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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  4.7L V8 w/Select-Trac - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jwd - July 27 - 10:00 am

  The exterior styling is exceptional; it has THE right look. Interior wise- Im a Large person (68" & 275Lbs) and am very comfortable. As for performance- once again its exceptional; mine has the "new generation" V8 and is very fast.

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  Improvements Needed - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By John Palma - July 26 - 11:53 pm

  I find that the Jeep Liberty is a solid reliable vehicle. Fit & finish is of high quality. Excellent driving manners,with plenty of power. The 3.7 engine performs beautifully. However the drawback to the Liberty is that the driver seat doesnt have enough cushion. The interior lighting is very poor. Engine can be loud when you accelerate. Its a Jeep, and I mean it does have a rough side to it. I have to say in the snow there is no other vehicle I would rather be in. Its a blast to drive when snow starts to fly. Would I purchase another Jeep? I would consider it. I would look at the fuel consumption to determine if it would be worth my while. Aside from that I would say yes, Im am pleased with it.

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  Jeep Overland 5.7 Hemi - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By TBarnett - July 26 - 9:16 pm

  This SUV is a real fun driving experience. Every time I get in the vehicle and turn the key to start the car, a big smile comes across my face. Daimler Chrysler really hit a home run with this vehicle teamed with the HEMI engine. I had two Explorers and an Expedition before this. I had looked seriously at the new Hummer H3. But, when I drove the H3 and this Jeep, the choice was easy to go with the Jeep. It performs awesome with the HEMI engine and handles very well.

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  New Limited with Hemi - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By WC - July 26 - 5:26 am

  Purchased a 2008 JGC limited with a HEMI. Great ride, great comfort, very luxurious. Before purchasing, I test drove, the BMW X-3 and X-5, Lincoln MKX, Hummer H-3, and the ML 320. The jeep has the best ride of all, has the most features for the money, and has real capability. I did tons of research, then test drove the jeep and it clearly has been engineered with higher quality than the past models. The Hemi is a great engine, and does use gas quite well, but Ive been on the highway getting around 21 mpg. Im told it gets better.

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  Just not good- CHEAP - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By KRogers - July 26 - 12:47 am

  I had this car as a rental and pulled over just to write this review. The whole car feels cheap. The center console is dated and the cup holder is far too low. No USB charging in a car made in 2016 tells me Jeep just doesnt care about keeping up with the times. However, by far the worst feature is the engine. The car is brutally slow and doesnt get anywhere near the claimed highway gas mileage. PASS ON THIS CAR.

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  Third-World Car - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Tennessee - July 25 - 10:00 am

  My husband has one of these lemons. Hes just dealt with his 5th window regulator issue. Stained seats are a total embarrassment. Congratulations to Daimler Chrysler for selling a piece of junk that looks and performs like something youd find in the third world. I intend to get results from customer service, or the CEO and board of directors WILL be receiving some very nasty, frequent communications until this is made right for us.

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  My jeep - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rich - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I have a 2010 and I love it. I have both tops, and there is no wind noise or water leakage, even in heavy rain. Best fun vehicle I have ever had. Infinity sound system is perfect, and the A/C was great even with the soft top at 95 outside. I drive at a normal rate and speed so the V6 is fine. High spreed is also fine, with good control on the road. What can I say, but that I love itI am 57 and i love the color and comfort. It is a bad boy! I owned a honda pilot, but this is much more fun. Glad I bought it.

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  iownajp - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By iownajp - July 24 - 7:10 pm

  I love my JEEP; the only downfall is the gas mileage. Other than that, I am a JEEP lover.

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  Great Vehicle - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Diablo47 - July 24 - 7:20 am

  Bought Jeep 5 years ago with 161,154 miles. Now has 247,896. Still runs great and looks great. Very little maintenance. Second set of tires after 64,000 miles. Ill run it for another 100,000 probably

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  Excellent Jeep - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By John - July 23 - 6:36 pm

  I bought this jeep with 113K miles on it, and it is solid. Right now it is 17 years old going on 18 and I have never been more satisfied with any suv like this one. It is by far the best suv in the snow (as long as you get the 4x4 of course). Gas mileage is definitely a downfall on this vehicle as I get only about 11-13 mpg in the city and maybe 15 on the hwy. Besides the occasional repairs I done on this vehicle, it is still running on the original, engine, transmission, and even alternator. Jeep nailed it with this grand cherokee, I look forward to purchasing maybe an 05 or 06 in the upcoming months.