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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  Its a Jeep - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Rodney - November 4 - 7:33 pm

  Purchased 98 Jeep in 06 with 70,000 Ks in Australia. Have spent last 3 years towing a caravan on a mobile ministry and wouldnt replace it. Now has 135,000ks on the clock and apart from servicing hasnt cost anything. Looks like it will go forever, God willing.

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  My Rubi Is Bad - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Sixgun - November 3 - 9:26 pm

  I an older dude (51) who has always had Jeeps. I recently gave my old 89 YJ a break and bought a new 05 Rubicon. This Jeep take the name "Jeep" to new horizons. Smooth riding, responsive, tough and very ergonomic. The Dana 44s, 411 gearing along with the new tough transfer case give me piece of mind when tooling around in the boonies. I figure I have a good 20 years left on Gods green Earth and I plan on spending all of those years with my "Impact Orange" Rubicon. The only problem I will have is deciding which products to buy when "accessorizing" my Rubi,

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  So Far.. So Good.. - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By LSB - November 1 - 3:03 pm

  Overall a very nice SUV. 3500 miles so far and no problems or issues. Good power and sweeet sound from the 4.7 V8. Very nice daily driver if you dont mind pulling up to the gas pump a bit more often. Very linear steering tracking, no wander or stray. Brakes are strong and progressive. Fairly low wind noise even with large side mirrors. Much nicer ride/drive/handling than previous GC, though can be a bit floaty over certain bumps. Excellent headlight throw and pattern at night, both low/high beam. People compliment the new style. Seats firm yet comfortable once you get settled in. Controls laid out well, easy to see/reach. Nice optional sound system.

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  She saved my life... - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By derbygrl - November 1 - 2:25 am

  And now I only hope to replace my Liberty. No joke, I had a run-in with a semi and lost on a night in ND where the winds and rain were blowing over 50 mph. I bounced off of the underside of the trailer, totaled my Jeep, and did not even have a scratch. (Oh, by the way, the engine is perfectly fine!) While test driving other cars, trucks, and SUVs, I have not been able to find anything that has that snap and power I am looking for. I did my research here on Edmunds and other sites, and made sure all the ancient recall work was done before I bought it with 100,000 miles. I never had a problem! Sure it is thirsty at the pump, but I put it in my budget and dealt. I miss my Jeep!

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  10 year owner - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By m.maroney - November 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought it brand new and drove it extensively off road in the mountains of Colorado for the first 5 years, and have since driven it on the freeways of Southern California for another 5 years. It has 130k miles, still looks stylish, and runs like a top with little extra yearly maintenance.

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  Kicks ass, no questions - 2002 Jeep Wrangler
  By gotfungu - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Reliable, goes anywhere, 19mpg with a 4.0l engine... what else do you want? Did I mention babe magnet?

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  Jeep Liberty 2002 - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Sschil7470 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Great car for work or play. Gas mileage for work is only 15 but hwy is 20. I have had the vehicle 3 mths and love it. It has the classic jeep feel with all the upgrades! Love the design of the vehicle. It looks very sporty but also very classy! Would recommend to everyone!

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By Coloradoguy - October 30 - 8:23 pm

  We looked at both US and import small SUVs and bought Compass based on vehicle cost and availability of CVT. Have taken long road trips and love the vehicle. Absolutely zero warranty or other problems. Average around 27 MPG on road and 25 in city driving. CVT works perfectly in mountain driving and often reaches 30 MPG due to lower average speed. Receive lots of questions from people as to how we like vehicle and know of two others buying a Compass based on our positive experience.

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  Jeeperooo - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ROSIE29 - October 28 - 8:56 am

  Wonderful SUV! Quiet and handles beautifully! Gives you a nice smooth ride.

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  Great - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By jbuford04 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car when my old Cherokee finally decided to die (at 300K). At first getting used to the controls was a little difficult. I adjusted very quickly to the placement of the controls and have actually found them to be more convenient. Never had any problems in almost any weather condition. Hardest conditions were about 9" of snow on the ground and I still didnt get stuck at any point. Very cold air very quickly in the summer. The heater takes a few minutes of warming up to get nice and hot. Overall I havent found any problems with my car so far.