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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  Better than anticipated - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By bjhhog - September 16 - 7:25 pm

  Cherokee Latitude. V6, all the bell and whistles except sunroof. I bought this right before winter, and thank god for that because it was the worst winter of all time. This car had the most confident foul weather ride, and before this I had a tech loaded A4 and a 12 Wrangler. I remember having to ride up a 30% grade for at least 800 feet, and I hardly felt a slip. The car is a beast in the snow. The technology they put into the traction system has to rival some of the best SUVs on the market. Very pleased do far.

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  So far so good - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Evan Papajohn - September 16 - 10:23 am

  I owned a 95 Wrangler...wow!!! what a difference in ride,comfort,and quiet. I can actually have a conversation with passengers and drive for three hours without arriving tired....then hop up to my favorite remote place to "chill out"

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  98 Cherokee - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Phil S - September 13 - 11:16 pm

  This car started as a lease, ended up buying it. Price was too high due to the unexpected purchase, but it is still running with 227,700 miles and doesnt use oil yet. Highway mileage is 20 mpg. On a recent trip, driving about 50, I got 25. Much less in the city. Only problem that are chronic are with the cruise control (wont hold the speed) and the air conditioning (doesnt work even after being re-done).

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  I love it - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By oregongirl - September 13 - 10:00 am

  I have had my jeep for 3 years and have driven it across the country twice - it has never let me down. It handles great in the snow and I feel safe on the freeway. At 70,000+ I have had no major problems - will probably have to replace rear brake pads soon, had to have a belt tightened, insignificant leak in the transfer case...etc. In all I have put less than $1000 into repairs. This is a great car if you are looking for something fun, sporty and dependable.

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  Im addicted to Jeep - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By dalnawy - September 13 - 10:00 am

  i adore the grand cherokee , however there r some improvement that should be considered

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  Get the V6 - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Matthew - September 11 - 9:26 pm

  The Limited has great looks inside and out. Spend the extra and get the V6. Great get up and go. My only complaint would be the navigation system. I thought it was broken right after buying car. Can not program an address if parked in a lot that is not recognized by the satellite. ( Happened even in the service department parking lot.) Must then program with voice while driving. Service department knows about the glitch, but no fix available at this time. The connect system and screen also seems somewhat temperamental. (Has a mind of its own at times.) All in all, its a great SUV. The safety features are a bonus and make one feel secure. Press the @ button on your dash if you dont want the engine to stop when the car is at a stop sign, ect. (This feature was designed to save on gas, but it causes the engine to feel jumpy when going back in gear.) I would give the car and 8 out of 10. If you plan on keeping the car for a long, long time, get the extended lifetime warranty. It is worth it for peace of mind.

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  first Jeep - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mike - September 11 - 4:23 pm

  After purchasing my first Jeep, but not my first 4WD, I am quite pleased. My 6 ft 2 inch son fits nicely in front or back seat. Incredible off road ability right out of the box. Interstate travel is not quite as adequate, but Jeeps love rocks and hills. The 3 piece hard top removes quite easily. The front reminds me of an old t-top vehicle. My 14 year old son and I can remove the rear hard top in about 10 minutes. What a great convertible it makes. I bought it to run in the woods with my sons, and I think we will spend a lot of time there.

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  Jeep Rocks! - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By DPV - September 11 - 3:36 pm

  This is an excellent offroad vehicle that transitions onto the road very nicely. If it is you and one other person the two door is perfect and has plenty of room for gear. Offroad capabilites are outstanding. The freedom top is great and have had no problems with any leakage since buying it and I remove the top all of the time and wash with a power washer. There is lots of power as long as you know how to drive a stick. Gas mileage is better than expected with 19.5 average city driving and Ive gotten up to 23 mpg on the highway. 4-low is a beast! No hill is to steep, no trail to rough, and it is still as quiet as when I first bought it almost six months ago.

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  Be able to go where you shouldnt - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By 03RUBI - September 10 - 2:00 am

  After owning a 2000 Wrangler I thought I knew what a Jeep could do. Boy was I wrong My Rubi preformed better straight off the lot than my modified 2000 ever could. If you have a go anywhere, stop at nothing attitiude this is the vehicle for you. Now, good luck finding one.

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  Beware of faulty airbags - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Tracey - September 10 - 2:00 am

  I was recently forced off the road by another driver running a stop sign, and went head on into a tree at 25-30 mph. The hardest point of impact was directly in front of the drivers side. My airbag never deployed. The impact was hard enough to crack the engine block, but according to the mechanic at the dealership not hard or fast enough to cause the G-switch to deploy the airbag. I sutained multiple head contusions, a broken left tibia, and severe soft tissue injuries to my right leg.