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 my patriot - 2010 Jeep Patriot
  By Aubrey - August 19 - 1:40 pm

  I purchased my 2010 patriot sport in November of 2010 with about 13k on it. it was a rental vehicle. i have put 90k on it in 5 years. this is the best vehicle i have ever owned. i regret not upgrading to leather seats, sunroof, etc. but id buy another patriot without hesitation. my dad owns a repair shop that my brother works at and now partially owns. we were raised with GM vehicles. my 05 equinox was the absolute worst vehicle i ever owned. its so refreshing to have my patriot. ive had only to do the normal maintenance work on it. brakes, tires and some suspension stuff along with the scheduled services. i would recommend this vehicle to anybody. it certainly isnt as fun to bang on as my boyfriends hemi grand cherokee but i love my patriot and have no plans on getting a new vehicle anytime soon.

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  Very satisfied Liberty owner - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By mellen - August 19 - 8:30 am

  All this car has ever needed in a year and a half is oil changes and that sort of routine maintenance. I like the high ground clearance. Its great for flood prone areas and for dealing with potholes. The "van-style" seating is much more comfortable for my legs than other suvs.

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  Love this Jeep! - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Lisa - August 19 - 3:26 am

  I just purchased my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee a couple of months ago and love it! I know it doesnt get the best gas mileage, but its been reliable so far, and a pleasure to drive! No troubles~love the leather seats, sunroof, etc. This is a V-8 engine. It only has 40,000 miles and I plan to have it for several years!

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  Nothing better in the snow - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By New Englander Mark - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my jeep last December, just before one of the biggest blizzards in New England for the last 20 years. Couldnt resist trying it out in adverse circumstances and took it out in the teeth of the storm. I was impressed to say the least. I made it up ramp with a 12% grade, passing a F150 that couldnt make it. The gas mileage is poor -- especially in the city. If they cant design it to get better mileage without affecting performance, they should increase the size of the gas tank. A vehicle should have a range of at least 300 miles.

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  Great SUV - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By joey3407 - August 17 - 9:50 am

  The only problem I had with this Jeep was I had 27000 miles on it and the tranny went and I was not under the warranty. But other then that I love it nothing bad except the tranny

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  1st Jeep Owner - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mike - August 15 - 5:40 pm

  This is my first jeep. I love it. Highly recommend it. I drove my first one on vacation as a rental in St Martin and immediately came home and traded in my Dodge Ram for a 2008 soft top.

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  NW Compass - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By NW Compass - August 14 - 5:16 pm

  Was looking for a car for the wife. Leaning towards the Liberty, liked the look etc. and great cash incentives right now. From what I had heard Compass had no go. Test drove the Liberty then the Compass. The minute I drove the Compass knew it was the car she would enjoy. SUV look, had plenty of get up and go, plus the ride was so much better than the Liberty. It was what she wanted and is a lot more than I expected. Only options we got were the automatic, Drivers Convenience Group (recommended), the E Package (power windows etc.), Yes Essentials premium seats (recommended). The car drives great, plenty of room, zips down the freeway. Everything we wanted and more for a great price.

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  bestjeep - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By texjeep - August 14 - 10:00 am

  What a great Jeep! More than I ever expected. I wish I could buy nather one just like it brand new. Never had it in the shop for a repair. Other than 4 wheel drive all the time, no complaints.

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  1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By rocks - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Car now has almost 60,000 miles. No problems except toe-in/out requires monitoring and adjustments every 20,000 miles or so.Gas mileage on a 1000 mile trip decent, 22 mpg. city driving 17 mpg. Color being stone white doesnt show road dirt, easy to clean. Very comfortable seats.Visabilty very good.

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  Excellent - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Patrick Mauricio - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Good, much more than I expected, better than I was thinking