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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  This is it if you have to have an SUV - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Heil - December 21 - 12:06 pm

  My wife picked this one out. While I was reluctant at first, I must say it is a whole lot of fun to drive around in. While some say the interior may not be up to the BMW, X30, or Rover quality, you have to remember, *this is a JEEP*. It isnt meant to simply ford the pothole at the golf club. Its made to actually leave the pavement, and shes responded nicely to some rough roads. Storage is great unless you have all three rows of seats up (which we never do, but its good to know theyre there in case of emergencies). The 4WD system is incredible. Ive had 4WDs before, but how easily it handles slippery roads is really amazing.

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  Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk - 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By koenigsegg_fan - December 20 - 6:37 pm

  The JGC Trailhawk is a limited edition Laredo with exclusive features. It does have the 5.7 HEMI. There isnt anything that makes it drive differently than a regular Grand Cherokee. We found this rare Jeep on the dealer lot for $8000 off. What a deal! It has a really smooth ride from the air suspension. With rugged off-road tires, it still has a really quiet, smooth ride. The seats are big, but firm. However, theyre really comfortable. Its cargo space is good for luggage even with the seats up. The interior is well-put together with high quality materials, and many are soft to the touch. We had 0 problems with the electronics, the engine, and the air suspension. We had it for 9 months.

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  I Love My Wrangler - 1994 Jeep Wrangler
  By tmgj - December 19 - 8:20 pm

  I have my Wrangler as a toy, not a daily driver but whenever the weather is nice, its my daily driver. The 4 cylinder gets around great in town, slow on the highway but it wasnt made for highway. I have a Rampage bowless soft top thats really nice. A 90s jeep is cheaper than a new 4 wheeler and a lot more fun! Aftermarket parts and modifications are never ending, you can do anything you want to a jeep(if you have the money).

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  Bought Used, Love It - 2009 Jeep Commander
  By jer - December 17 - 10:23 pm

  Bought this used and love it. Runs great, looks rugged, the gas mileage is a draw back. Have had a couple of small interior things that needed to be replaced, but overall nice interior design. The third row seating is nice, but not a lot of room back there, especially for a tall person. Had a Grand Cherokee before, bought this Commander and I love it. It is fantastic in the snow as well.

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  Commanding Review - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Commander Mom - December 15 - 12:20 pm

  I could not be more excited about a car! This is more than any soccer mom could want. I love my new Jeep. We have three kids, and we all fit perfectly. The kids love the back seat. We have the Limited with the HEMI and there is a huge difference between that and a regular 4.7L. I loved it from the minute I drove it. Plenty of power for a mom on the go and always in a hurry. The DVD and wireless headphones are great, not to mention the SIRIUS radio ready, and great sound system. The leather is great, the roominess is great, I love the chrome on black. Its one sharp ride.

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  Still running great - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jim in alabama - December 14 - 12:50 pm

  Coming up on 2 year of ownership and still no problems. Normal mx and just replaced tires. Never added a drop of fluids between changes. I change my oil every 5000 miles and my Cherokee still runs like a top. Jeep did good when they built this one. Leather is still in great shape. All the bells and whistles still work as advertised. Just bought a Liberty for a tow vehicle for my motor home, hope it is as good as the Cherokee.

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  2004 Freedom Love those Rock Rails - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Frank Koonce - December 14 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Jeep and I have not had it very long but in that short time I have had it I have enjoyed it more than I have any of the other 4X4s that I have owned. I moved to the Jeep from a P/U and have not missed the P/U at all.

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  A hidden gem! - 2017 Jeep Renegade
  By J.R. - December 13 - 10:23 am

  I bought a 2017 desert hawk thinking that it would be great for snow and would at least hold strong residual value. Im blown away by how nice the car is. It tackles slick, hilly roads with no problem. It is exceptionally comfortable. It is loaded with modern technology. Its reliable and wows all of my friends. Dont believe everything you read, these are really top of the line in this price range.

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  Love the look and feel of this quirky vehicle! - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By Nathan - December 13 - 12:26 am

  I have to say that Ive been warned many times to stay away from Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep products due to quality concerns. You can find on many consumer websites that this concern is well founded, as this automaker appears at or near the bottom of a lot of reliability lists. I took a shot on the Jeep, since I found that the Patriot is Jeeps most reliable vehicle (about average relative to all other cars), I love the exterior styling and interior function, and the dealer gave me a great deal on the Altitude version that I wanted. Obviously you can see where this review is going... I have just made my second service appointment for the Jeep and Ive had it less than two months. 500 miles into my ownership of this vehicle, the malfunction indicator lamp lit on my way home. I took it to the dealership and they cleared the code, stating that the code came up as a minor emissions leak, but they suspected a false positive. Another 500 miles or so later, and the light is back on. Now, this does appear to be a very minor issue, as the Patriot is driving great so far. However, no one wants to be subjected to multiple visits to the dealer immediately after purchase of a new car. Now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, I have to say that I do love the car. There is something analog and old school about it that is very enjoyable, now that it is basically the only choice for those who dont love the new, swoopy styling of almost all crossovers these days. The front seats are very comfortable and the UConnect radio works very well. The high seating position, boxy shape and square windows, as well as large side mirrors all lend to visibility being very good. As for power and the CVT, I dont drive aggressively, so I have had no problems so far. Its a very smooth ride. I can see where some drivers might want for some extra power, but for me, the trade-off for extra gas mileage is worth it. Speaking of which, Im already averaging 26 to 27 MPG, which I think is very solid considering the boxy shape. Its nice to find a window sticker that displays mileage that is actually beatable, and not a pipe dream. So, overall, I guess the grade on the Patriot has to be an incomplete for now. I have it at 4 stars, but that review could change in either direction depending on overall reliability over the next few years. I do love it, but if I cant keep it out of the garage, Ill be forced to trade it in down the line. Which would be a shame, because there is a lot to love!

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  Lovin my XK! - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By GeoDan - December 11 - 10:53 pm

  Real off-road capability in a world of "soft-roaders." This vehicle benefits greatly from Jeeps involvement with Daimler and as a result its an interesting mix of American and German input. Fuel mileage isnt great overall, but I am consistently observing higher than EPA ratings, particularly at highway cruising speeds.