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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  I love my Jeep! - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By Cz173 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I think that a jeep cheokee is a great car. I like how is 4wd and the nice body style. Only setback is the gas, it guzzels it. But i do love my Jeep!

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  love my liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By jeepygirl - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Awesome both on and off road. Highly suggested. Service dept has been wonderful to deal with. No regrets. Love the car

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  Its been good to me - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Sean - November 14 - 5:43 am

  In the two years Ive owned it, Ive driven only 10,000 miles. I love the look and feel of this car, and I get positive comments too. The acceleration is good for an SUV. Youre not driving a BMW coupe. I have the V8. The ride is incredible when compared even to the Lexus RX. Not bumpy or jerky at all. The seats are very comfortable, even on 7 hour trip, and the high seats are great for driving. The only problems Ive had are the tire pressure lights coming on a couple times and the air conditioning, when all the way up, making a whistling sound over 55 mph. Otherwise, this car has been a gem. I only wish I could get more than 16mpg

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  Love My Liberty - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By Beckie - November 13 - 8:20 pm

  Ive had my Liberty for a year. The car is comfortable and fun to drive. Gas mileage is about 19 mpg. Great SUV for running around town, rear seats fold down when to carry larger items and two adults can sit comfortably in the back. I highly recommend buying the Liberty and I will buy a second one in the future. Also, glove box does hold the owners manual.

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  Not like the 2011 - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By mike - November 13 - 3:59 pm

  Its made by Fiat. 8 speed transmission a joke. Hemi engine the only saving factor. Electronics very poor compared to 2011 vehicle. Unable to fix problems with electronics . Customer service from Jeep customer service a joke . I was told that the problem was not fixable and was paid off with 1 car payment.

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  07 Jeep Liberty 4WD 3.7L - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By Mike - November 13 - 2:50 pm

  No problems yet with windows. But I pulled a car out of a ditch and guess what? No tow hooks or solid bumper to put a chain on! All plastic, this is a Jeep right? Just enough room to fit a nice 8 pointer in! Fun to drive in the woods and mud.

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  patroit sunroof leaks even after 4 visits to the dealer - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By trlist77 - November 13 - 7:35 am

  My 2009 Partoit has a sunroof and leaks all the time. had it to the dealer 4 times prior to today and they said to stop parking by trees. Very poor customer service and the quality of this factory installed sunroof is unacceptable. Ours is a 2 wheel drive automatic model, but edmunds only thinks this model comes with a manual tranny.

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  It works - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Justin - November 13 - 1:53 am

  I bought this car because most of my driving is the Urban Jungle, but my weekends often involve kayaks on the roof. This is a great for driving around town scoring around 25 mpg. Load her down for a trip and highway miles drop to about 19mpg (maintaining speed even on hills) Say about 22 mpg if you dont mind dropping about 10 mph climbing hills or not using cruise control. The gearing of the CVT pushes my last nerve anytime I leave the city. If you have a lead foot or drive aggressively, this isnt the car for you. Off the pavement (long shot from "off-road") this little guy handles well, minus the rattling in the steering column. Would be the perfect vehicle for me with a V6 and no CVT.

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  Its so much Fun! - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jawz99802 - November 12 - 8:16 pm

  I have had my Jeep Wrangler for about 2 weeks now and it is so much fun! I have the X model with the soft top. I live in California so it is nice to have the top down when its hot. There is lots of room for it being such a small car. I can fit both of my 170 lb. dogs in the back seat. Everyone stops and says how much they like it.

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  Best choice for a second vehicle or fun toy. - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By stimp - November 11 - 1:22 pm

  I have had company vehicles for a long time and in 2011 lost my job and wheels due to this recession. I needed to buy a vehicle. I needed the price low enough i could pay cash. it needed to be reliable and not prone to engine or trans work. I have been a jeep fan for a while. owned two grand cherokee with no major problems. Anyway so I decided on the old school cherokee because I love its looks. its known for rock solid inline 6 cylinder 4.0L and solid transmission. any smaller problems i will fix myself with the help of the many cherokee fan forums. trust me these guys know everything and are very willing to lend a hand. this is the best bargain out there.