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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  Jeep Grand Cherokee - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By John - January 17 - 4:00 pm

  This is the 5th Jeep and 3rd Grand Cherokee weve owned (1987 thru 2001) and all have been excellent vehicles. Mechcanical reliability (all had the long proven 4.0L engine) has been outstanding. On the 2001 LTD I did have some front brake rotor vibration at about 30,000 mi, but the entire assemblies were replaced under warranty and no problems in the 16,000 mi since. This car is both sharp looking, very comfortable and tough. It;s the best 4wd vehicle I have driven in snow (Maine winters). The 1998 Laredo I gave to my daughter is still going strong at 150,000+ with only brakes, tires and shocks replaced.

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  Love this car - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By hounddogrunning - January 15 - 9:53 pm

  I love this car. I had a 2005 Liberty, this 2008 is much better. The smoother ride, larger interior, this is a great car. I also recommend the Sky Slider Roof - it is great!

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  Love it! - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Vixster - January 11 - 5:50 am

  Had an 05 Trailblazer that was only getting 13 mpg...went to see what Jeep had in a diesel version - test drove the Patriot and walked out with it. Live in central Oregon, most of the time didnt even have to put it into 4wd when it snowed..great handling, zippy. Very happy with this purchase..getting 22-24 mpg in town and 26-28 on road trips...have never owned a Jeep, and am impressed with this vehicle!

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  love my jeeps - 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Tiffany Hespelein - January 9 - 7:24 pm

  just upgraded to the 2016 Laredo E. so far so good. love it inside and out and under the hood.

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  Loving My Compass - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By LUVMYCOMPASS - January 8 - 3:03 pm

  Ive read quite a number of reviews on the Compass which would normally deter me from buying it. After test driving the Compass, I loved it. I traded in my Vibe. The Compass is quieter, rides much smoother (doesnt ride like a typical 4 cyl), more roomy. Ive only put about 2,000 miles on it so far. It has plenty of pep for me and Im getting about 30 mpg. People need to take a more serious look at the Compass, despite what the critics say. I dont have all the bells and whistles on my Compass which made it extremely affordable for me and quite the bargain.

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  recall the window regulators - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Laura - January 7 - 2:26 am

  Bought my jeep and love it. I get awesome mileage. The only complaints I have are the windows oh and the cd player broke about a month after I bought it. Well I had to replace one of the passenger window regulators already and after reading all these consumer reviews I seriously dont want to deal with another regulator going out. Id rather spend my day off from work and school having fun instead of waiting for my jeeps windows to be repaired. There should definitely be a recall. Soon!!!

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  Great Entry SUV w/a few nec. upgrades - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jason - January 6 - 9:33 pm

  The Laredo w/leather and heated seats, Infinity Gold sound package, selec trac, moon roof, and cd chngr is a great buy and drives nicely. The upgraded 235 65 17 tires are hard to find cheaply. The optional 245s are better on the SUV in Ohio climates. For the money, the Laredo with upgrade options is a great vehicle and you dont need to pay for the "limited" markers unles a V8 is absolutely nec. Laredo does have a V8 option with out the Limited price.

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  Fun! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By frankwh07 - January 5 - 3:43 pm

  OK to be honest, besides to fuel economy, this Jeep is nearly perfect! I have already been in the snow and ice with it and it handled great. An outstanding winter vehicle. This Liberty handles great in all weather. I found that my Jeep gets about 18-20 miles per gallon which is good foor an SUV. I noticed this particular Jeep is getting harder to find because everyone is buying them up.You cant go wrong with this Jeep. Highly recommended!

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  Great Choice - 2009 Jeep Wrangler
  By AZPops - January 3 - 1:30 pm

  This is my first Jeep, within a few days of taking delivery I took it on a 500 mile drive and I can say that it was a pleasure to drive. The 6 speed manual trans was very smooth. The soft top buffered quite a bit doing 70 to 75 mph when the cross winds were strong and with my window open (but, would like to add that I did not purchase this vehicle for the highway). Even with some strong desert cross winds the Jeep was very stable and sure footed. The AC worked extremely well in the 100 plus degree weather, on the highway and in the city. I did add the 17 inch aluminum wheels to the deal, which gave the Jeep a little more ground clearance and gave it a better look.

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  In love with my Jeep Liberty! - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Katie - January 2 - 8:33 pm

  I love the 2006 Jeep Liberty! I went from a 1999 VW Bug into the Jeep and was nervous about the differences. I now find that sitting higher up in a vehicle is perfect for my 510 frame. I feel much safer in the Jeep. I was also worried about turns and parking in the Jeep for its so much bigger than the Bug. Ive found that the Jeep performs better in both areas! It makes sharp turns with ease, U-Turns are a breeze, and parking is no problem. Except for being a gas guzzler, I recommend this vehicle to anyone!