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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  ndiw - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Oumar - April 16 - 10:00 am

  didnt like it until I start driving it. Its very stable and powerful. Driving it gives me a lot of confidence, it feels like the strongest flexible car to drive

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  2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By JIM TRIMBLE - April 16 - 10:00 am

  THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DEPENDABLE AND SUPER COMFORABLY TO RIDE IN. EVERYONE HERE AT WORK PRAISES IT FOR ITS BEATY. I KEEP IT WASH AND CLEAN. I AM PROUD TO BE THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE.

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  Awesome - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Christine0u812 - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Great car love it

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  boya - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Elderado - April 16 - 10:00 am

  it great, it is very fun to drive and it has a nice comfort zone I would recommend this to any one who likes to have fun

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  Owner - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Renato - April 16 - 4:36 am

  Very dependable and reliable vehicle with a lot of comfort. Made very well only needs a little improvement. Would recommend it to everyone for purchase. The pricing and service is excellent. Not much else to say except if you need a vehicle Jeep is the way to go. Dollar for dollar you receive a good quality product for your investment and it is money well spent. With this vehicle you have peace of mind for safety security knowing this vehicle is a fine SUV.

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  Car wont start multiple times - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By SRubin1957 - April 15 - 4:13 am

  I purchased a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee from CarMax in Dec, 2009. It has been to the dealership 3 separate times due to failure to start. First time they could not duplicate; second time they replaced a wireless control module; third time they replaced an ignition module. It needs to be towed tomorrow. It wont start again. No more Jeeps. I am terribly disappointed.

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  Fun Toy - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By mark3840 - April 15 - 1:03 am

  Bought this Jeep (2 door) just to have a toy. Got the Mountain Pkg. Love the looks and seats. Didnt go with the 2011 model because I hated the seat covers and the "softer" interior look. This is an outdoor vehicle. Why did they need to make it "softer to the touch?" It really needs more power. It amazes me how quite the interior is with the soft top. Its not a quite vehicle but it does well for a convertible with a soft top. Seems like the stereo should be better. I didnt get the subwoofer - but I honestly didnt feel it was much better anyway. I wouldnt recommend any Wrangler as a primary vehicle - especially if you drive a lot. But I would buy another one because I love it.

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  Grabage!! - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By duckydo - April 14 - 2:02 pm

  just bought this junk 3 months ago for 8400$ , and allready to dealer for pcm replacement .1500$...and like impossible to find cheaper ..out of stock , or discontnued parts ..same has muffler ...im gonnna get this pcm fixed and sell this [non-permissible content removed]!!

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  Im trading it in after 6 months! - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By No more Jeeps for me - April 14 - 12:33 pm

  This vehicle looks great, and I bought it 6 months ago, it has 7,000 miles on it. Good cornering and acceleration. The transmission was replaced. I drove it through a touchless car wash, and water came into the interior. Cannot get in and out of back seat with ease. Interior panels and paint scratch easily. A recall exists for many 07 Wranglers, per NHTSA. Mine was not included in the recall, therefore, I was never informed. But my vehicle stalled out for the same reason as the recall while I was driving 55MPH in the rain. Soft top windows scratch easily. Noisy and cumbersome driving. Well priced, but a huge disappointment overall for me.

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  Love my Liberty!! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Adrienne - April 14 - 12:20 pm

  I bought my Liberty brand new in 2002. It has been on two cross-country trips, one of them being a Jeep Jamboree off-roading event. I was the only Liberty out of 125 vehicles! My Liberty handled it all! Ive replaced the battery, replaced the serpentine belt, and had a problem with the AC/heat fan. Other than that, its only been routine maintenance. The mileage isnt the best, but I dont care. Its great in the winter, especially when I head up to Wisconsin in the snow. Its got the comfort of an auto, but with the feel of a truck. I did get truck tires for my Liberty and Im very happy with that purchase. I will NEVER go back to a car!