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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  Cant wait! - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By sailormom - August 22 - 5:56 pm

  Posting this comment to those who might be shopping for a jeep also. Have wanted one since I was 16 and now I am 41--been driving and paying for a Honda Accord for the last 5 yrs and cant wait to trade for a loud, bumpy, "wind in my face" jeep! Might have to work a 2nd job to pay for the jeeps drinking problem, but you wont here me complaining when my husband, Aussie, and I go to N Ga camping and hiking. We are going to get dirty,have dog hair everywhere and a smile on our faces! Thanks for all the consumer reviews-helps a lot in my decision to trade the Honda to a whining jeep owner.

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  Fun Car to drive... - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Christina85 - August 22 - 8:20 am

  This is my second jeep ( had a 2004 ) And i really like this car. Have had a few minor problems that chrysler took care of... i had the emergency break cord unhook and it was making a horrible noise under the car as if the muffler was dragging.. they had to replace something on the transmission and shifter column because it would decelerate for no reason.. all was fixed though by the company... Overall the GC seems really safe for my family .. Its got very solid handling and to maneuver this car is so easy! driving it has been really fun!

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  06 Unlimited Rubi - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jeep4fun - August 21 - 5:00 pm

  Incredibly capable; has never failed. Has allowed me to see lots of scenery unavailable to most people. Even on a long road trip it was more bearable than expected. The combination of reasonable road manners with unparalleled off-road ability works perfectly for me. Fuel economy is worse than imaginable.

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  Not sure about this new Gr Cherokee - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By nitlion - August 21 - 7:50 am

  I owned a 1995 Gr. Cherokee, drive it until it had 175K miles and absolutely loved it! Im not sure about my 2006 model. First off, the design of the interior must have been an after thought. Gear shift and brake handle takes up so much room that theres not enough storage space for anything. I work as a field salesman and have stuff that I need to have available when travelling-no place to store anything. The ledges are all sloped towards the driver, so you cant use those. HVAC vents are poorly placed to be of any benefit. My transmission does things while driving that I cant understand. V6 Engine is powerful enough for normal driving, but if you are planning to tow, get the V8.

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  Good Value - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Sully0371 - August 21 - 3:23 am

  Good value for the money. Handles well on all surfaces. Good reliability except brakes. Would buy again.

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  Enjoyable but not comfortable - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By adk jeep - August 21 - 2:23 am

  I bought this jeep because of the looks and the plethora of libertys on the road. Overall it is a good vehicle. I have the 6spd. tranny and this thing moves! It has to be the fastest suv i have driven. So far i have not had any major problems except the fabric on the seats is not resistant of stains. Even water stains the fabric! Also the seats themselves should provide much more comfort. I am a little disgusted by the common notion that this is a "chick truck". It handles offroad just as well as my previous cherokee and actually is more fun offroad. Some day im sure this notion will change just as it did with the "grocery getter" cherokee moniker.

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  Been a great car - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By grap112ler - August 20 - 1:53 am

  I bought this car with 99k miles, and it currently has 125k miles. So far, I have had to do no repair work (besides changing a turn signal light bulb, which was a pain). The car handles admirably in all conditions - rain, snow, mud, off- road. However, I think that I will soon have to replace the CV axles, which will cost me about $400. My only gripes about the car are 1) the factory stereo system is kind of shot, but I can deal with that, and 2) the spare tire takes up a lot of room in the trunk space. Ive found that if I drive the car about 70 mph, I can get 19 mpg, which is pretty good for a car this size. I would definitely purchase this vehicle again.

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  Incredible Value - 2014 Jeep Patriot
  By 1cor118 - August 16 - 11:40 am

  I have never been a jeep fan, but I wanted a vehicle with decent room, good gas mileage, and inexpensive. I looked at toyota, honda, and others, but prices were too high. Then I read about the patriot here on Edmunds and got interested. I reluctently went to the local dealer and drove one and I was shocked! I selected a 4 cyl with front wheel drive and a 5 spd manual and it drives more like a honda accord than a jeep. It is very basic (A/C is the only option) but I purchased the vehicle brand new for $13,288 including dealer doc fees. (The MSRP was $18,000) My first tank ful of gas I got 30.1 mpg! The Patriot is solid, an incredible value and highly recommended.

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  3rd Jeep Commander - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By dr burke - August 14 - 6:50 am

  Impressive. Always inspires other drivers. Envy. Gives you a safe, comfortable Im in control feeling. Ok for married couples, but nix for kids. Plush! Right up their with a Caddy, but more beautiful and off road. Got the Lets refuel America deal for $2.99 @ the pump for three years or 800 gallons for $2.99 per gallon, for a total of 2400 gallons. Deciding factor. No telling what gas is going to cost later this year or next and they credit you with the difference. Say $5 bucks at pump, you get $201 credited back to your credit card. Money in the bank. Oh, they have a May sale going on $2,000 + $1500 + Gas card, if you push and ask to see special rebate for dealers, to give you

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  Love my Cherokee - 1997 Jeep Cherokee
  By dylanc - August 13 - 1:51 am

  Absolutely love my Jeep Cherokee. It has 230k miles on it and no serious mechanical issues. The automatic transmission is fantastic (AW4). I used to hate Jeeps, but after having this thing I want to buy more and more. It isnt the most comfortable SUV, but if youre looking for a reliable, good looking Jeep then look no further. The 4.0L is notoriously reliable. I have a 2006 Commander with 100k miles and my 230k Cherokee gives me less problems. When things do go wrong, parts are cheap and with an afternoon pretty much anything can be fixed. If you can find one in the South you dont have to worry about rust. I will never get rid of my Cherokee, maybe just buy more. My favorite Jeep every made