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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  I LOVE this vehicle!! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By NancyHB - September 8 - 10:00 am

  It has everything you could possibly want in a vehicle. I feel safe in it. The doors lock automatically, and it has power features that I enjoy. I like not having to bend down to get in, nor having to make a lot of effort when taking items out of the back.

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  My first Jeep and its a terrific SUV - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By HunterinDallas - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This my first Jeep and it rides like a top and is fun to drive around town. It has alot more pickup and go in its performance than I thought. It was the best small SUV that I test drove.

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  love my new liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By tom574 - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Yes the gas milage stinks...about the same as my 5.0 V8 mountinear, but who cares it is fun to drive and is very powerful. Has a rattle on the left side by the glove compartment door which will be fixed by dealer next week. No other issues. gteat SUV!

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  awesome little truck! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By muttz8 - September 8 - 10:00 am

  LOVE the renegade liberty(style, performance)!! cant think of another suv in its class as cool.. just drove to los angeles from san francisco and for some reason (could it be the regular grade fuel <87>?) going through the mountains on hwy 5, our jeep didnt want to go past 65 miles on the incline... other cars were passing us... that was odd, but I still love my jeep..

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  One Year Later - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By RayF - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehichle. Performs as advertised. Comfortable on long trips, powerful and quiet. Build quality is excellent and have had no problems whatsoever. Only disappointment is fuel mileage but this is a heavy rough service vehicle so this can be understood. Mileage is getting better as vehicle ages.

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  My Jeep - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By AEWilliams - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Jeep Liberty. I enjoy it greatly. It is fun to drive and the exterior is very eye catching.

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  The best choice - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Car - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Best car I have ever had handles great in the winter

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  Liberty in a Liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By arsnakey - September 8 - 10:00 am

  My Jeep Liberty is positively the most fun vehicle Ive ever owned. I drive it all over AZ, CO, & Utah, 23,000 miles in its first year. Im not afraid to go anywhere except where the brush may scratch the paint. I highly recommend it for those who need more interrior room than the Wrangler.

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  FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC! - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By TARA - September 8 - 10:00 am

  IVE LOVED JEEPS SINCE I COULD SAY THE NAME AND NOW BEING A PROUD JEEP OWNER I STILL FEEL THE SAME. ITS NEVER LET ME DOWN AND I LOOK DARN GOOD IN IT TOO!

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  Jeep Wrangler Review - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Natependley - September 8 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has been an absolute dream to own and to drive. Every aspect of it has been better than I imagined. Reliable and fun and well engineered.