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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  2007 Wrangler Rubicon - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Justin - January 28 - 4:50 pm

  Hands down, the 2007 Wrangler Rubicon is the most capable civilian production vehicle in the world. Period. The front and rear locking differentials that come standard do their jobs, as does the electronically disconnecting front swaybar. In terms of on road comfort, you can tell that its designed to be driven offroad, but its still super-fun to drive. The tight steering makes is a joy to park and maneuver in town, while allowing you to dodge trees on the trail (or to create your own trail). The seats are very comfortable, the radio is great for its being waterproof, and who can turn down the ability to drive anywhere you want...with the top and doors off no less.

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  abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By jaimie - January 24 - 10:00 am

  it is very fun to drive,its smooth,turns on a dime,comfortable,breezy,and i love the style.Only one thing not enugh room for my hole family.

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  Fun with Jeep - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Blazer814 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  My Jeep liberty is everything I would want in A SUV. It gets better gas mileage than the previous SUVIve owned.I would definitely reccommend it to any one looking for a new vehicle.

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  we love our jeeps - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Tam of West Virginia - January 24 - 10:00 am

  We love our Jeeps. We find our jeeps incredibly dependable and safe for the entire family. We love to go places where the average driver can not go. Thanks to the versitility of our jeeps we are able to expand our adventures throughout all four seasons of the year. No matter if there is 3 feet of snow in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia or a Summer vacation on the incredible Sand Dunes in the Outter Banks of North Carolina. We are still able to enjoy the great outdoors.

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  Worth it! - 2010 Jeep Patriot
  By MC - January 23 - 12:43 am

  I bought a silver Latitude Edition with CVT. Came with Sun and Sound group, Alloys with Firestone tires, foglights, heated seats, and touch screen multimedia display. The SUV gets good mpg, excellent ride/handling, extremely cold A/C, and has enough cargo space for vacations. Overall, this is a quality, well priced vehicle that you should consider when in the market for an SUV.

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  Very Satisfied with Jeep - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeepman2007 - January 22 - 6:13 am

  These older Jeeps, along with the newer models are some of the best all around vehicles out there. I have owned one for nearly a year after buying it from a close friend who had driven it for years and taken care of it. Its reliability is unbeatable. Its also rugged and ready for about anything you could possibily need it for. One of the bigger advantages of the Grand Cherokee is that it has the most room of most any Jeep model so there is plently of leg room, and carrying room which is important for someone who packs it once a week with a large sound system and instruments or camping gear. I would highly recommend this vehicle.

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  I Love MY Grand Cherokee Limited - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Robert W Russo - January 20 - 10:00 am

  My Cherokee is my second Cherokee. I love it -- I can haul whatever comes my way and I like the comfort for long trips - which is most of my driving. I wish I had a V8, but I have gotten used to the 6 and I am saving fuel costs. I love my sun roof, and the room inside is awesome. Plus it is a beautifully designed car on the outside -- truly well designed for curb appeal. I could have spent another 5-10K on a BMW or Lexus ...but would not have been worth it. I love my Cherokee ! It is truly an American Dream !

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  One Week In - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By John C - January 19 - 8:43 pm

  Picked up a 2011 Limited with the V8 and all available options. Traded in a 2001 GC Limited for this one. What a difference 10 model years make! Lots more power, drives a lot nicer, and looks better but the biggest difference is all the creature comforts and gadgets that have been added to the interior. (Ventilated seats are awesome on these 100 degree August days) Dealers do not seem to be offering much of a discount from MSRP on these in our area, but I was still able to get them to come down a little bit. It seems that everybody is confident in this vehicle -- hopefully Chrysler can follow this one up with more great new models.

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  Awesome ride. - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By Ted M. - January 19 - 1:13 pm

  Love my new Patriot. Getting very good gas mileage and it is very comfortable. The Limited has many great features. Getting alot of compliments on its looks and the leather interior.

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  Old School - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Captain - January 18 - 8:10 pm

  This is a true SUV. Great ride for Jeep. Great ride for any vehicle. Nice theater seating. Strong looking suv with lots of options. Old school looks and fit with modern options and performance. Average 18 MPH this month.