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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  common sense on gas mileage - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By wrangler driver - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I average 19mpg and that is not bad for a 4x4.I have gotten 23.5 on interstate driving. Front seats are much more comfortable than any other suv I have driven. Traction is good. The only problem I have had was a leaking windshield. Body roll is a tad excessive, but overall ride is great for a 4x4 that I am not afraid to take on a mountain farm road! A bit noisyer than I expected. Belongs to my wife and she likes it better than I do. I drive a 95 YJ!

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  My Toy - 1993 Jeep Wrangler
  By Becky - May 12 - 6:33 pm

  I am a 29 year old female and I Purchased my YJ about 6 mos ago with 125,000 mi. when I got it, it needed new axle seals,rear brakes, new fluid, and new u-joints. since Ive done a lot more. Its my favorite Toy ever. Its so easy to work on from changing fluids to changing the timing chain. Everything Ive done to my Jeep I did myself. The only thing I dislike is the internal slave cylinder. I will eventually change to an external(with a new bellhousing). My Jeep is my pride and joy and I love when I get looks from everyone, especially when they find out that I do all the work myself. I better since I took 4 years in auto tech in High school.

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  Good Vehicle - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By bigdaddyju34 - May 12 - 5:43 pm

  Purchased with 40k miles in 06, currently has about 130k. I have had my fair share of repairs but overall it has been a reliable car for our family. If you have some knowledge of repairs and how to do some repairs you can save a lot of money, if not then you will pay a lot in repairs. I change brake pads twice a year no matter how they look, I change oil every 5k, i clean the injectors about 3 times a year, change plugs every year, 1 new coil pack, 1 water pump, 1 fuel pump, 1 radiator fan relay, 1 starter, 1 serpentine belt, 3 sets of tires, new front differential, 1 left axle, thats all I can think of over the past 4 years, overall a pretty good car.

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  Trade in or Nurse along?!? - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Exhausted - May 11 - 4:53 am

  I bought my Jeep brand new and now at 108K, its sitting at the dealership with a $2300 estimate. Just spent $800 one month ago. It was fine (except for the brake thing and the fuel injector issues) until it flipped 90K, ok maybe not so fine. List of repairs done: brakes 4 times - same warping rotor issue under class action lawsuit, starter, radiator, one ds window motor, hood shocks, 2 fuel injectors, battery. Now needs: tires, rear shocks, steering column bearing, rear axle seals & bearings, heater core, rear hatch shocks. Complaints: frequent trouble dis- engaging from 4WD, roof paint bubbled early, pathetic GAS MILEAGE!!

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  FANTASTIC VEHICLE - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Xar77 - May 10 - 2:00 am

  Weve had the Cherokee for 2 months and already have put 6k miles on it. Fantastic ride both on the road and off. Handles the Denver traffic with ease, takes on the Rocky Mountains too!!!

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  2003 Liberty Sport - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By khurt1 - May 8 - 9:03 pm

  Contrary to many of these negative Liberty reviews, I would like to say we love our Jeep. Milage is ~ 12L/100KM city, 9.5L Hwy loaded. It hauls my 19ft. travel trailer very well. Great in snow and ice. Major repairs: front rack and pinion unit @ ~ 120K kms. Mileage is now at ~ 150K kms. Bought vehicle at the end of 2008. No other major repairs.

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  If MPG doesnt matter, youll LOVE this - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Bob - May 7 - 9:06 pm

  Terrific look, ride & feel. Sirius and GPS are nice perks too. Controls are easy to reach and adjustments are a snap. My only complaint is the stated MPG ratings are baloney. Driving almost exclusively on the highway at a steady 75mph, the best I can do on a tank of gas is 17mpg. Other than that, Im VERY happy with my new wheels.

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  The Rubicon That Replaced the Minivan - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rex Johnson - May 5 - 3:20 am

  We are a family of five and most people with a penchant for traveling and camping would have opted for a Caravan or SUV offering a little more space. We were being pushed towards a Durango, but insisted that we go with the Jeep. We had a Jeep Cherokee in the past and missed her greatly and with the new four-door option, it was a no brainer. We grabbed the 08 Unlimited Rubicon and we are not sorry. After logging over 23,000 km on our Jeep green machine, we are definitely considering it to be a "Ruby". We travel between Ontario and B.C. through all types of weather and this vehicle has saved our skins countless times. With its ESP and 4x4 overkill. It is the ultimate family ride!

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  Bullet proof basics. - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Bazoozoo - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Very basic but also very durable. This is one tough vehicle that can take a lot of abuse. If you are like me and just want to get in and drive then this is the ideal vehicle. Expensive European cars know to keep their distance in parking lots and on the highway. Couldnt have asked for anything else but power windows.

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  If you need an SUV, this is it! - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By JT - May 4 - 8:20 am

  I bought my Jeep as a demo with @ 6000 miles. I have 42,500 miles on it now and its still under warranty until 75,000 or December 2011. Ive been very happy with the comfort and reliability of this Jeep. Very few if any problems. The only thing disheartening is very poor gas mileage. Dont underestimate how much the gas will cost you. Im seriously considering a 2007 BMW 335i series now and by my estimate I will save $100 month on gas, and pay only $15 more on insurance. Its hard for me to ignore. But I must say its hard to think about possible maintenance on the BMW, when this vehicle has been so cost free and will cont. Im hoping the ext warranty will help me to sell.