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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  One sweet SUV !! - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By lakiemom - December 3 - 5:33 pm

  I have owned and absolutely cherished my Cherokee Limited 4WD. It is the best suv I have owned in my lifetime. Its performance has been top notch. There were two recalls for heat shields that came and went without a hitch. I knew that the jeep tranny was clunky when I bought it. The 4wd engage is also clunky but after 7 years I have gotten used to it. I dont off-road but I have been in some raging winter weather in the New Mexico mountains and it has sailed through like the champ it is. My first set of tires lasted 80,000 miles and I have 27,000 on my second set with no issues to date. The bun warming seats are terrific. Cant beat a Cherokee. Cant imagine why they stopped producing them.

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  Fun, Practical, Unique styling - 2009 Jeep Compass
  By Herky - December 3 - 1:20 pm

  I wanted to downsize from my 2003 Chevy Blazer 4x4 and found an incredible deal at one of the Chrysler dealerships that was losing its franchise. I liked the funky, crossover design and decided to test drive it on a whim. More than 4 months later I still enjoy this vehicle as much as the day I took that test drive. So far, this is a great little car. My gas mileage is around 28 and Ive got the automatic tranny. The interior is very user friendly, and the seats are firm and comfortable. This thing is agile; handling is great. Engine performance is more than adequate. Overall, Im very impressed with this Compass. Also, I get a lot of compliments on this vehicle.

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  Not driving my Benz. And dont miss it - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By H.R.B - December 2 - 7:43 pm

  Purchased the Jeep Overland as a 2nd Car to have a spare SUV. My Benz has been sitting in my driveway since the day I drove the Jeep. I am selling my Benz and wont miss it! Every luxury in the world...power...and such an amazing ride. Never thought I would own an American Car much less rave about it. I would buy a 2nd one a 3rd one and a 4th one. Daughter loves the satellite TV and Daddy loves everything else. THANK YOU JEEP.

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  Love My Jeep! (: - 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By carguru12 - December 1 - 9:41 pm

  I purchased my 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee last year and LOVE it. This is my first car and I got it for a good price. My Jeep has the V8, which is very powerful, and returns good fuel economy for its engine and the type of vehicle it is. My Jeep is loaded and has leather, power everything, keyless entry, the information screen at the bottom of the center stack, 4WD, and I put in a Sony stereo with Pioneer speakers. The Jeep starts up every time like it should and is a very reliable vehicle. Ill always be a Jeep person! (:

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  FUN TO DRIVE....GET ONE - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By BIMMER323 - November 30 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Jeep ever. Its a black, soft-top Rocky Mountain edition. Sharp looking with big wheels and tires. Great package! It has great winter capabilities and is fun in the sun. This SUV has it all! Its our family toy. My three sons love it. Having an awsome time this summer. I cant wait to use it in the winter. Should have gotten one sooner. I also drive a 2003 745Li BMW; a great car but lacks the fun,free-spirited feeling you get from a Wrangler. You dont buy for its creature comforts. Its a JEEP.... HAVE SOME FUN!

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  Better Than Expected - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Tom R - November 28 - 11:13 am

  A pleasant surprise. After being locked into Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans for 25 years I am very happy with my Patriot. It is a Jeep so the creature comforts are prioritized a hair lower - fine by me. Love the look, the practicality and the affordabilty. Great size for commuting- rides higher than a sedan and fits in any parking space with ease. This 4 cylinder has plenty of power (see favorite features). I question anyone complaining about the power - this from a man who learned to drive in a 73 Malibu with a 350 V8. If the long term reliability is any good this will be my best new car purchase ever.

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  Do anything, go anywhere, no problem... - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By BikerAl - November 27 - 6:40 am

  Love it! This is my second GC and I havent had any problems with either of them. Im hard on vehicles and my Jeeps take everything I dish out. Power is plentiful with the Hemi and its very comfortable to drive, on or off-road. Hopefully the Jeep brand will remain intact post Chrysler bankruptcy.

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  Love This Car - Bought 2! - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By Dave - November 25 - 2:10 am

  Bought the first one between snowstorms - was very impressed with the combination of 4WD, traction and stability control. Traded the old Wrangler for the second Patriot because we liked the first Patriot so much we were fighting over who got to drive it. Both have sunroofs, a great sound system, and 17inch Wrangler tires with alloy wheels. The bells and whistles are well worth it. The autoshift works fine for fast acceleration, but it takes a little to get used to. Put it into 6th for flat highway driving and get better gas mileage. We especially like the lower road clearance - better stability and plenty high enough if you dont go off- road, and its still higher than a car

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  This thing is a tank - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By tlrthnu - November 23 - 1:46 pm

  This thing is a tank. Parents bought it new in 99, never had a major problem with it. The engine is rock solid. 190K miles on it and going strong as when it was new. Never had any leaks or any problems at all. Have replaced some parts outside of wear parts (rear springs, U-joints, front stabilizer shock), but this thing is tougher than nails. With new shocks and rear springs, rides better than my sports car. Even ran into a tree two years ago, had it fixed, and you could never tell anything ever happened to it. We expect to keep this Jeep at least another 100K miles. We live off three miles of rough dirt road and it takes the punishment and asks for more. Best vehicle weve ever owned.

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  Perfect Size True SUV - 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Rod Barneycastle - November 23 - 5:07 am

  This is actually a 5.7L Hemi. Comfortable, quiet, and tows like a champ.