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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  Dangerous on wet roads!! - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By shinxie - December 3 - 10:00 am

  I had my jeep for two months but had to trade it in because after SEVERAL close calls, I finally had an accident when it slid into the back of another car on wet roads. I have no doubt that had Id been driving a car, it would have stopped - there was plenty of room. Its also very difficult to see what other vehicles are doing when you are trying to change lanes and merge into traffic. On the good side though, it was a fun car and the a/c was excellent and got cold very fast.

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  Great Jeep! - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Steph - December 3 - 10:00 am

  Wranglers are great for on and off road, and tons of fun. You can get a little uncomfortable on a long trip but I have only experienced this once (4 hours with no rest stops in the car) This is a very dependable truck, I have not had any major problems

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  Too Much Fun - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By BWB - December 3 - 10:00 am

  The Rubicon is everything I thought it would be, and more. It handles very well around town and thinks nothing of off-roading. Havent had a chance to try the lockers out yet, but hopefully soon. Jeep has outdone themselves with the exterior styling of the Rubicon - between the Moab rims, diamond plate rocker guards and MTRs. The interior is simple, but attractive. I find the operation of the soft top to be quick and simple, despite what others say. My last vehicle was a 96 Cherokee Sport. The Rubicon, even with the soft top, is not much louder on the highway than the Cherokee was. The Rubicon is truly the essence of Jeep.

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  Forget the other Wranglers - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By DrATom - December 3 - 10:00 am

  I always wanted one and finally did a month ago. Biggest reason for only getting a Wrangler now was that there was next to no room behind the back seat. Until the Unlimited came out, it made no sense for me to get rid off my reliable and fuel- economic little soft-top Tracker. The unlimited has lots of room, is much more comfortable than anyone says and the soft top is not that hard to handle, simply needs some time to get used to. Obviously you cant compare the handling of the soft top when youre used to pressing a button in your Sebring convert ... It pulls 3,500 pounds and has no trouble with my 1,800 pd boat trailer and affects fuel economy very little.

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  Jeep Gr Cherokee - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Delk - December 3 - 10:00 am

  Although I have had no problems so far with my 2004 jeep, I have concerns in reference to the bad reviews on the Jeep Transmission. My 2004 makes a humming noise when the drive is in reverse and also makes a ticking like noise when putting the vehicle into drive from park. Overall the ride is very smooth and nice pickup.

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  Love My Patriot - 2010 Jeep Patriot
  By Lady Di - December 3 - 8:43 am

  I was hesitant to buy this model because of the negative reviews. I test drove the Subaru Forrester because it was so highly rated. It was an Ok ride, but it just felt like I was driving a nice car not an SUV. As soon as I got behind the wheel of this Patriot I knew it was the vehicle for me. That is one solid vehicle! Holds the rode well and stops on a dime. I wanted a vehicle that was tough, durable and will get me around in the snow. I found it. I did not get a lot of fancy options because they are not important to me. This is basic model, no frills. Its a Jeep for goodness sake! I got mine for about $21K after rebate. Not a bad price for a 4 wheel drive vehicle IMO.

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  Jeeps Junk - 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By SgtBulldog - December 3 - 12:00 am

  I purchased this Jeep in California with 50,000 miles on it. Within the first six months it needed a new water pump, new exhaust manifold, new tires, etc, etc. Since buying this in 1999 I have had the transmission replaced 3 times! I am not a off roader or speed demon. I am a run of the mill guy who believes that purchasing this vehicle is a complete waste of money. WHEN ITS RUNNING, IT HAS A SMOOTH QUIET RIDE that anyone will enjoy. The two wheel drive model is useless in any type of snow or ice.

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  New 06 Grand Cherokee - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Brent - December 2 - 6:06 am

  06 model needs a tighter fit and finish on interior materials and the V6 model needs more horsepower. I have found a few rattles that are hard to stop on the inside. Ride is nice, stereo system sounds great, and leather seats are durable over period of time unlike leathers in other brands. My V6 model gets excellent MPG for an SUV (19 - 20 mixed driving and 22 - 24 highway driving). Overall, nice mid-sized SUV.

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  Great SUV - (In its time) - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Kirk - December 1 - 5:20 pm

  Overall, I have to admit I love this truck. Its very, very quick (especially with a few cheap bolt-ons), rides decent, and has more off-road ability than 99% of the drivers would ever need. My main complaint: build quality and reliability. My poor Jeep has spent more time in the shop than I care to add up. I would have gladly paid a couple more thousand for it if Jeep had put a little more effort into quality control.

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  I love my Grand Cherokee Summit - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Bernard Jones - November 30 - 6:11 am

  I love my 2015 GC Summit. The navigation system could be much better resolution wise. Maps are dangerously outdated. On the other hand, this vehicle is a joy to drive and looks fantastic. No reliability issues whatsoever.