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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  No dip stick!! - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By lisaray - September 8 - 11:43 am

  Was extremely upset to find that the transmission was leaking and went to check the oil and found that there was NO DIP STICK!! Will be getting rid of the vehicle soon. Will NEVER purchase another Jeep because of this. What if I was on the road and something went wrong w/ the vehicle and really needed to check my oil? Wow, out of luck. They sure do want to make sure to get your money. Love the vehicle, but never again.

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  Great Vehicle for the Money. - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By MichiganCityRogers - September 6 - 9:53 pm

  I bought mine used and it had 33,000 miles. Ive owned it for about two months and have had no problems from a mechanical standpoint. I own the 4X4 model and this vehicle replaced a Jeep Cherokee Sport. The performance during the recent 30+ inches of snow we had in Indiana was nothing short of amazing. Performed in the snow as well as the Cherokee. The cargo area, with the fold down back seat and passenger seat, is extremely large and I am able to haul extension ladders, etc. with no problem. Fuel economy is consistently 22 MPG. When comparing the selling price against the performance and usefulness, this car is a great deal.

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  Not sure what to think about my Jeep - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By westcentralillinois - September 6 - 2:26 am

  I bought my Jeep in 04 used with 29,000 miles on it(now with 126k). I have loved it until last fall (2008), when the air & heat quite working. I took it to a mechanic late winter & after spending around $800 for a new thermostat, new switch, system flush, and then actuator & mode doors, it still didnt work. I took it to another mechanic, told him what the other did, & he went through it again & put another new mode body & actuator on it & isnt sure it will work. There has been no Jeep recalls on it or posts. I am at a lose. This is my 3rd Jeep, & I am a little frustrated with this issue. It has been paid for for awhile & I wasnt ready to trade it. Other than this it has been great!

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  Jeep - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Missy R - September 4 - 4:50 pm

  The tank is small and the fuel mileage is terrible so Im at the gas station quite often. Also because of the stadium seating it is hard to see through the rear mirror. The upside is pretty good though. Its the best driving SUV I have owned and it is extremely comfortable.

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  Great SUV! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By JoannaHataway - September 4 - 2:00 am

  The Liberty is a great sport utility, just make sure you get it with ABS if possible. It can be difficult to control in rainy conditions, but it really is fun and in most situations handles the roads great!

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  Mixed bag, hvac system. Buyer beware! - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By pa350z2006 - September 2 - 4:12 am

  I traded in a Honda pilot as my Honda pilot had the VCM issues. This car is so quiet on the highway compared to Honda. It definitely feels more luxurious than a Honda pilot. The ride in the car is good considering its a true SUV. However I would advise you before purchasing this car to try out the heat controls in the vehicle. On a cold day turn it to manual at 60° and see how hot the air comes out the vents. It turns the car into a sauna and then goes a complete reversal and blows cold air in. The Jeep dealership told me that is because even in manual mode its behaving like a thermostat trying to get the car of 60°. For this reason alone I hate driving the vehicle.

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  2006 Commander Ltd 4.7L V8 - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By BERNIE - August 31 - 11:50 pm

  A lot of fun to drive. Handles well. Great head and leg room.

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  2003 Jeep Liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By fstzx9 - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the vehicle for about 7 weeks and it has performed well. The towing capacity is better then my friends Ford 150 2WD pickup. Motor is strong. Solid truck. Unlike the undercarriage componets of the Ford Escape, Honda CRV/Element. I felt they were too car-ish. Not suitable for the trails or offroad.

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  Not Sure - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By swthazeleyez - August 30 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Jeep for two weeks today and I must say Im not as impressed with its I6 engines ability to get up and go as I thought I would be. If you are going to purchase this vehicle, I would suggest that you take it for a LONG test drive, 10 miles at least. Im glad I leased it!

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  *** TRICK FOR YOUR electrical problems and cooling system. - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By buckeye2014 - August 29 - 6:25 am

  I purchased my 1999 Jeep in 2013 it has only caused me two decent problems. One being the cooling system after replacing the hoses, radiator, thermostat and the thermostat housing unit, temp sensors and relays and the cooling fan I still had problems with overheating, it was then I realized my fan was not kicking on at all with no return on electrical parts I was out of money. The 99 is also the year that they made different types of cooling fans and the assembly to switch out cooling fans from mechanical to electric. Instead of paying hundreds to fix an electric problem I simply went to a junk yard and pulled a mechanical fan from a 98 jeep and swapped mine out. it cost me 40 bucks.