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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  Unstoppable, Rugged, Stylish, and FUN! - 1998 Jeep Wrangler
  By mrmoon04 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  The Wrangler is an amazing off-road vehicle- by far the most capable of the Jeep family. I live in Wisconsin on a ranch and it gets me through some wicked bad snow and mud. Mine does have the I-4 2.5 Liter and I DO NOT think its underpowered, especially with a manual tranny. And I can get 20 mpg if Im careful. I would only reccommend a manual in any Wrangler. I have no problem maintaining my freeway speed. Yes, its noisy, but its a Wrangler, not a Grand Cherokee. Itll kick a Cherokees butt off-road. You get used to the wind noise. I absolutely love my Wrangler.

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  I love my Jeep ! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By DaveTaylor - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I needed a vehicle to pull a small travel trailer and get me to my favorite places for fishing and skiing. I compared them all and test drove many in the small SUV category. The Jeep Liberty is a winner.. of-road it is amazing considering the other creature comforts. For the price best vehicle in its class. Build quality is excellent. Way to go Daimler Chrysler.

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  Very Good Truck for your Buck - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By BuyAmerican - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Weve had our Jeep Grand Cherokee for about 2 weeks. It has a wonderful, spacious interior for passengers and cargo, with a decent fit and finish. The truck gets good gas mileage...for an SUV. Otherwise, the gas mileage isnt as impressive. The engine is so reliable, my friend who used to work at a Ford dealer with me called it bullet- proof. I may not of had it long, but friends and family have some, and they love theirs. Better than a Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot, because the way I see it, theyd rust out before Ive gotten my moneys worth!! Not to mention, their reliability IS NOTHING SPECIAL, MAYBE EVEN BELOW AVERAGE.

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  I love my Jeep! - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By four25 - June 28 - 9:17 pm

  Aside from the past 5 years I have always had a Jeep in my life. I let go of my Grand Cherokee due to gas mileage, so when this new Cherokee came out I was excited. It has not disappointed! I have the V6 Latitude. The pick up is great, and Im averaging 29 mpg on the highway and about 24 in the city. I drive in heavy traffic a lot, so that is very good. The 4 cyl car I just got rid of was only getting 20 mpg. It is comfortable, fun to drive, and a beautiful vehicle! My only complaint is the back of it is kind of ugly. I feel like the Jeep logo should be bigger or something. It just looks like something is missing. I didnt like the front end at first, but its really grown on me.

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  Good 4X4 - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By R.Beauchamp - June 28 - 1:06 pm

  This has been a great vehicle for me. This vehicle is great for off road and it has enough power to pull a boat. No fast but does very well. Since I bought it I’ve only changed the tires and brakes, the cooling fan ($70.00) and a battery. I have been amazed by the reliability of this Jeep. To be honest I did not expect this from a “Jeep”. The Jeep Grandcherokee is not this reliable. I had one before I bought the Liberty.

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  Dont Believe the Professional Reviews - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By nobrow - June 26 - 10:53 pm

  The reviews of the Compass have been almost universally negative, and almost universally wrong. Its a great car, economical, safe, comfortable, fun, and stylish! Ive had plenty of stares and at least three women tell me they really like how it looks. The acceleration is good: good from a stop and good for passing. It just feels slow because of the CVT, which takes a little getting used to, but is really nice once to adjust your driving style.

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  Great Vehicle - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Markh - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I love this vehicle.

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  Wonderful Vehicle - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Toos - June 24 - 7:10 pm

  I have been driving Jeeps for years. I love having the ability to go where I need to go no matter what the road conditions are. The new Wrangler is an improvement of a proven product line, and it gives me the capabilities I am looking for. Frankly, if you dont want a Jeep why bother with the other SUVs? They are simply cars with lower mileage and no performance in rough conditions. My only complaint is there is no diesel engine option, but thats true for the rest of the manufacturers too. The Wrangler is like a Swiss Army knife on wheels. Its not an SUV, its a Jeep!

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  Amazing Vehicle - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By WAjeeper - June 23 - 3:26 pm

  This vehicle is a tremendous amount of fun with the soft top and removable doors. Power is more than adequate for its size and weight. Extremely reliable; the only maintenance issues I have had in two and a half years are regular oil and filter changes every 3000 miles. Gas mileage is 15-17 mpg. Its a rough, loud ride, but its a Jeep not a Camry. Unstoppable off road. Cargo room and towing capacity are limited, but again you must realize what this vehicle is designed for and what it is not designed to do. Every vehicle has limitations and the Jeep is no exception. But it excels at what it was designed to do and I love it. I would buy another without hesitation.

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  2005 Jeep Liberty - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Jamie - June 21 - 5:13 pm

  I upgraded to the 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited from a 2000 Toyota Corolla. The Liberty sits high and is very comfortable to drive. It came with a nifty little cargo shelf that has dividers in the top portion. The only downside of this is that you cant use the cargo cover with it. Its one or the other.