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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  Great So Far - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Rman - June 11 - 9:20 am

  The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been great so far. It handled the snow really well this winter, and it is smooth on the highway. The heated leather seats are fantastic, and the interior is well-designed and comfortable for both driver and passengers. I had the same problem with the shift module as other reviewers, but the dealership replaced it free of charge and the transmission has been problem free ever since.

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  Bye, Bye Jeep... - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By 2Mack - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven jeeps for the past 5 years and have been pretty happy overall. If jeep had continued to manufacture the Cherokee Limited I probably would have continued to drive it. However, I did experience a number of recurring issues on both my Cherokee and SE models that proved extremely annoying.

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  Loving Every Minute - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rugged - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I am in love!! I hae had my Jeep for over a year now and I love it to death. My daughter and I go showboating anytime we can and we can go anywhere!! I love the durability, functionability and the overall look. Way too much fun...

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  Great car but terrible reliability - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jintseng - June 5 - 2:30 pm

  We experienced electrical problems 3 weeks after buying it. We opted for the 5.7 V8 Overland with QuadraDrive II. Check the Jeep forums to know problems associated with each model. Our Jeep Grand Cherokee had a check engine light turn on and off randomly. The shut off while the car was in drive, the air suspension raised and lowered, the windshield wipers would come on and off, the headlights would shut off in the middle of the night, and the doors would unlock themselves while the car was parked randomly. My wife was stuck at the mall for 3 hrs when the car would not turn on. The dealership tried to fix the car for 6 months to no available and we were without a loaner for initially.

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  Lots of Fun - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Syruis - June 4 - 2:13 am

  I traded a 04 Murano for this because I wanted extreme offroad capability and I was tired of all the comfort of leather/power everything. I knew what to expect of a Jeep (3rd Ive owned) and have not been disappointed. This is only the base model and I have minimum features. I wanted to modify this myself so now have a blank canvas to work on. The soft-top seems nice and I look forward to the summer with it down. So far, with temps in the 20s, this lil monster warms up just fine and stays warm on the highway at 70mph. Bumpiness is something to get used to, but like my 350z, you get what you pay for. The suspension offroad feels good and the 4WD is nothing to scoff at. Lots of power to play in.

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  Pleased so far. - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By erider - June 3 - 7:30 am

  I purchased a great looking Laredo entry level 4WD V6 model in August. I couldnt turn this deal down because they were offering such a bargain. It cost me the same as a new Honda Civic- a much smaller car! This car, however, is "bare bones" so to speak, with no options at all. But thats okay, I dont have a family so I dont need all that leg and cargo room and all the fancy gadgets. My Jeep, however, came with an inherent electrical problem that took the dealer two days to fix- it was the Junction Box that contained the wiring for the rear door lock that wasnt working correctly. I know I will love this vehicle for many years- its perfect for me!

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  Best bang for the buck - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By kbohip - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive had 2 Grand Cherokee 5.9s. Love them both. Theres no better feeling than effortlessly pulling away from everyone at stoplights while at half throttle. My advice to anyone considering a Grand is to get an extended warranty or at the very least change the tranny and diff. fluids at 25,000 miles.

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  95 Jeep SE 4D 4WD has been very reliable - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By JD Green - May 30 - 2:00 am

  170,000 miles. The only non-routine maintenance problem was a sheared engine mount bolt at about 120,000 miles. There have otherwise been no mechanical problems. Not even the clutch has failed.

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  Cherokee Country 4WD/ABS - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By weidem - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Convenience & vehicle utility are what this small to midsize family workhorse important. Whether you mean to go offroad or stay on, this vehicle serves an economical familys needs for safety, fun, and small truck type needs. It made me appreciate backroads, where I can get away from the stressful highways where the "Consumer Report BestBuys" clog the road. I tend to get where Im going in the same time or better anyway, but with a smile on my face. Our kids would much rather ride in this than a sedan, because even they can see the view better.

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  Window problems - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By GerryR - May 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Jeep with only 17,000 miles on it. The drvers window had problems right away. I have to help it up or it goes crooked. Soon after that the passenger side started doing the same. In the last 3 months both rear windows have broken and fallen into the door. I have them propped up and they are unuseable. I cant believe there has not been a recall on this as there are hundreds if not thousands of complaints.I cant believe that Jeep would put out such a faulty product and do nothing to fix it. I will not buy another one.