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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  1st Jeep I bought and now I own 3 - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Brian - November 26 - 7:53 am

  Ive had my Grand Cherokee Limited for a little over 4 years now and it has been a great vehicle. When I bought it, it had 150K and now Im at about 213K. It still runs like a champ am I plan to keep it forever. I would tell anyone to buy a Jeep!!

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  2004 JEEP GC - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By SCCARTS1 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  MY 4TH NEW JEEP IN 9 YEARS. THIS IS A HANDSOME & RELIABLE VEHICLE. HOWEVER MUCH TOO LARGE FOR THE 6 CYL ENGINE. NONETHELESS POSSESSING CAT-LIKE PROWESS IN OFF-ROAD SITUATIONS . THE SEATING SHOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE CONSIDERING THE $30K PRICE TAG . I HONESTLY EXPECTED MORE FROM THIS MODEL CONSIDERING THE PRICE HIKE OVER THE NOW DISCONTINUED CHEROKEE.

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  Fantastic Car! - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By MI driver - November 22 - 11:40 pm

  I purchased my Patriot Sport 5 days ago and in that time have tested it in brutal cold, icy roads, and blizzard conditions, as well as a 400 mile road trip. This is the best-handling vehicle Ive ever owned (I traded in an Envoy to get this car). It holds the road remarkably well, even on icy roads, the ESF is fantastic, 4X4 is great, interior is comfortable, MP3 jack is a nice touch. The cargo area is sufficient, safety features are great. I love this car!

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  Purchased for Safety - 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Steve S. - November 22 - 3:50 am

  I recently purchased a used 2010 Grand Cherokee E model with 21,016 miles with a rwd 3.7 liter V6. I have never seen so many standard features that would options on other non Jeeps. The A/C is cold, the transmission shifts smoothly and when it shifts it is quick with no lag. With the a/c on in stop and go traffic I average 14 mpg. I have not had it on the highway long enough to measure the mpg but hope to do so soon. I also have a 2002 Jeep Liberty with a 3.7 liter V6. This engine is durable and dependable and sounds like a small V8. If you are looking for a fuel sipper, go somewhere else. If you want a safe vehicle you can depend on get a real Jeep.

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  Highly Reliable, Highly Fun! - 1997 Jeep Wrangler
  By krakenbound - November 20 - 9:19 am

  I picked up a stock 97 TJ SE (2.5L, 5-speed, No A/C) with 140k for $4k. I then spent $8k and two years of hobby time on full lockers, gears, suspension, winch, rack, bumpers, etc, etc. It is highly reliable; starts fast and never hicups. The engine is easy to work on, and striping out the interior bits is also quite easy for upgrades and fixes. A Reman motor will only cost you $1500 and a weekend to swap it, or half that for a transmission, so long term cost to run it is dirt cheap, vs. the 6cyl w/auto at twice that price, or my 1/2 ton truck, which costs three times that to rebuild. Its not plush or fast, but it crawls up anything, gets lots of admiration and ride requests! FUN!

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  Cherokee lite? - 2012 Jeep Compass
  By jeepgeek - November 19 - 7:44 pm

  Much better than old design, retuned cvt big upgrade quieter and much better ride!! Sold them for years so believe me if it sucked would have bought a liberty!!!

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  Best Performance SUV - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By coolbreezesd - November 18 - 9:00 pm

  I just traded in my 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 for a 2008. Wow they made a lot of improvements for 2008. The engine and performance is astonishing. The ride quality is pretty darn good and the over all quality is great... I had almost zero issues with my 2007. If you like speed, and want the utility of an SUV this is the one for you!

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  I love my Jeep - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Tammy Bowling - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I love my Jeep.

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  Still wonderful after all these years. . - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By glgibb - November 18 - 10:00 am

  We are on our second Limited, first on was still going since 1997 and 180k miles. Traded up to the 04 Limited V8HO, and yes, you can tell a difference in the HO. Jeep continues to make a solid vehicle and a wonderful answer to the larger SUVs, (We also have a Tahoe). We choose the Jeep for travels around Texas cause it is a lot more fun.

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  Love It - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By Jack - November 17 - 11:16 am

  Only have 600 miles on the vehicle now. We have only made short trips around town so far we love it and its easy to navigate and park, and the ride is great.