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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  Good, Bad and Ugly - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jpg - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Good - 4.7 V8 engine screams. What a Rocket. Bad - Ride is interesting with solid axles and short wheelbase. Ugly - A/C could be better. Live in Texas so keep that in mind. Overall - Very solid and reliable truck.

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  JEEPY - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By JOY - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE MY LIBERTY... BUT THE THING THAT LACKS IS THE GAS IT GUZZLES... OTHER THAN THAT... ITS GREAT FOR ME

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  My toy - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By A. Klepp - February 14 - 1:13 am

  I bought my liberty in 08 off the lot its Great in the winter and amazing tow cap pulld an empty tracor trailer up a 30%grade to get him off the road after he got stuck in the snow and was blocking trafic. granted i was in low gear but i dont get out and push any any more. who needs an F150 HEMI when you have a JEEP

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  My jeep - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By Melinda - February 13 - 3:19 pm

  I love my Jeep Patriot !! BUUUUT, I have had it for only seven months and , it has been in the dealers repair shop five times to repair the trim on the windshield and roof :(( Really think this is a defect that Chrysler/jeep needs to check! After five times of ordering trim..... Maybe a defect in the grove?????

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  2003 Cheap Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD 4.0 - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Whatquality - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Wow. How can a type of one vehicle be so split? Some love it . Others hate it. Me, I hate it. Since Ive owned this vehicle Ive had 2 sets of rotors replaced. 3 fan relays. Now with a hole cut under the headlight I can replace it in minutes at $65. I now keep a spare. 2 window mechanisms. I cant believe an engineer ever imagined that a thin piece of plastic would ever hold the window up. The hood doesnt stay up. Wouldnt that be a no-brainer? Weight of hood. Strut to hold (I have a piece of wood). Now the best part. The engine dies. Anywhere. At intersections, expressways, in the driveway. And no diagnostic codes. After a couple of minutes right as rain. Dangerous! Illegal?

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  This is awesome! - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By roofer - February 12 - 4:33 pm

  My wife and I were test driving BMW X-5s and Volvo SUVs. But when she got behind the wheel of the 4dr Unlimited, her eyes glazed over. I have never seen my wife so happy driving a vehicle. We live at the top of a steep hill in the Blue Ridge Mountains and this with its torque and auto transmission will get her up and down with little effort. Like others who have the new 4door model we are constantly asked by strangers if they may check out our truck. Jeep hit the nail square on the head with this vehicle.

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  Improvements for Future Years - 2012 Jeep Wrangler
  By oldcoastie74 - February 10 - 11:13 pm

  I have owned my Rubicon Unlimited (automatic) for 33 months and 45000 miles, in Colorado, where snow and OHV roads have tested it. I am still in love with it. My wife, a BMW driver, hates it and refuses to drive it. (Breaking my heart, ha ha.) Only complaints were the transmission cooler (see below) and the leather front seat needed repair. I will likely keep this for 10 more years!

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  Take a Closer Look at the Grand Cherokee - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By gc - February 10 - 11:06 pm

  The Grand Cherokee is a fun vehicle to drive. In reading some of the professional reviews, I was skeptical until I actually drove the Jeep. It has a 4.7 V8, which has plenty of power, and we have found it to be a very comfortable vehicle. The interior has plenty of room and everything is conveniently located. Ours is "optioned" up pretty good and has the Quadra Drive II. Overall, I would highly recommend the Grand Cherokee to anyone looking for a fun, mid-size SUV.

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  FLOOD in Nashville! How i got around... - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Hollisterdude127 - February 10 - 10:26 pm

  I bought the 07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo v6 about 4 months ago with 20k miles on it. The Jeep is pretty awesome, I am a first time Jeep owner and will probably be a Lifetime Jeep owner after owning this one. I live in Nashville and we just had a horrible flood, this Jeep got me around everywhere I needed to go. I trust it, I love it! I would recommend to anyone considering a smaller SUV. I get about 20.5 mpg city/highway combined.

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  poor making - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By tikkjoe - February 10 - 9:58 pm

  i have bought this car from jeep dealer and was told i get about 10 to 14 a gallon first 2 weeks i got about that then on display i seen at first 250 miles to empty now on a full tank 17 gallons i see 151 miles to a gallon and doing 65 on highway i get 11 miles to a gallon and dealers say thats about right [non-permissible content removed].