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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  pleasantly surprised! - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By botros - June 17 - 9:16 am

  Purchased used w/ 12k on the odo. So far, its been great. The 4x4 works great and has already gotten me out of a bind. The interior is very comfortable and usable. The 3rd row does not get used much, but its good to have just in case. I got a flat, and while changing the tire was straight forward, the steel wheel spare is way too heavy. Im a big guy that works out 2-3 times a week, and had a hard time lifting it up on the studs. Cant find many other faults. Throttle response is on the slow side, need brighter headlights. Gas door needs to lock when car is locked. Better gas mileage, but it is the V8 and 4wd, so 15-16mpg overall is ok I guess.

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  20,000 Mile Update - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By Todd - June 16 - 11:03 am

  I am approaching 20k on my Patriot. So far I have averaged 23 mpg and have had no problems whatsoever (oil changes and tire rotations only). This has been a great vehicle so far. The Patriot could use more power, however it isnt as sluggish as some reviews make it out to be. Many fail to mention that you actually need to learn how to drive the CVT transmission. Honestly, I disliked the vehicle the first time I test drove it.

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  2002 Overland - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By crhoof - June 13 - 3:05 pm

  I bought my Jeep a little under a year ago an Ive already up almost 20,000 miles on it. The truck now has 147,000 miles. I paid $5000 for the car and Ive already almost put $3000 into it in work. The truck has no, NO, resale value.. NOT worth the 12.5 MPG I average.. Terrible jeep customer service, and no worth while recalls. Ive had several wheel seals, drive shaft seals, speakers and heated seats replaced and Jeep says these are "not" common problems. Its pretty and comfortable but not worth time/money.. Save yourself and your money

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  Jeep Liberty Limited CRD - blown engine - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By winter2 - June 12 - 3:37 am

  Bought my CRD brand new. Fairly reliable and occasionally quirky. Good highway economy at 30-31 MPG. During a recent trip, the #1 connecting rod disintegrated and sent shrapnel throughout the engine at 77,594 miles. Have a case setup with Chrysler and waiting to hear if they will fix it. The diesel tech at the dealer where it is and the engineer at Chrysler he spoke to had never heard of this diesel blowing up like this.

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By BronYrAur21 - June 11 - 1:43 pm

  I bought this vehicle with almost 30,000 miles on it in late 2008, and have since put nearly another 30,000 on it myself. Like other reviewers, I did have an issue with the electronic shift module, which would cause the Jeep not to accelerate properly, though the dealership found a technical service bulletin for this and replaced the module. Since then, no issues whatsoever! I commute 100 miles per day three days a week and have felt very comfortable taking my Jeep even in bad weather. I average around 20 MPG in mostly highway driving.

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  It pulses and jumps a little - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Virginia Jim - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This has been a great vehicle and fun to drive. It seems to accumulate fuel and cause a surge in the engine from time to time. It can jump when it is in drive and standing still. But, it is incredible as an off road vehicle and has very sophisticated traction. We manuevered through 30 inch snow and 5 foot drifts easily, and we played for hours in the snow virtually by ourselves, because no one dared. Great car.

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  Half Cherokee, Half Wrangler - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By J843 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  The Jeep Liberty is a great blend of Grand Cherokee features and Wrangler capabilities. This Jeep is more truck than it is car, so those of you looking for a small SUV that handles like a car need to keep looking. No other SUV except the Wrangler has the off-road capability of this Jeep. It handles well on the road, but it is not a car, and does not even attempt to approach the handling of a car. It is greedy on gas, but the engine is powerful. I have the 2WD Limited version, and Im completely happy with my purchase. I suggest the 4WD Renegade version for those who are going to do serious off- roading.

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  Hemi - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Ben - June 11 - 1:46 am

  Chrysler doesnt give the best customer service once you own the vehicle but so far, the Commander does wonders. It is tough getting in/out of rear since the wheel well blocks doorway. The sun shades in the rear roof could have been designed better. Also, cargo room behind the rear seat does not exist with the rear seats up. Your belongings will fall out if open the rear gate if you dont have a cargo net which is not standard.

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  Four Door Jeep Wrangler - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Dr. Kris Johnson - June 10 - 6:16 pm

  This car is much sturdier than the two door Wrangler. The larger wheels and stable frame makes this car an excellent and safer drive. Ive purchased a couple of 2007 four door Wranglers and they have not tipped over or "flipped" over. I love this car and the bigger the body and wheels, the safer the Jeep is.

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  My Experience - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By bdarnell - June 10 - 11:06 am

  I have owned my Jeep since 2008 with no major issues. I did have the ball joints replaced on the recall. I also had an issue with the locking mechanism on the back hatch. In my opinion this Jeep runs great and is comfortable. I take this vehicle to work daily for a short commute and have also taken it on long trips. I LOVE my jeep!!