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:

• 

  I love this car! - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Shaggy - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive always had a soft spots for Jeeps and this Wrangler outclasses any other Wrangler Ive ever had!

• 

  Love our Jeep Wrangler SE - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Steve and Karen - March 19 - 2:00 am

  My hubby and I have wanted a Jeep Wrangler SE for several years. The van we had was totalled 7 months ago...so we thought..what the heck...best decision we ever made. Its true...when you drive down the road...other jeep owners wave..its so cool...we love it :)

• 

  Go Liberty Go! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Miss Liberty - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I love driving my Libery and it is so comfortable on the highway. The ride is smooth and I feel like a Queen on the road. The gas mileage is a plus because I am not a heavy footed driver. In the snow/icy road conditions it is two thumbs up in getting me to my destination. I am just a happy and satisfied customer who loves her Jeep Liberty.

• 

  Jeep Liberty 2004 - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By mvansomeren - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Fun and rugged. Jeep Liberty is the replacement for the Jeep Cherokee. Unlike the Cherokee, it has front wheel independant suspension. The ride is firm and solid, but not uncomfortable. It is as home on the road as off-road.

• 

  The Total Package - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Greensburg - March 18 - 9:43 am

  This is my second Jeep product. The last Jeep was a Grand Limited with the 4.7L V8. I needed more room and was looking at the Chevy Suburban and the Ford Expedition. After looking at the Jeep Commander I was totally impressed with the fit and finish of the product. Although not as large as the other two vehicles it had all of the room that I was looking for. This Jeep has a ride, comfort and limited road noise that would rival a premier car. The amenities were so numerous that I fully didnt realize all of them until after I had purchased the vehicle. Although the gas mileage stinks and I wish it was better, this is expected with a vehicle of this type.

• 

  Wrangler: Its all about the ride! - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mark - March 16 - 12:26 pm

  This is my first Wrangler, an Islander. After trying different models, a Sahara and a Unlimited, I kept coming back to the Islander, with its Performance Suspension. It handles like a dream, even on curves and roundabouts. It has 3.73 rear axle ratio instead of 3.21 makes a difference when accelerating on the highway. I really enjoy driving it, as I have a feeling of connection with the road, but at the same time, its quiet inside the vehicle, no noticeable road noise. It does have a hard top, which helps. I have driven Jeeps before, and I must say, they have come a long way in terms of comfort and features, but have kept the integrity of style. You can always spot a Wrangler!

• 

  Very Impressed! - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By DayTriper - March 12 - 10:06 am

  All the way around, a perfect vehicle.I have an 1hr commute each way, so comfort and low noise was important to me. My sights were set on the Commander..but the price was high. I wanted professional yet sleek and I wanted the Skys the Limit package with an affordable payment. The Sirius/Nav touch screen plays SAT/AM/FM/CD/DVD..heated leather bucket seats, you warm up,transfer files to an internal 4GB HDD and then press UConnect and call home..its outstanding! I am still texting my bf..which btw..when I said I was getting the Liberty he laughed at me..Well the 2009 Liberty has two Driver memory profiles which stores seat and mirror settings..guess who just entered his Driver 2 setting??

• 

  JEEPS RULE - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep8511 - March 12 - 10:00 am

  great all around SUV

• 

  Jeep Wrangler- the most fun on 4 wheels! - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Scott Mann - March 11 - 9:56 pm

  First Jeep. Love it. It can go anywhere and I can enjoy it topless or top up. Can carry, tow, whatever. Dont have to worry about it like i have had to do with my other convertibles and sports cars. Resale is predicted to be strong. Relative to other cars ive been buying the recent years, the fun-to-dollar ratio is very high! Im so glad that finally after many years of wanting one, I finally got one and have not been disappointed. Seating comfort is excellent (and i have had back surgery and have bone spurs now). Ride quality far exceeds my expectation. And ease of use is high. I love the in-line six which is why i opted for used over new.

• 

  LOVED OUR JEEP! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By rili_ok - March 10 - 7:03 pm

  We recently sold our 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 but only because we wanted to purchase a hybrid before gas prices rise again. We still miss it, especially when we see another one in town! The only mechanical work required besides regular maintenance and new tires occurred at the end of a vacation. It lost all power and wouldnt remain running, the locks were possessed, power steering gone, no radio, etc. It turns out it only needed a new battery! The only area that could use improvement is in highway handling (keeping it on the road). My husband had more difficulty with this than I did but sometimes it was exhausting to drive at 65 mph and above, especially if there was a crosswind.