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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  Better than the 2000 Version. - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By dontwaitbid - January 18 - 10:00 am

  Well, this is my 4th Jeep. Ive owned a 87 Jeep Cherokee, 97 Cherokee, 00 Jeep Grand Cherokee & finally this 03 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The first Jeep was a nightmare. I swore I would never buy another Jeep. The 2nd & 3rd Jeep changed my opinion. The product has gotten better.

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  Love/Hate - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By in_motion - January 13 - 4:33 pm

  Bought this XJ before my student teaching semester in college at 180xxx mi. Perfect for hauling all kinds of teaching junk and made a 30 mile round trip commute daily with no problems. Since I bought it, Ive replaced the rear brakes, water pump, thermostat, spark plugs, and a block expansion plug. All work was done by me as this is the easiest vehicle to fix ever! Parts are cheap and plentiful. It now has 213xxx miles on it and is still running ok. The suspension is saggy in the rear, but this is expected on a 15 year old vehicle. Underbody rust is about to send it to the scrap yard, but I will drive it till it does.

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  You gotta like - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By joeg - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Overall, a solid buy. Like the comfortable seating. Could definitely use improvements in AC, mileage.

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  A love hate relationship - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By munckin001 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I love the Jeep, Sturdy, responsive, good towing ability, good power on high end lacks power in mid range.with 55,000 miles I am getting 19-22 mpg. Get ABS! have had 2 accidents due to brakes locking up while making turns on slick surfaces or turning on to gravel, have had 5 near miss accidents. No dealer help on this issue, that is the hate part of the relationship, dealers are not willing to back up thier product...Visit National highway transportation safety site for consumer complaints.

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  jeep99 - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By razway - January 9 - 3:06 am

  I have had my Jeep grand cherokee 4wd in the shop 2 times for excessive noise in the rear end. "rough bearings" so i am told. 25k miles and 65K miles.

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  Transmission Problems? - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep Owner - January 9 - 12:40 am

  For those who have a hard shift in your transmission when cold or muggy OR the transmission has a hard time engaging. I finally found the problem after 8 months of taking notes and driving to the dealership. Talk with the transmission technician and ask to run a diagnostic on the transmission pump and valves. The transmission bleeds pressure overnight and the pump isnt pushing the fluid into the transmission fast enough, also the valves are misfiring and opening valves to build pressure instead of closing them. Hope this helps.

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  A Durable, Do-Anything SUV - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Andrew F. - January 8 - 11:56 pm

  First Jeep I have owned and I have to say its been a pleasure. Purchased pre-owned w/ 52K miles. Have had no major maintenance issues in 3+ years and going strong with just over 90K miles on it. We have 2 kids and 2 dogs and the Jeep (w/ a Thule box on roof) is a great sized vehicle that can go ANYWHERE!..and in comfort too. Great power, very comfortable, looks cool, drives great and very reliable. Love it, and will definitely consider replacing it w/ another Jeep someday.

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  Great buy for the money - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Sarah - January 8 - 12:10 pm

  I have had my Jeep Liberty for just over two years and have never had a problem with it. This is my fourth Jeep, and with my Liberty, I have not run into some of the problems I had with prior ones. There was one window leak recall, but other than that, it has been smooth sailing. There are some great features with the Jeep, and I especially love the responsive handling and added features. Its fun to drive and very safe feeling. Its comfortable from the front seat or back and has good cargo room if you arent trying to bring home large furniture or more than one stroller. All Ive ever done is routine maintenance, no other break-downs or problems!

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  New owner - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By diezel - January 7 - 11:26 am

  its not just a car, its a hobby, if you are looking to personalize it and make it unique then you will have a blast doing that there are not 2 that are alike, they are beautiful to look at and appreciate each owner individuality. There are many companies out there that offer thousand of after market products to help you do just that. I love my 2010 wrangler its not a fast car or the best handling car out there but it is FUN to drive, top down, or up with the windows open. There are after market products that will allow you to increase HP and make it more powerful if that is what you are after. Its a vehicle that more than any other vehicle out there that is as unique and versatile.

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  Everything you need - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jerryo12 - January 6 - 8:30 pm

  I bought my Jeep with 41,000 miles and now have 90,000. I have have done no major repairs; only brakes and tires - water pump is getting a slow leak though. Very powerful and fun to drive. I used to update vehicles every 2 years but this one has everything I need so I dont need to upgrade. Luxuries match those in expensive luxury cars! Performs great in snow in mud as well as on road. Very comfortable vehicle as long as only 2 people or 4 short ones.