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:

• 

  Fun in the Sun - 1998 Jeep Wrangler
  By Vlad - November 21 - 2:36 am

  Bought a Jeep 2 years ago in Philly where lived. I love to put my soft top down in the summer months, love to drive in the snow - its so much fun. Recently i have moved to Miami, and now i can have my soft top down all year round because its always nice weather here. Recently I drove my Jeep with the top down on the sand on the beach; it was so much fun. If you live near the beach, try it you will not be disappointed.

• 

  Search GOOGLE -- so many problems with this JEEP - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By hartnv - November 20 - 7:48 pm

  Awful -- I have no idea how there are reviews on here with 4-5 stars, but when you read the review it is cluttered with problems. This make and model has substantial electrical issues. It appears many made have severe danger issues as the one I own has. It stalls while driving, hesitates and accelerates randomly, and periodically wont start. Dealerships and independent mechanics do not know what is wrong or why these issues exist. Please Google the problems and complaints.

• 

  So disappointed - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By lljpence - November 19 - 11:59 am

  I have had a Jeep Grand Cherokee in the past. It was like a little tank. Great ride, sense of safety, held the road. I loved it. Not so much with the 2014 model. It has been in the shop 6 times since I bought it in November 2013. Once for acceleration problems and 5 for radio/navigation inaccuracies.

• 

  Jeep - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By linda landis - November 19 - 11:53 am

  Fun to drive, with all the features of a SUV as far as space with the fun of an off road vehicle. Great towing capacity, 5000lbs. I love it.

• 

  FUN FUN FUN - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By Brents Jeep - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I love it. The most fun I have had with a vehicle. At some point everyone should own one. It looks great, drives great and will go anywhere you want it too. Not to mention it is great for parallel parking.

• 

  New sport - 2002 Jeep Wrangler
  By Doobie - November 19 - 10:00 am

  Only two weeks of heavy driving so far, but it all I expected....FUN. Pleanty of low end and mid range torque. Accelerates decently. Getting 17 mpg with mixed, but mostly city driving with the A/C on. Would not be my choice for a family car; but, since my wife has the minivan, the family part is covered. This is for fun and commuting. I cant imagine anything more versatile. Just buy it.

• 

  disappointed - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By dawne1970 - November 19 - 6:20 am

  We are a very busy family who needs reliable transportation. Within the first months we had taken it in for seat belt defects, seat problems, and a whistling noise. Warranty is only 36,000. Due to busy schedule we did not get it taken in and found it has a major water leak. Every time it rains we end up with a flooded floor on the drivers side. This has been a known defect and the dealership refuses to fix the problem because we are over our mileage warranty. We still have the whistle which we did take in for. Also the fabric seats get water stains that are not easily removed. We will NEVER buy another Jeep or Chrysler product again. They do not stand behind their product quality! FORD ROCKS!

• 

  Happy with JEEP - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By RSG - November 19 - 3:36 am

  Former Nissan Altima owner for many years. I decided to finally get an SUV and couldnt resist the look and feel of the Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.7 v8). Jeep has a great smooth ride with excellent handling. I havent taken if off road as of yet but can tell you it handles well both in highway (65 plus mph) and city driving. Interior is very nice compared to others. Some suggestions - larger glove box & change the center console to something a little more user friendly. I was disappointed within the first week I had to replace a faulty chip (car wouldnt drive) but that can happen with any car. I did have to replace the front brakes at 35k but I hear that is standard with Jeep.

• 

  Grand Cherokee SRT - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By 06BLKSRT - November 18 - 9:20 pm

  So far the truck is great, has a couple of issues with build quality though. The interior design and layout is great, materials could be better. The door panels and dash for example. Performance is amazing. Gas mileage is what I expected, not much worse than my 5.7 Hemi was. Having some trouble with the exhaust, the pipes are crooked, had it replaced, looked good for 2 days and then crooked again. WHO KNOWS ? Worth the wait, and definitely worth the money.

• 

  A new JGC Driver - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By R Reid - November 18 - 5:06 pm

  I have never owned a Jeep and have driven just a few but this newJeep Grand Cherokee Limited was on my picks list for SUVs. It has a well cut SUV appearance with a Hemi to back it up without being oversized. Jeep Grand Cherokee has the history of being a great reliable ride and I am told will only improve with the snow. My two young kids love the DVD and the NAV system is a fun gadget that (so far) has got me to various tough to find golf courses without a hitch. The Hemi is a BONUS which makes this ride a lot of fun from the drivers seat. Just realize poor gas mileage is dependent on your youthful right foot. I also feel safe in this vehicle and can see around me with ease. Bottom line: My celebrated SUV pick.