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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  Offroading - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By James - April 11 - 6:40 am

  I have driven my Rubicon through mud pits, up 50 degree slops, up rock banks after driving through rivers and almost nothing has stopped it. Its gas mileage is miserable compared to my old BMW. I get around 15 miles to the gallon, yet its well worth the trade considering the hauling ability. Removing the back seat I was hauling 70 pumpkins in the back and putting my friends F-250 to shame. The reliability is amazing as well, and it is extremely easy to change the oil and do minor work. I love putting all the Hummer owners to shame when they realize they spent 15,000 more on a vehicle nowhere near as good as my Rubicon.

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  fun for the money - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jeepsRfun2drive - April 3 - 11:56 pm

  the jeep has had some issues, but overall the fun and satisfaction of driving it has been far beyond my expectations. i bought my 05 5.7L HEMI with 24k, have 49k now, had electrical issues with ac and the knob on the gps fell off, both replaced under warranty. Battery died at 30k. Having electrical issues with lights flashing on and off, havent had dealership look yet, only works in automatic without problems. keychains broke, cupholder in the back broke, passenger side heat vent broke, sunroof doesnt close right unless i push it along, and it still rolls back sometimes when closing, leather on drivers seat ripped. american car, i got what i paid for, gas guzzling power lo quality build

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  Fun, Affordable, and Well Made - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Terry Day - March 27 - 6:16 pm

  Before buying, I drove the Escape, Tribute, Santa Fe, and Freelander. The Liberty is quiet and fun to drive, though the ride is not as smooth as some of the others. The V6 has very good acceleration, and the automatic seems to always be in the right gear. Powerful brakes. Build quality is excellent and the doors close with a solid thunk. I think the white instrument dials in the 2004 model are distracting and cheap looking. These were replaced in 05 with easier-to- read and more tasteful dark faced dials. Rear seats are easy to fold, and lay almost completely flat. The front seat height is fine for me, but is non-adjustable. Overall, a good design and a good value.

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  THE THRILL OF IT ALL - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By HONEY - March 26 - 2:00 am

  FIRST TIME JEEP OWNER ALONG WITH TOYOTA COROLLA.LOVE MY JEEP AS MUCH AS I LOVE MY TOYOTA.ITS MORE TRUCK THAN CAR SO RIDE IS ROUGH IN TOWN BUT GREAT ON A TRIP.FOR MORE THEN TWO PEOPLE ITS A LITTLE CRAMPY.IT HAS ALOT OF ROAD NOISE,TENDS TO SLIDE IF WET OUT,GAS MILEAGE NOT VERY GOOD...BETTER GAS MILEAGE WITH MOPAR OIL FILTER..WANTED DEPENDABILITY FOR EARLY MORNING WORK HOURS AND IT HAS NOT LET ME DOWN,ESP IN DEEP SNOW.WISH SPARE TIRE WAS NOT IN CARGO SPACE.HAVE HAD IT A YEAR NOW WITH NO PROBLEMS.CASSETTE PLAYER WORKS GREAT.WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE MY JEEP SHOULD OUTLIVE ME.!!

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  Not bad but definitely not Honda quality - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jordan - March 24 - 10:30 pm

  With the V8 this vehicle is a pretty decent overall package. Its definitely much more refined than past JGCs, however it would be ideal if it had a smooth revving multi-valve engine. Good ride, good sight lines, just wish the build quality was better. I most likely will not buy another JGC as there are better available SUVs especially from the Japanese brands.

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  2006 Jeep Commander 65th Anniv. Ed w/4.7 - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Dale - March 22 - 7:20 pm

  I was excited to finally upgrade to this new Jeep from my reliable but old 95 Dodge Ram 2500HD 4x4 reg. cab P/U with over 150,000 miles. Excited to see the 3rd row (more family friendly then the P/U), and Jeeps backing of off-road performance and quality. However this is not the case. This vehicle has been a problem child since day one. With the whistling sounds, staining cloth seats, breaking vent covers, etc. and of course the poor mpg with a small fuel tank. Too bad the diesel isnt released yet with approximate mpg of 20+ as seen on the Liberty/Sprinter. On the plus side: tight steering, drives like a Caddy, pulls a trailer of 3,000 lbs with no problems.Cant wait for snow&go extreme off road to see what it can do.

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  Almost perfect - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Jim - March 21 - 10:26 pm

  If the front seats were built better, this would be the perfect vehicle. It is the perfect size, gets about 25 mpg which is good for a 4wd, has great visibility, and well designed flexibility in loading the interior. It is a real blast to drive, and getting used to the CVT transmission didnt take as long as I expected. So far, I have not discovered any factory defects and this Jeep really seems tight - no squeaks or rattles. This is built much better than other Chrysler products that I have owned. However, the front seats are thinly padded over a hard shell. There are no springs and, consequently, no give in the seats. Bumps telescope directly to your spine through your tail bone.

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  Still a champ in my book! - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By babsj - March 19 - 2:00 am

  My 99 Limited 4WD is still going strong @ 57K miles and Im very happy with my purchase. No major problems, regular maintenance is easy, and the vehicle has been pretty trouble-free. I now use RXP fuel additive and get an extra 1-2 mpg and peppier performance while burning cleaner than ever! Window regulator replaced under warranty, new thermostat last year, battery, tires, 1 headlight. 1 tiny crack in leather seat which is easy to fix. No brake problems but will replace them soon per normal wear and tear. 17 mpg in city, 20 highway. Love my Jeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Nice SUV for good price - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Cory Wise - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Nice look love to drive rides smooth and has a nice 3.7L V-6 under the hood for the price better then other small SUV out there.

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  Expensive to own, fun to drive - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By pphilipp - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun and powerful car. Had it for 6 years, and the main reason I wouldnt by a Jeep again is that it has had lots of problems over the years, and their service really sucks. everytime I take it for service, its at least 400-500 bucks. The transmission had to be re-built after 60k miles at $2.000. Airconditioning broken several times, and $400 to fix. I would much rather get one of the newer SUVs, such as the Highlander or the new Honda Pilot. Be careful if considering a Jeep, you are getting a fun, but not reliable car, and set some money aside for repairs.