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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  Life in the Middle Lane - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By cylonrader - November 9 - 2:03 pm

  Decent power but great fuel economy. So its a trade off there. Does good in every aspect. But not for serious jeepsters.

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  Nice Small SUV - 2011 Jeep Patriot
  By ejuoi - November 9 - 12:28 pm

  Its a nice little SUV. Rides like a car on the streets but feels more like an SUV when it comes to riding on rough roads. Go with the 215/225 tires for best ride. The 2.4 litter engine is adequate on power and it never disappoints for everyday driving. The CVT transmission needs time to get used to because at first its buzzy but after a couple of hundred miles the Engine/Cvt settle down and it becomes nice and smooth on sound. The interior is very nice, you definitely know youre in a Jeep. It feels very roomy considering its a smaller SUV. The exterior is very nice from all angles. Ive gotten nothing but compliments from friends. Someone said it looks like a mini Hummer H2. It does!

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  Finally got it - 2009 Jeep Wrangler
  By iceman - November 9 - 3:40 am

  I bought my X sight unseen via email with my dealer. I took the only X they had at the time. I have wanted one for quite awhile and have been completely happy with my purchase. Its is so much fun to take the top down and just drive. Mileage is 20-21 which is good. I bought it for the winter snow, but am sure I wont be able to wait for spring.

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  i dont know about this... - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By D - November 9 - 3:06 am

  Im going to be accosted for this but... I hate driving this thing, it is in perfect condition and all but it is HELL on the highway! You feel like the wind is going to take you and flip you over and It has almost happened a few times. It wont move in snow unless its in 4X4. Dont get caught in a snow storm on the highway because driving in 4wd on the highway is scary also. Overall its a very dangerous vehicle if you do a lot of highway driving. The newer ones address those problems and its not as bad but do be careful, and choose wisely if you are going to drive this on the highway. Also my local dealer is full of scammers and traveling salesman.

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  great car, but not for everyday use - 1999 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rsmitty - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Its obviously a Jeep. Theres no mistaken you are taking a ride in an offroad vehicle from the first time you enter it. I would have to agree with the others that this is not an everyday vehicle due to its poor performance on the highway. However, it more than does its job offroad. I think the suspension is perfect, I got my Jeep because of its capabilites, not for a plush ride. I have not had a single problem with it yet and its continues to impress me as a fun to drive vehicle. I would however, not be able to take it on the highway above 55 mph for any length of time. I would definetly buy another and would recommend it to everyone that wants to have fun.

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  My second Jeep - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By tx pathfinder - November 5 - 10:10 am

  I had a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and I decided on the Commander for its third row seat (small children) and safety. The 4.7 V8 is much better than the old I 6. The ride is very smooth and quiet. It is much better in town and on the road than my wifes 2005 Explorer; however, the Explorers V6 is about 2-3 mpg better than the Commander.

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  Recalls possible if this sounds like you - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Ben - November 5 - 6:36 am

  Day 1 Feb. 17, 2006: I drove it home and noticed it was smoking, and I was losing oil. It turned out the problem was caused at plant during assembly; some of the valve-cover gasket screws were left out causing the oil to seep from the engine and onto the exhaust and undercarriage. May 26, 2006 I drove from NNJ to VA Beach for Memorial Day weekend; there was hesitation on acceleration, and periods of rough idle. On the way back I started to hear a whistle type of sound like wind noise in the cabin; it only sounds while vehicle. is in motion, even though all windows, doors, and sunroof were shut tight. Today June 15, 2006 with only 2,500 another problem! Drivetrain thumping noise.

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  the JEEPSTER! - 1995 Jeep Wrangler
  By syril - November 5 - 2:00 am

  THE WRANGLER WILL FOREVER BE IN MY HEART...BUT ITS TIME TO MOVE ON. EVERYONE SHOULD RIDE OR OWN ONE OF THESE CARS ONCE IN THEIR LIFE!

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  Does nothing extremely well, or poorly - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By emurray - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Lots of engine noise. Goodyear rubber wore out fast. Have Michelin X Terrain SUV tires, now. Small armrests. Rear door entry is tight for adults. No rear seat headrests!!! Lousy spare and in bad location. Readily accepts tow hitch, fog lamps, after-market sound system. Latest design is much cleaner than late 80s, early 90s. Great little 4WD utility vehicle.

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  Great vehicle! - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By logic7 - November 5 - 12:30 am

  Ive had this vehicle for around a year now, it has 240k with nothing rebuilt. It has the 5.2l V8. (not sure why its not listed in here) Very fun vehicle and I love opening it up and listening to the engine (got a glasspack on it so its a little louder). Good for offroad although it could use a locker in the rear.