than I expected with those knobby tires (although not car-like). The 4-wheel- drive system is unstoppable. My only suggestions are; get the hard top as the soft top is very difficult to install / remove & note that the "gray" interior is really black (very hard to keep clean). I could not be more pleased with this Jeep.

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  Better than a Cute Ute! - 2012 Jeep Patriot
  By bondiblue - April 23 - 1:05 am

  I didnt do a whole lot of shopping around, but I did know I didnt want a compact crossover that looked just like every other "cute ute" in the sea of SUVs on the road. The Patriot broke that mold and immediately attracted me. The interior redesign in 2011 made a big difference, although its still not up to par with competition. Rides and handles well. Only real complaint is the noisy engine. Other than that, I love this little Jeep.

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  Way underpowered - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By Sam Faust - April 22 - 12:21 pm

  Rented on vacation. The engine is completely punchless and to accelerate on the interstate literally requires flooring it. Maybe ok around town, but barely interstate worthy. Also, the cargo bay cant accommodate a regular golf bag.

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  Love The V8 - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Foxerson - April 21 - 2:06 pm

  I bought this Jeep in 1997 with 60,000 miles on it. 11 years later I am still driving it daily and have 235,000 miles on it. The 5.3 L V8 (318ci) mated to the quadra-drive full time 4WD transfer case has been a great setup. It holds the road great regardless of the weather and the V8 has plenty of power. It is also a highly capable off-road vehicle even without big aftermarket tires or a suspension kit. The most significant repair in that time was a transmission rebuild. Otherwise it has only needed an occasional basic repairs that have not been a surprise given the mileage I have put on it.

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  UNCOMFORTABLE! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By traci - April 20 - 4:40 pm

  I am not a large person; however, the Jeep Liberty makes me feel like I am in a Barbie toy car. The seat is so small -- a friend that is 63 and 181 lbs finds it very uncomfortable as well. I like the bells and whistles. The ability to drive through high water is fantastic in hurricane ravaged areas. But, my bum is always numb after only 20 minutes of driving!

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  Love Our Wrangler - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By Dan - April 20 - 12:13 am

  Although fairly new, we love our Rubicon. It will go through any Michigan winter. We had to have one after off roading in a Jeep in Moab, Utah. No need for block heater, heats up within a block.