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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  jeep 2001 - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By ludovico - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I like my Jeep because it is reliable and fun to drive. It performs exceptionally well off road. The downside is the four cylinder is sluggish at times going up a steep grade on a roadway. A solid vehicle otherwise.

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  My JEEP Liberty Sport - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Micah - October 20 - 11:23 pm

  My Jeep Liberty has been a great vehicle. The overall exterior design is very sleek I think. The interior is very comfortable. It handles great with six cylinders and 4X4. Its a very fun vehicle to drive on the highway or offroad!

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  Extremely pleased - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Pat - October 19 - 7:40 pm

  What a great SUV. Drives & handles excellent. Its smooth, quiet, safe & responsive. Many great options. My last 4X4 was a loaded Ford Expedition but rode & handled like a truck. I had a Jeep salesman take me for a demo ride in a Grand last winter during a bad snowstorm to highlight how the Mercedes platform handles/controls in icy treacherous conditions. He drove it hard & the control & performance was very impressive. For 4 months I shopped other SUVs but went back for the Jeep! I drive the Colorado mountains 12 months a year so winter safety is important but also wanted to move into a luxury ride. It handles our 10K foot passes great. So far 18/23MPG. My Ford got 11/15 MPG. The increase in MPG alone is worth every $.

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  Tough little truck - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By keycat02 - October 18 - 10:30 pm

  Im quite happy with this vehicle. The full-time 4WD performs well in deep snow and on rutted, muddy roads, and also on wet pavement. The V6 is powerful and relatively thrifty given the weight of the vehicle (15.5-17.5 mpg city, 23 mpg on a long highway drive). The fuel economy improved substantially after 3000 miles. The brakes are strong and the optional ABS system has already saved me a few times. The vehicle easily towed a 1000 lb trailer and load. The standard factory stereo is decent sounding. The vehicle handles well on the road, but even better when things get rough

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  No problems - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By sdc - October 18 - 12:30 pm

  I purchased this vehicle used with the 4.7L V8 and 24K miles and have had no problems. It has power to pass traffic with no problems. We just had it on a trip and it performed wonderfully in foul weather. This is a true Jeep.

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  Best Wrangler Yet! - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By Lee , Salisbury, MD - October 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my 4th Wrangler and it is a major improvement, in comfort and performance, without compromising the classic design.

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  You have to love this thing - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By jefr - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my liberty for 5 months now and drove it some 4000 miles, mostly on rough roads or no road at all. You have to love the performance this little engine (2.4L) gives, shure it could use some mor HPs but the mileage is quite decent, the comfort is amazing. Some minor glith at 2000 miles with a speed sensor, but the dealer replaced quicly.

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  Started Great But Getting Expensive - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By sw - October 17 - 10:06 pm

  I love just about everything about this SUV, which is why Im so disappointed that its starting to cost me a lot of money in repairs after only 4 years. I have put more than $3000 into this vehicle in both maintenance and repairs in just the last 12 months. The little plastic piece that covers the gear shift broke in the cold this winter (over $300 to fix), the AC doesnt work and needs to have the compressor replaced ($1000 to fix). I am trying to decide whether I should trade it in for a 2007 model just to stop the budget bleeding even though I have a year left of payments on it, or trade it in for an Xterra instead. The biggest factor in my decision will be the (un)reliability aspect.

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  Love It! - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By kcandspaz - October 16 - 3:03 pm

  I bought this vehicle a couple of weeks ago. Already I love it! I purchased the 5.7 liter V8 flex fuel engine. Gas mileage is as expected (about 17 miles/gal), but the power and comfort cant be beat.

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  **My Jeep** - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Steve - October 13 - 1:23 pm

  Its a great SUV! Great in the snow. I bought the V-8 4.7 liter. It averages 15 mpg. I test drove the V- 6 4.0 liter. I needed the V-8 for my needs. I really didnt want to buy the 2005 with the new body and new motor design, so I got a left over.