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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  Durability - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By TIFFANY - January 26 - 3:33 pm

  We have had our Jeep for almost two years. It already has 106,000 miles on it. My mother bought one a month before I bought mine and her reading is 13,000. As you can tell we drive a lot. We have really enjoyed this vehicle. After it hit 100,000 we were worried. A slight A/C problem and thats about all. Every morning its starts with no problem. We are expecting a new baby and have to look for a vehicle with a 3rd row; it actually makes me said that we cant get this model with a 3rd row.

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  This thing grows on you - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jon - January 26 - 11:03 am

  I worry about driving my kids around in this.. What happens if we rollover? Would we be cut to shreds by a disintegrating hard-top ? Not my first choice. But my kids LOVE it. I like the utilitarian interior. 6- speed transmission is OK and fun to operate. Reasonable acceleration off the line in 1st and 2nd. After that, there is not much get up and go, but I think in this vehicle, too much acceleration would lead to trouble due to the high center of gravity. Riding around town in this is FUN ... Highway driving is a little wobbly. Steering is vague, which IS NOT GOOD. This is the only vehicle that does NOT look like something else, which makes it unique.

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  2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Overaland - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Derek J. Richards - January 26 - 12:04 am

  I live in Montana. That should tell you a little about my driving style. Everything out here is far apart. I do a lot of driving and wanted a vehicle that can keep up with what Im going to throw at it. Before I bought the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Overland (JGCDO), I was on the fence. It was either the JGCDO or the 2015 Audi Q5 TDI. I test drove both, a few times. I liked the Audis better mpg and get-up. However the towing capacity and the interior storage capacity of the Audi was a deal breaker for me. Along with not being able to put BF Goodrich All Terrain tires on the rig--they just dont make them to fit the Audi. I dont like having to put winter tires on my rig in the cold and flu season and them take them off to put another set on in the beginning of allergy season. I like to buy one set of tires every 50,000 miles. I did a lot of research on both models. The TDI engine is tried and true--been around for many years, is reliable and bullet proof. The new diesel engine that Fiat came out with in 2014 for the Grand Cherokee is not tried nor true, however they have been building diesel engines successfully for a number of years. After combing over the jeep forums, I found many people dissatisfied with their JGCDO due to warranty issues with the catalytic converter and other minor things. I decided to take the leap into the deep end and buy the 2015 JGCDO last week. I got the extended warranty to satisfy the uneasiness about the reliability and 3 year 36,000 mile factory warranty concerns I had. Even with the extended warranty the overall price of the JGCDO still came in below the cost of the Audi Q5 TDI. It would have been nice to say "I own an Audi," but when I go skiing in a few months and have to drive through a blizzard to get some fresh turns at Big Sky, I will be happy with my decision because I know the JGCDO will be able to mob through 20" of fresh snow with a little help from the adjustable air suspension and the BF Goodrich All terrain tires. I just dont know if the Audi--even with top of the line snow tires and Quattro all-wheel drive would be able to. On a side note, I took a 415 mile trip today over about 10 hours going up and down mountain passes from 5,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level. My speed ranged from around 20 to 85 mph with BF Goodrich All Terrain tires. It was mostly highway but some hard miles were up and down steep grades at high elevation doing no more than 20 mph. With two people in the car, lots of food and gear, we averaged 29.1 mpg. Take that Audi! One word of advice: If you live in a cold weather climate and are thinking about getting a JGCDO, then negotiate for the engine block heater cord to be installed before you drive it off the lot. Its fairly inexpensive (~$150 with install) and should be standard on all diesel engines but its not.

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  Renegade - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Bob - January 24 - 3:26 pm

  You have to get used to the new engine/transmission combo. These are now designed so there is no engine drag. In other words if you are on the highway and take your foot off of the gas pedal the vehicle will continue to roll with no drag by the engine. Also when on an incline, stopped, when taking foot off gas to go to the brake the vehicle will roll on you. There is no engine "hold." It takes a bit of getting used to.

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  Jeep Liberty Review - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By suzie Vigil - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I have a family of three and this SUV is perfect for our size. It is very reliable, sturdy and comfortable...

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  REAL off-roader - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Copperhead - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Actually I rateing our 2003 model. Almost 50000 miles w/o any problems. Although gas mileage isnt as high as wed like, buts its a real jeep off road and still fun to drive on the pavement.

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  Jeep Man - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Matthew W Odle - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I own a loaded Jeep Renegade now one year old. My family loves this Jeep although we dont care for filling up at the gas pumps. A few squeaks and rust spots on the wheels. Truly love this vehicle except for a few minor things.

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  my jeep - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By AnitaandKeith - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my vehicle brand new. And with only having 23,000 miles on it now little things are starting to go wrong for instance the rotors are supposedly bad and are not covered on the basic warranty i hope that this is not a sign for things to come.

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  Best Car I have ever Owned - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By JeniPa - January 23 - 10:00 pm

  I have owned 2 Jeep Wranglers (95 & 98), a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, and a 2006 Honda Elemnet. The 2007 4dr Wrangler is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have two children and can finally drive my beloved Wrangler without making every outing uncomfortable for my family. This thing has tons of cargo space and leg room, the freedom top is great - just pop off the front tops and you can feel like you are in an open air Wrangler and still feel good about having the kids in the back. The ride is smoother than older models and is amazingly quiet. The stereo system is something Jeep should be proud of as well! The only drawback is the gas mileage but the fun factor makes it worth it!

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  Please with the Patriot - 2014 Jeep Patriot
  By detroiter313 - January 21 - 1:37 am

  I bought one of these a week ago. My package is known as the Oscar Mike, which is a sub-package of the Latitude. My main goal was to replace my current vehicle with one that my increasingly aged parents can get in and out of better. The previous car was a 2003 Merc Sable. My parents can hop in and out of the car without too much difficulty and for when mom needs a wheelchair, that fits in the back without too much effort.