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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  My second Wrangler - 1995 Jeep Wrangler
  By wingman67 - April 26 - 4:31 pm

  This is our 8th Jeep and my second 1995 Wrangler. I bought my first 1995 Wrangler S in 1997 and drove it absolutely everywhere including out of state trips. I wanted another one and knew I wanted the same type....old school leaf springs and ruggedness that vanished after the 95 model year. Now I have a 95 Rio Grande model. Rides exactly like my first one......kidney pounding rough and exactly what a Jeep Wrangler is about. Has about 133,000 on the clock and gets about 19 mpg if Im easy on it. This is my daily driver even in coldest of winter. The soft top and soft upper doors are no problem with that strong heater. Love this thing as much as I did my first one and Id recommend to anyone!

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  Wrangler Unlimited a Good Value - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By tjkirchman - April 26 - 12:20 am

  I am happy with the Wrangler. That being said, I knew what to expect from this vehicle and I live in an area where there are plenty of places to take it off-road and sometimes our weather here makes having a 4x4 a definite advantage as well. If you want a vehicle that can take you to and from work or to the store and you live in the city, then the Wrangler probably isnt for you. However, if you want a fun versatile vehicle that is reliable and can haul and tow and get you unstuck from places that other SUVs wont dare to venture, then you may want to consider it. For the small price difference, consider the Unlimited. It has more room and better towing capacity and road manners as well.

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  tough and fun yet affordable - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By mighty mud box - April 25 - 4:30 pm

  ive had my jeep a while and i love it its tough and rugged but i wish it got a lil better gas mileage and a better soft top and maybe factory 33 inch tires and a winch lol all in all its a real deal go get you some jeep

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  Much better than the reviews - 2014 Jeep Patriot
  By ttague2005 - April 24 - 6:30 am

  I purchased the 2014 manual version, because I understand that small engines and economy come at a price. With the manual transmission, this car has fine acceleration and handling. I live in NE, so the AC was no big deal to do without and I prefer manual windows and locks in the winter. Whats left then is a nice comfortable SUV that has traction control, hill assist start, fog lights, cruise control, etc. for $12,900. This is absolutely the best value for the money. In fact, I traded in my 2010 RAV4, because of the litany of problems it had. The amount I owed on the RAV was almost exactly what it cost me for the NEW Patriot with an excellent warranty.

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  Still going strong - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By danny421boy - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Some electrical issues (rear passenger door: new PL, PW motor), but the engine and transmission are still going strong with 202,000 miles. Overall, it has been a great SUV.

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  Good vehicle, but not great. - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By prmckinn - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I like the vehicle. It is tough. But, comfortable. The six cylinder engine has decent power. If you want power get the 4.7 liter. The transmission is a bit rough when its shifts when a passing gear is needed. Gas mileage is not bad. I drive on the highway most of the way to work and I get 20.4 mpg. I have the select-trac 4x4. I like being able to leave it in 2WD mode for normal conditions and when needed 4HI or 4Low. However, I did have major problems with the drive train.

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  LOVE the Jeep .. love MY price .. a LITTLE nervous - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By B Rich - April 22 - 7:44 pm

  Please take my review as a super-initial one, as I just purchased my Jeep yesterday as a surprise for my wife. Im always on Edmunds reading up on cars so i wanted to write one after reading other reviews on the GC. First, at first glance, this SUV is absolutely awesome. I got a silver Limited with the Luxury II package, black interior for less than 40k (last one on the lot, theyre trying to get rid of them before the 16s, I was already pre-approved, etc). The stance and LED run lamps really set this vehicle off. Not a huge fan of the plastic molding along the bottom (wouldnt look as bad if I had a black one) or the single exhaust pipe but theyre not dealbreakers obviously. Love the brake lights as well. The interior is pretty plush. Few " cheap bits" here and there but not really noticeable if youre not a car person or have owned higher end cars. This is my first time owning a vehicle with ventilated seats or paddle shifters so Im anxious to try those out. The panoramic roof is an option I never really considered before but it definitely wowed my wife when she realized it was there. It was fun going through all the display configurations both directly in front and on the 8.4" screen. We wont be getting used to EVERYTHING it can do for a good while I think. One thing that absolutely cracked me up was no CD player. I guess from having Bluetooth, an SD card slot, integrated music apps, aux ports, etc, they figure no one really wants CD players. But we do! Both me and my wife laughed about it after looking in every logical place for it. Reminds me of when we started seeing less and less cars with cassette decks. I saw someone mention not having a liftgate button on their key fob, but mine does so Im not sure if thats just an option/package thing. Glad the liftgate also goes back up if theres an obstruction (read: kids). The Uconnect seems to be a GREAT investment if you can get it. That would be a long paragraph in itself so definitely research it. All in all, just great looking, great feeling car. Could have got a Limited without the Luxury package or even a Laredo and probably been satisfied. The additional options just take it over the top and this is a vehicle we plan to have for a long while so why not. I can only imagine how the Overland and Summit folks feel about theirs. I just personally feel like, at the price I got it for, this vehicle cannot be beat. Im VERY nervous about the reliability and transmission issues Ive heard about (when we parked it for the night, it had 19 miles on the dash). I hope to report back that Im one of the lucky ones with no issues. I heard the same thing about Dodge Chargers in 2011, but I bought one new and didnt have anything major go wrong. Just a few little gremlins the dealership took care of no sweat. If I can say the same or better about this vehicle then its absolutely a hit.

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  A manly SUV - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By mark - April 19 - 6:56 pm

  I was able to find a Limited 4WD with great end of the year incentives. I saved thousands and feel I got a great price for a reliable and quite handsome vehicle. I like the rugged looks of this vehicle as well as all of the amenities that come with the Limited package. It rides nice, is quite comfortable and looks so good! I only have two complaints: First, a very short dashboard. Theres no room for paperwork, food, etc. A major complaint is the gas mileage. I know that this is an SUV, but 13mpg in the city and 17mpg on the hwy is pathetic. This is a midsize SUV. I dont beat on this car. Im not fast on the accelerator and I even upgraded to synthetic oil at 3000 miles.

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  My Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best. - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Loretta22 - April 19 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my Jeep... It is fun and exciting.. I will purchase another Grand Cherokee in the future..

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  ITS A SHOCK THE MILITARY DESIGNED IT!!! - 1994 Jeep Wrangler
  By robert p judge jr - April 17 - 10:00 am

  THIS MUST BE THE ONLY THING THE MILITARY CREATED THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY RELY ON ALWAYS WORKING.IVE BOUGHT MY JEEP WHILE IN THE MILITARY AND I HAVE TAKEN IT ALL OVER THE EASTERN SEABOARD; THROUGH WOODS,STREAMS ,SURF,OVER MOUNTAINS,ECT. THIS WAS WITH NO MODIFACATIONS TO IT AT ALL EXCEPT TIRES.ONLY TWO PROBLEMS WERE 1)HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER. 2)WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT.ONLY THING BAD IS YOU CANT HAUL STUFF UNLESS YOU HAVE A TRAILER.FORGOT ONE OTHER PROBLEM, CRANK SENSOR WENT BAD AS SOON AS I GOT IT AT 32000.THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY GO EVERY 30000 OR SO; THAT WAS 65000+ MILES AGO. GUESS WHAT, GOT THE SAME ONE HE PUT IN AND STILL ROLLIN.