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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  Love it - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By bobobobobobobo - May 24 - 2:00 am

  I dont own a grand cherokee yet but thinking about buying it for a while. I owed many different cars but never US. I never trusted cars made in US such as ford, chrysler or GM. I work for an extended aftermarket warranty and I have to say Ford GM and Chrysler are amonge the worst vehicle out there. The reason I want Grand Cherokee laredo is simple its very relible and engine is just phenomenal. This is only veh I have no problems with and very little claim comes from laredo. I would recommend laredo to anyone who is looking for Grand Cherokee. Engine is excelent, that is the only reason I would buy it.

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  Great machine! - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mark - May 23 - 10:20 pm

  Bought this for the bush mostly. Surprisingly quiet on the road. No rattles, tough as nails. Yet supple ride. Will get a performance chip to improve mileage. Along with a K & N air filter and HID lights. Thoroughly happy! P.S. Im 67 years old! Never too late.

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  Which term is correct-liberty or limited - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By cd - May 22 - 10:00 am

  The safety features are great. I could not lock my key inside d/t the anti- lock system. It alerts me when passenger fail to fully close their doors. I really like the exterior appearance but had to get use to the spare tire on back. I feel that there should be other color options for the spare tire covers and maybe some without the white JEEP emblem on them. It is always thirsty for fuel. Overall it has been a great experience owning it.

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  Great Vehicle - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By ShaggyisMBM - May 20 - 7:16 am

  I have owned a Bronco, a Wrangler, a F- 250, and a Tacoma. This is by far the best overall. The straight 6 has almost as much power as the V8s in my 2 Fords. Before I put new tires on I often had trouble not spinning the tires in rain. For an SUV it is quick. The 4wd has never left me stuck. There is room for all I need. I have only had minor problems other than needing a new rear end. These are cheap and easy to find and well worth the money. You can find after market parts for it almost anywhere. It is easy to work on. It has classic styling and almost everything is practical. I recommend it to anyone. Great in snow, off road, and in traffic.

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  Never Buy Another One - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Geraldine Ahrens - May 19 - 8:40 pm

  I probably wont buy any Chrysler product again. The windows of this Jeep have been fixed 5 times, (I see many other people have the same problem) and the car only has 15,000 miles on it. The panel for adjusting the mirrors keeps falling inside the door panel and has to be fished out. The dealership is good about fixing the windows, but what happens when the warranty runs out? The Jeep handles well on the road, the stabilizing feature works well, and overall I like driving it. This was my first American made car in years, (I have had VW, Nissan and Hyundai) but I am very disappointed in the craftsmanship of the quality of the Jeep.

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  Nothing Like It! - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jason - May 19 - 8:03 pm

  If you ever thought about getting a Jeep Wrangler, DO IT! You only live once and I can tell you its worth every penny. I bought new in June 2005. Had the top down all summer. Not as hard as I thought to put back up (less than 5 minutes). Top seals up perfect for Autumn. This past winter I drove my girlfriend to work in a blizzard (biggest recorded in NYC). It handled great. I owned a 1984 CJ7 when I was 19. This Jeep is so much more civilized. I have an "X" edition with a Rocky Mountain package. LOVE IT.

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  Good deal - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By adam garcia - May 17 - 9:15 am

  I like the jeep!

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  Great Money Pit! - 2002 Jeep Wrangler
  By Coleman - May 15 - 11:20 am

  I love my Wrangler TJ. I have traveled all over the country. It has performed flawlessly. Ah, there are flaw though. Gas mileage is not that great. It has more torque than hp for speed. Plastic windows will scratch and fog over in time. The accessories will drive your bank account way down. Fun it is. Reliable - totally. Practical - not. Always in the build stage with all the aftermarket parts and accessories on the shelf.

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  Three words ... FUN, FUN, FUN! - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By DougC - May 13 - 3:53 pm

  I had a CJ5 back in the 80s and have always missed that Jeep. Fast forward to 2005 and I have a new Rubicon, 6 months now. The Rubicon is light years ahead of my 76 CJ but still has the same level of fun. I have a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. This baby can climb! I live in the desert in Southern California and we are always taking this Rubi on the mountain and desert trails. Trails I wouldnt hike up on foot, no problem for the Rubicon. The top is off 90% of the time here in the desert, its great! Around town we have a blast as the Rubi always gets the looks. I love the rough ride and feeling the road. Cushy cars you drive with one finger are not for me.

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  Not bad, but not excellent either - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By unlimited problems - May 13 - 10:00 am

  A great SUV with a turning radius that is unbelievable. The power from the 4.7 is smooth and torquey. Have had some problems though. Had the brake rotors replaced once already and the fuel pump. Also something with the struts I believe. The car tows well and the mileage is decent.