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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  Overall one great car - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By gsxgirl916 - September 21 - 5:16 pm

  I purchased my sport 4wd in automatic in March of this year. First of all, I got this for $14,995 brand new (You cannot beat that deal for any 4wd); second, I am getting way better gas mileage than what it said on the sticker. I already put 8500+miles on this, and I truly average 28mpg combined. This is my first jeep and I am so impressed.

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  Best Jeep Yet! - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By mbrewer - September 21 - 9:50 am

  I have owned 3 Cherokees and 3 Grand Cherokees. This is my first Liberty and I have to say it is the best one yet. It is the most fun to drive, great get up and go, much tighter than the Cherokees were, sits higher and turns sharper too. The 05 refresh is tasteful and the chrome accents give it an upscale look and feel. The leather seats are a huge notch above the Cherokee leather in quality and it has a very German feel to the interior. You can park this thing just about anywhere with a minium of fuss - paint is glossy and consistent, fittings are snug and properly aligned, controls are logical and content is very high for this price- a lot of Jeep for the money and a lot of fun at any price!

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  This SUV is ROCK SOLID! - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By JP05FAN - September 20 - 10:00 am

  After owning a Jeep Cherokee for eight years, we decided to add another one to our garage. So we went out to test drive the Liberty Sport 4X4 and WOW were we impressed! Very Smooth (better than our sedan), braking was very good, acceleration was very fast and the engine was so quite (it never was loud or odd sounding). And since being a previous Jeep owner, we were suorised to find that the body roll was cut down to almost nothing! All and all this re- design of the 05 is very solid; and you feel that while drving it doesnt feel flimsy or cheap. And the funny thing is the same day we test drove it we came back later and ordered one!

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  Jeep Liberty a Winner - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By sdgreen - September 18 - 2:00 am

  The Jeep Liberty is one fine engineered vehicle. Engine is well designed and the entire package is suitable for both on road and off road. Overall superstructure is unique making the vehicle immediately identifiable. Main headlights and auxillary fog lights provide excellent forward lighting.

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  Excellent ride - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By Paris - September 18 - 12:29 am

  I recently bought a High Altitude 4X4 2.4L and I love it. Its a no non-sense rugged vehicle with tons of room and headroom, handles all surfaces great, easy to drive and park and great olds school climate controls that I love. Front heated seats amazing and tons of room at the back seats together with lots of cargo space. The engine is strong -and a little noisy- but its very fun to drive! The professional reviews this car is getting are non-sense -otherwise the car wouldnt sell that well! Never had a mechanical or electrical issue or any issue whatsoever. Fuel consumption could have been better, but hey, youre buying a Jeep, not a Toyota! The bluetooth works great and the speakers sound much better than one would think for the price. And you get plugs! Real plugs, like the ones at home! Highly recommended!

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  2X Jeep Owner - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Julie - September 16 - 9:43 am

  This is by far an excellent ride. My previous vehicle was also a Liberty and what a difference. The 08 Liberty has much more room and also sits higher. Its a more stable, smooth ride and handles well in the snow even when its not in 4X4. The rear and front seat fold flat. The previous Liberty did not and also the front seats had to be pushed all the way forward in order for the seats to fold down. That is not the case with the 08 Liberty.

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  Bargain 4x4 - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Dan - September 11 - 11:23 am

  This is the cheapest 4x4 suv you can find. I got 24 mpg on the first tank. Lots of options and it still was cheap. I cant see myself in a RAV4 or CRV, but this one feels like a real truck.

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  Luv It - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rappin Jonny D - September 10 - 1:56 pm

  Had a CJ-7 from back in the day and there is no comparison. This Jeep corners better than my car. True, the engine shifts a bit more than one would want and the milage is quite poor, but one purchases a Jeep for other reasons. Love the flexibility of the freedom top. No issues with water leakage.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeepluver - September 8 - 9:30 pm

  I just got my Grand Cherokee and it is wonderful. I have never felt such a smooth ride. The power is another must have. I love it.

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  What a Ride - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By TJ - September 8 - 5:56 am

  The new Limited Laredo with the Hemi engine as compared to the last 2 Jeeps owned is SUPERIOR! The ride is smooth, plenty of power to tow, it is quiet and fun to drive. Yes, the gas mileage is what the sticker says (16.5 in town and 19 highway) but is worth the slight additional cost in fuel. We have not experienced any problems during the first 2000 miles and I would recommend this vehicle to anyone.