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:

• 

  Lots of fixes - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By jeepy - December 13 - 1:06 pm

  I drive in NYC and it is a good vehicle for tight parking, driving, and potholes. Nice interior size but not comfortable on long trips. 160,000 miles. Lots of major fixes. Recall on ball joints done. Suspension is too weak for heavy city driving in a heavy vehicle and have never liked it. Wore out the shocks, now springs are shot. Transmission replaced at 130,000, heads at 150,000. AC does not work right even after recharge and fixes. Suspension is noisy and unstable clunky and unstable. Go through a set of brakes every year with rotors that warp easily. Gas mileage is OK but not a miser by any means. Cant trade it in so Ill drive it into the ground. Will not buy another one.

• 

  A hidden gem! - 2017 Jeep Renegade
  By J.R. - December 13 - 10:23 am

  I bought a 2017 desert hawk thinking that it would be great for snow and would at least hold strong residual value. Im blown away by how nice the car is. It tackles slick, hilly roads with no problem. It is exceptionally comfortable. It is loaded with modern technology. Its reliable and wows all of my friends. Dont believe everything you read, these are really top of the line in this price range.

• 

  Love the look and feel of this quirky vehicle! - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By Nathan - December 13 - 12:26 am

  I have to say that Ive been warned many times to stay away from Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep products due to quality concerns. You can find on many consumer websites that this concern is well founded, as this automaker appears at or near the bottom of a lot of reliability lists. I took a shot on the Jeep, since I found that the Patriot is Jeeps most reliable vehicle (about average relative to all other cars), I love the exterior styling and interior function, and the dealer gave me a great deal on the Altitude version that I wanted. Obviously you can see where this review is going... I have just made my second service appointment for the Jeep and Ive had it less than two months. 500 miles into my ownership of this vehicle, the malfunction indicator lamp lit on my way home. I took it to the dealership and they cleared the code, stating that the code came up as a minor emissions leak, but they suspected a false positive. Another 500 miles or so later, and the light is back on. Now, this does appear to be a very minor issue, as the Patriot is driving great so far. However, no one wants to be subjected to multiple visits to the dealer immediately after purchase of a new car. Now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, I have to say that I do love the car. There is something analog and old school about it that is very enjoyable, now that it is basically the only choice for those who dont love the new, swoopy styling of almost all crossovers these days. The front seats are very comfortable and the UConnect radio works very well. The high seating position, boxy shape and square windows, as well as large side mirrors all lend to visibility being very good. As for power and the CVT, I dont drive aggressively, so I have had no problems so far. Its a very smooth ride. I can see where some drivers might want for some extra power, but for me, the trade-off for extra gas mileage is worth it. Speaking of which, Im already averaging 26 to 27 MPG, which I think is very solid considering the boxy shape. Its nice to find a window sticker that displays mileage that is actually beatable, and not a pipe dream. So, overall, I guess the grade on the Patriot has to be an incomplete for now. I have it at 4 stars, but that review could change in either direction depending on overall reliability over the next few years. I do love it, but if I cant keep it out of the garage, Ill be forced to trade it in down the line. Which would be a shame, because there is a lot to love!

• 

  Jeep 2003 is an awesome 4x4 convertible - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By yepper - December 12 - 2:46 pm

  Im living in Alaska. Life is good in a Jeep. This vehicle has a soft top which makes it the perfect Alaskan convertible. I have had it for about 4 years now and have great experiences. Never stuck in the snow, never miss the sun, and it even tows my little trailer.

• 

  My First Jeep - My Last Jeep - 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By lr3looser - December 12 - 12:49 pm

  I own a $47,000 Cherokee Overland & found through a minor issue that Jeep customer care has protocals they follow regardless of cost or inconvience inflicted on the customer. This is the 1st Jeep product I ever owned and will be the last. Jeep sent me a software and map upgrade complimentry to me. Trying to install the map upgrade I found the vehicle vin number is not loaded in the nav system, thus it will not load the map upgrade. No dealer in Chicago has heard of this nor knows what to do to fix it. Jeep customer cares resolution is to bring the car to a dealer and experiment trying to fix it. No idea what may happen, how long it takes and no loaner read page 4 of the owner manual!

• 

  This Jeep is a terrible vehicle - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By reedl - December 12 - 10:00 am

  When we purchased the vehicle, we expected the reliability that is sort of associated with Jeeps. What we got instead is the garbage associated with Chrysler. In 51000 miles, we have gone through 4 sets of rotors, three sets of brake pads, 2 seat heaters, a rear differential rebuild, and a whole laundry list of minor items that have broken (power mirrors, power seats, covers on seat belts, etc..) The dealer knows about the brake problems, Chrysler will not admit there is a problem. I am glad we did not purchase the Quadra-Drive which had even more problems in this year also. Basically I cannot in good conscience recommend this vehicle to anybody.

• 

  Lovin my XK! - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By GeoDan - December 11 - 10:53 pm

  Real off-road capability in a world of "soft-roaders." This vehicle benefits greatly from Jeeps involvement with Daimler and as a result its an interesting mix of American and German input. Fuel mileage isnt great overall, but I am consistently observing higher than EPA ratings, particularly at highway cruising speeds.

• 

  Sorry, No More Jeeps - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ACMilan99 - December 10 - 3:03 pm

  Great in snow which is why I needed it in the first place but overall quality is awful. This is not my first Jeep but will certainly be my last (especially since the new models are ugly, expect Liberty). Going on the second set of brake rotors which Jeep will not pay for! Has only 12K miles in 1.5 yrs. Grinding noise over bumps in cold weather which no one can figure why; white tire lettering chipping away; transmission shifts with a huge jolt; performance is good; gas mileage is bad (but not why I bought it anyway). It is fun to drive but I can see vehicle aging very quickly.

• 

  Jeep Commander - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Les - December 9 - 11:30 pm

  Nice SUV. Loves to eat gas however, but great highway drive and super in winter or sloppy conditions.

• 

  The end of an era - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Old Bear - December 9 - 11:20 am

  Rugged tough vehicle with plenty of power on tap. Well built and gives you plenty of street cred. Yes, it is rather juicy but what else would you expect from a four litre engine. What I loose in fuel bills I save in general repair costs. Why on earth did they stop making them?