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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  Excellent Jeep - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By John P. McFall - March 13 - 6:23 am

  Mileage is better than I thought. Needs more cup holders in the front area. Cant find front hitch receiver for after market add on for the CRD. This upsets me. But the Jeep Liberty can park on a dime. Has lots of power and it will get good mileage if you drive decent.

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  Love Its toughness - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By H.Nieves - March 12 - 1:36 pm

  Since I have an HHR for the city I needed something that could handle dirt roads. My Patriot is the 4WD trail rated version. Only cost $23,000, tax and license included. I have 2500+ miles and get 25mpg. Handles well in the city although the acceleration is weak. Great for washboard dirt roads which is why I bought it. I can now see desert and mountain sites I have avoided previously. Plenty of room inside for passengers and cargo. Four wheel disc brakes have a firm feel and the steering is precise.

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  LOVE MY JEEP! - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By onstage - March 12 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my black 99 Laredo and I LOVE IT!!! It is so fun to drive, and I sit up off the road...unlike those smaller cars that drag the ground! I feel safe, but dont feel like Im driving a school bus. Look out world....here I come in my black jeep!! *honk-honk*

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  Favorite Car Ever - 2002 Jeep Wrangler
  By Joshua Ash - March 12 - 10:00 am

  Put a set of 31x10.5x15 with chorme rims and this SUV looks excellent. Plenty of torque and low range 4x4 performance for the hardest rockcrawling or mudding. Great in the snow, mud, or rocks. Plus looks great on a sunny day with the top off.

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  2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited FWD - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By srdjdcat - March 12 - 9:31 am

  I needed a mid-size family SUV and did a ton of research. I opted for a fully loaded Cherokee Limited with luxury/convenience/UConnect/V6 package. This is the only vehicle in its class where I really liked the blend of exterior and interior design. The ride is very comfortable, ventilated seats work like a charm especially since I live in Phoenix and the temperatures are 100+ degrees six months out of the year. The dash board is simple yet offers a ton of features and is veary easy to use. The navigation is excellent, satellite radio, all that. I loaded all my music on a 64GB SD card.

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  First Jeep - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jamesjones_det - March 11 - 10:30 am

  This was my first Jeep Ive ever bought and to be honest for a winter vehicle I dont think Ill ever buy anything else. Ive driven several SUVs and trucks and I have to say by far the Jeep Cherokee is the absolute best vehicle Ive ever driven in the Snow. The 5.7 eats through the gas though I would recommend maybe going with the 3.7 or 4.7 if your worried about gas millage. With the 5.7L this vehicle can really move but again 14 MPG is a little steep when gas prices are high.

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  Love it! - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Spenca6 - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I decided to go ahead with the purchase, and have been happy ever since. Jeep has a longstanding good name, and make reliable SUVs that are the only (besides hummer) commerical vehicle ready to take on the Rubikon right off the assembly line, something that I learned in years past. I have never had to use 4-Lo, and have never gotten stuck in snow, mud, or water, and there have been sometimes that I thought nobody could pull me out, but with a little manuvering, Jeeps can really get out of ANYTHING!!! ALmost....

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  1995 Jeep Wrangler Rio Grande - Great - 1995 Jeep Wrangler
  By fooyatz - March 7 - 6:36 am

  I bought my 1995 Jeep Wrangler Rio Grande Edition back in 1995 on time for the 1996 Blizzard. Until today, I still own the same Jeep and with 325,000 miles on it, it was definitely reliable. Original parts since day except for the shocks and brakes. I cant tell you how much fun this Jeep is.

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  Jeep Owner X3 - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Gary - March 2 - 5:56 am

  This is the 2nd Jeep Wrangler I have owned. The 1st was a 97 Wrangler Sahara which I gave to my son. I purchased the 04 Rubicon because it had a 5 speed. Other than a little rougher ride than the Sahara, I am totally blown away by the Rubicon. The thing people need to know about a Jeep is that it is a real SUV. If youre looking for the smooth quiet ride, its not for you. If you want a real 4x4 capable of going anywhere, built in the USA, that holds resale value, and is a blast to drive; this is it. The wife drives an 03 Liberty Ltd, so when we need 4 doors and have a passenger or two we use it. Like they say; "Its a Jeep thing...."

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  Love my Jeep - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Curt. Kenner - March 1 - 11:14 am

  Use True Car,yes I did. I still love my Jeep. I am still finding features that enhance my experience with the car.