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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  Love this Jeep - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By GaryF - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Im 63 yrs. old and this was the most pleasurable buying experience I ever had. I purchased my Overland at Jim Marsh Crysler in Las vegas. I was in and out in a little over an hour with a great deal. There was no pressure and no hassle. What a great staff. Cant say enough.

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  Wed buy another Liberty - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By altoid1 - March 22 - 3:03 pm

  All around solid SUV, with decent gas mileage. Fun to drive and very capable off road, in sand, and in snow. Has the feel of quality engineering throughout. My wife, who drives it most of the time, is completely in love with her Liberty. The size allows her to park in a very tight area at work. I like the size for some off-roading we do; can fit between trees and in other tight places.

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  Very poor quality! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Leslie - March 22 - 5:46 am

  We leased a 2005 Jeep Cherokee Laredo and not only is it a lemon but the dealership will not let us out of the lease. It breaks down all the time. Dealer cannot fix any of the problems we have had with it. Not to mention, recently, while driving down the highway, a small pebble went through the grill and hit the transmission cooler (in front of the radiator - dont be fooled, they look exactly alike), and caused transmission fluid to spray all throughout our engine and vehicle and it almost caught on fire. If a small pebble can cause this it gets you wondering about the build quality of this vehicle. I dont expect too much more from the 2006 or 2006 either.

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  Very Happy - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By ksandlin - March 20 - 3:03 pm

  Tested the 2.0L which was totally under- powered - 2.4L is a must. Leather interior, nice instrument cluster, sunroof, and Sirius give a luxurious feel to a very affordable SUV (dark interior with silver metallic accents). Mileage is averaging 22-24, though small tank is a little annoying. Lifetime powertrain warranty is a winner. Fun to drive!

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  More Diesels Please! - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By retmil46 - March 20 - 11:03 am

  DaimlerChrysler has a winner with this engine/vehicle combination. Excellent fuel mileage for its weight and size, ability to use alternative fuels, excellent handling and ride, solidly built, climbs 6 percent grades in 5th gear lockup at 70 mph, and have seen upwards of 34 MPG on the interstate at 75 mph. Put this engine in a Dakota 4X4 and DaimlerChrysler will be selling trucks faster than they can build them.

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  Jeep peep - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Tliberty - March 19 - 8:16 pm

  This is my 3rd Jeep vehicle and I have only good things to say about them. The dealerships however are another issue. All of my experiences with Jeeps have been good and I highly recommend them.

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  Love my Jeep - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By pkamas - March 19 - 5:03 pm

  I love my Jeep! This is the best, most reliable, most fun vehicle I have ever had. Even more fun than a BMW 320I (had one of those -- thats another story). I have had this vehicle for 6 years; bought it new, never had a problem. The only time it was in the shop was when I hit a deer and wanted to get the grill fixed. Gas mileage is great for an SUV. I constantly go 320 miles or more on a tank. If its a road trip Ive gotten as much as 450 miles a tank. Not too bad! Love the Cherokee, I wish they would not have discontinued it, the Liberty is too cutesy, not my style. Great overall vehicle.

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  2008 Jeep Wrangler-Massachusetts - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Keith - March 19 - 3:53 am

  This is my third Jeep Wrangler and the best one yet, comfortable and stylish. The all wheel disc brakes are a nice feature, very comfortable seats, its a blast to drive. Negatives: The side doors leak bad in rain, there is a TSB#23-002-08 (Tech Service Bulletin) to repair the problem for free. It will take a full day at the dealer for this to be completed. The engine power is less than my 2000 Wrangler on the highways.

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  Wish I would have rented one first - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Cindy - March 18 - 3:10 pm

  After on 2 weeks I knew I bought this vehicle in haste. The seats sit really high and are not very comfortable. The brake and gas pedals are dangerously close. The steering is very touchy and difficult to control. The price really isnt that great when you really take a look at what you get. My Jeep has been for sale for 2 months with no bites.

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  Dont bother extending the warranty.... - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By robert - March 18 - 12:30 pm

  As has been the case with past reviews, this vehicle needs brakes once a year. Find a person who knows brakes or youll have ample opportunity to learn to fix them yourself. Gas mileage is average.