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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  Im in Love! <3 - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By Nishbot - August 11 - 2:56 pm

  Just bought a used 2003 Jeep, one-owner. Bought it with 36,000 miles on it. LOVE THIS SUV! Everywhere I go, its great to drive in. Great ground clearance, great handling. Fuel economy is a problem (15mpg mixed). But wouldnt drive anything else! Love it! Really easy to work on!

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  Could Not take it anymore! - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By hortmi - August 10 - 11:06 pm

  After driving my 14 Limited for a year and 20K miles and countless days in the dealer I just could not take it anymore. Ac issues,Uconnect and transmission issues finally made me trade it in. I had a early production 14 and was working a deal with the dealer to trade it in on a latter 14. I started thinking twice about going through this hell with another Jeep. I thought Id gave the dealer another chance to get the bugs worked out because I really liked the Jeep and had done several upgrades. It was in the shop this time for three days and was returned to me worse than when I took it in. Im sorry to say I traded it in on the way home for a Volvo. I sleep at night now!

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  6 years and still stong - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By applebyte - August 10 - 9:06 pm

  I purchased this vehicle new and it has been one of my favorites. The styling and ride are great and the reliability has been quite good. Like all GCs of this year, the front brakes were horrible but once the solution was found, I cant complain one bit. The answer to the brake problem is to replace the pads and calipers with a brake kit from the Jeep dealer. Basically its the same setup found on the 2003 model! Ive had this vehicle on long trips and off-road in the woods of Pennsylvania. It has performed very well. Would I purchase another one? You bet!

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  Love it! - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By sincitycop - August 10 - 7:20 pm

  Havent had the vehicle for but 3 weeks. Bought it used for half the price of what it cost new. It is truly one of the most enjoyable vehicles I have ever driven. I love the look and feel of it. The windows make visibility the best I have ever experienced except for the rear window view when the 3rd row seating is in place. The whole family loves it! We have had vans for most of our "family" years and wanted to get away from the whole van thing. This was a GREAT choice and I would definitely recommend one to anyone else. There are pros and cons to any vehicle. I believe the pros definitely outweigh the cons in this one!

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  Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By plarsen111 - August 10 - 1:53 pm

  It is a love/hate experience. I love to look at and drive my JGC. I hate to fix it. It will roll over 200k miles next week, and has the same problems as everybody else. So do I recommend you buy an older JGC? If you drive few miles (me - 6000k per year), love to love a car, can pick one up cheap ($3000), and have AAA ... then go for it. Otherwise, buy a Toyota. With the exception of the new 4Runner, they dont drive as well, but knowing you can take a long trip without worrying about it breaking down is an enjoyable experience too. My wifes Subaru fits that bill. Also, I have a Toyota van with 325k miles as a back up. I trust it way more than the Jeep. But I LOVE to drive my JGC!

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  dont buy a cherokee - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By dynamite44 - August 10 - 10:00 am

  i have a 2000 jeep cherokee sport. it had been a "demo car". In the first 30,000 miles, i had it towed twice, had the drive shaft fall out at a stoplight, had all the power windows and locks go at the same time, all the gauges replaced, the entire fuel system replaced (except 4 fuel injectors, the gas tank itself, and the fuel rail), front axle replaced, transfer case rebuilt twice, transfer case linkage replaced 3 times, and the rear axle rebuilt...

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  1996 Jeep Sport Classic 4DR 2WD - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By mariobox - August 10 - 10:00 am

  After seven years the only problem Ive had is a couple of oxigen sensors that needed replacement ($350). Other than that, this Jeep has earned its keep and then some. Strong and reliable as can be.

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  jeep grand cherokee - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By beemer - August 10 - 10:00 am

  Excellent all around vehicle. Drives nice and comfortable. Getting 20 miles per gallon with the six cylinder. I am now on my 3rd set of rotors in 35,000 miles.

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  A True Jeep... - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Blkpwdr - August 10 - 10:00 am

  I love it! Jeep is an acquired taste. If you arent a Jeep-lover, dont buy it! Best off-road performance Ive seen in its class. Handling is better than I expected on- road.

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  My Reveiw - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By chilly2006 - August 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive. It is easy to handle and has great control. My only complants are the noise engine and small fuel tank. At all times i fill safe and for a SUV it has great visibility.