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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  good value - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By d0nman - April 3 - 12:24 pm

  Ill start off by saying I was intending to buy a Subaru Crosstrek or Forester this time around, after owning one of the FDII trail-rated Patriots previously. Ive always been a big fan of Japanese vehicles for the mix of compactly packaged capability and good fuel efficiency. Turns out, though, that you can get 90% that stuff in a well-tested US-designed vehicle for thousands of dollars less. Im not saying the Patriot is better than one of those Subarus (and sometimes I still wish I had forked over the extra cash), but I am saying it is a more competitive choice than theyd have you believe here. The Edmunds review exaggerates all kinds of perceived shortcomings while ignoring the fact that you get a compact, serviceable AWD crossover for 20k. Yet, if you read the review for the Crosstrek, they immediately claim it has "relatively strong off-road capabilities" despite its Pinocchio nose that youll scrape just backing out of your driveway. I replaced the stock tires with Toyo all-terrains right off the bat. I dont intentionally go off-roading and probably dont need them, but I do occasionally get plowed in by the maintenance guys and Ive barreled through snow piles up to the front grill without a problem. Blocked in by a delivery truck? Up over the curb and down the sidewalk! On the road, its no sports car, but the steering feels responsive (if a little light-weighted) and theres no problem getting up to speed on the highway (at least with the 2.4L). Ive had one issue so far with the ignition system, with no warning. One cold and dry winter evening it simply would not even attempt to start. After about 10 minutes of research I found that over the years people have had trouble with static electricity locking up the anti-theft electronics in the ignition, especially in dry weather. I pulled the appropriate fuse for about 30 seconds and it started right up after that. Currently having an issue with concerning vibration noise somewhere in the transfer case (according to local shop); will update once I get it dealt with by the dealer. Visibility is not a strong point. The A-pillars are pretty large and Ive been surprised more than a few times when making a left turn by cars that were completely blocked from my view. Windows are pretty small all around. Resale value will suck. There are plenty of Patriots/Compasses available out there, and unless gas prices skyrocket again or the economy tanks (and we probably have a few years before regulation rollbacks lead us into The Great Recession II), most people that have a choice are going to choose bigger and/or nicer vehicles.

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  Never Getting One of These Again! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By midwestjmj - April 3 - 1:30 am

  We bought this Jeep used and one year old last fall. Since then it has been nothing but a money pit. The left front wheel bearings went out at 40k miles. The check engine light comes on and off constantly. The gas mileage is horrendous, much less than the sticker claims. The windshield cracked under the windshield wipers and it is clearly a defect as there are two separate cracks that line up w/ the front defrost, and it happened in winter when the defrost was running a lot. Chrysler refuses to fix this defect. Oh, and the seats stain from water! By far the worst car weve ever had.

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  The best & longest vehicle ever owned - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Doug - April 1 - 4:23 pm

  Bought my Jeep with 69k, now rolling 95k. Only minor problems, nothing I needed a shop for. Fan relay the most recent. HVAC smells of mildew & AC doesnt blow cold anymore & doesnt hold a charge. Seems like every car Ive bought always looses AC after a year :( buy hey, its a jeep, who needs AC :) This is my daily driver, driving 100 a week/2x month. Never had any problems with the engine & spark plugs are easy to change on the I6 engine. I would buy another jeep, just not a new one

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  Satified - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By dsippin - April 1 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this car has been excellent, although now that I have over 70,000 miles, there have been a few minor annoyances. The driver window switch stopped working and had to be replaced. Replacing the headlight bulb is a hassle. The gas milage has been disapointing- about 14.5 mpg. The engine is great- lots of power and acceleration. Other than the few minor items above, it has been a great car. The ride is a little harsh. The exterior styling looks great.

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  Black Beauty - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jon Boy - March 31 - 11:33 am

  The Jeep has been a wonderful all purpose vehicle. I have had no problems other than typical for an auto, regular maintenance. The interior layout is good, although the rear tire does take up some cargo space. The stereo is great although I have the infinity system upgrade. The GC rides and drives great, the 4x4 is flawless, i must admit it can be alittle thirsty at the pump and i have the 6 cylinder. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an all purpose suv.

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  stalling problems - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By questioning - March 31 - 1:10 am

  My Jeep did great for the first few years. Now it is in the shop more than out. The dealership started by replacing the crank sensor, and now they say they dont know, or there is nothing wrong. The poetic justice is that the mechanic finally got stuck himself in it and had to be towed. However, I still dont have my vehicle. It is my second Jeep, but I am disappointed now. Wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same. It started with downshifting at odd times and now just stalls out while driving. I only saw one review that said the same, but several that mention a hard shift, etc. I wonder if it is a factory defect.

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  Fine Choice - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By John - March 29 - 3:56 pm

  This is my first Jeep so I cant compare to past models; however this is my 3rd SUV and so far its been great. The technology in this vehicle is current, not outdated leftovers; the build feel in tight and responsive. The 5.7 Hemi...well lets just say youll never understand it without test driving this vehicle. Great looks and a great driver. Goes anywhere when needed. This is the most complete vehicle Ive ever owned. Had an 04 VW Touareg that was also a fine SUV except the reliability was terrible.

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  Nice to own - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Ian Neal - March 29 - 10:33 am

  Went on a trip just after buying the Jeep. I was impressed with the fuel mpg. It got 30 mpg on average. I had a small oil leak on the transfer case but got fixed under warranty. Other then it`s been fine. Put about 4500 km on that trip in one week with no problems at all.

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  JEEP LIBERTY 2005 LIMITED - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By GLORIA PATTERSON - March 27 - 9:56 pm

  I originally purchased the Liberty after having rented one for a family trip. We are average or better in height and found the leg room and comfort was supportive of our individual body makeups. My children enjoyed the long ride and never complained of being tired even though the ride was very long. The color and exterior look is attractive and easy to maintain. I love the material and design of the wheel moldings. I hand wash my Jeep rather than utilizing an automatic car wash facility. I enjoy the size and durability of the exterior design. It has been very dependable even in adverse driving conditions. The overall ride is smooth and the vehicle itself is easy and enjoyable to drive.

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  I love my Jeep - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rolinski - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Sahara. Previosly I had a 1997. There are many noticeable improvements. The new interior with the high bucket seats, the sound system will blow you away! The interior lighting is a big improvement. So aside from being a little bumpy on the road and a noisey with the soft top on, its a fun to drive and easy to park. what else can I say? I love it!!