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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  Love It! - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By kcandspaz - October 16 - 3:03 pm

  I bought this vehicle a couple of weeks ago. Already I love it! I purchased the 5.7 liter V8 flex fuel engine. Gas mileage is as expected (about 17 miles/gal), but the power and comfort cant be beat.

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  Stay away from Liberty diesel! - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By garbagediesel - October 15 - 9:40 am

  Thank god we leased this vehicle because the lemon law wouldnt cover the numerous different problems this thing has. We only had it 2 weeks before the check engine light came on and the nighmare began. It sat at the dealership for 3 weeks while they waited on a new egr valve. They got it and put it in only to go back 3 more times for 3 glow plugs and eventually a glow plug control module. All this before it had 7500 miles on. Fast forward 9 months later and the turbo explodes and takes out the new egr valve and strands my wife on the side of a busy road. We have Chrysler road side assistance so no problem, right? WRONG! It took them 33 ( yes thirty three) hours to tow it away. STAY AWAY!

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  Its A Jeep Thing... - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Willie - October 14 - 10:43 pm

  I LOVE THIS JEEP! I have been looking for a great truck most of the summer. When I saw what great deals they had on Grand Cherokees I was sold. I have the options I want. I have the color I want, Light Khaki. It has pretty good fuel economy (mid 15 mpg) in mostly city driving. Its the perfect size. Its not as big as a Dodge Durango or as bad on gas. I love the look of the interior and the contrasting colors. I love the standard safety features like Traction Control, with the 4x4 system, ABS and other creature comforts like average miles per gallon, miles till empty, miles till service and compass/temperature. I love the fabric of this cloth better then the normal cloth.

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  Shouldve got the ford fixed - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By cjthomas - October 14 - 9:06 pm

  I got this truck from my sister after I crashed my ford escape because she wanted to get a new car, it had about 207,000 and was in pretty good shape but about 2,000 miles later the engine started making noises and I wasnt sure waht it was so I took it to my friend who was good with cars and he told me that it was a knock which means that the engine is basically on its way out and its gonna cost me $$$ to get the engine replaced and I already scraped the escape and handed over the title so Im pretty much screwed, wouldve cost way less to repair my escape.

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  Love It - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Nish - October 14 - 3:00 pm

  This is a great SUV, from towing to daily commutes. Easy to drive, easy to park. Transmission is great as it keeps in lower gears for more spirited driving. Downside is that I have to have the front brake rotors turned annually as they warp and cause brake pulsation.

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  **My Jeep** - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Steve - October 13 - 1:23 pm

  Its a great SUV! Great in the snow. I bought the V-8 4.7 liter. It averages 15 mpg. I test drove the V- 6 4.0 liter. I needed the V-8 for my needs. I really didnt want to buy the 2005 with the new body and new motor design, so I got a left over.

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  Wife displeased - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By RFBookman - October 13 - 11:53 am

  Bought new in 1996, was initially pleased. Had to have radio replaced under warranty but was fairly problem free until the rear end needed replacing. Mechanic said that gearing was misaligned from the factory and it was only a matter of time until it went out. Had other small intermittent problems. Then the computer unit went out. It took Jeep dealer about 3 months to find the problem. We would take it in and they would give it back saying they could not find any problem. It would have same problem and we would take it in only to start the cycle again. Wife who drives vehicle says we will never buy another Jeep. Plan on replacing it soon with import.

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  Great Value for the Real Thing - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By arbitrader - October 13 - 2:00 am

  We were looking to replace my car with a wagon type vehicle that would handle the unimproved work sites that I occasionally visit. After testing the Ford Escape (too expensive, no 2 speed transfer case, not as nice interior) and the Honda CRV (too car-like)we took a test ride in the Liberty Sport and were immediately impressed. Fantastic styling, fit, finish, quietness and ride quality. I have owned a few SUVs and this does not ride like a truck but still maintains its poise on rough roads. Even though it appears tall it remains flat in the turns. We only have 1,100 miles so we are looking forward to logging some more miles under different conditions.

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  My LAST car purchase - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Rodney777 - October 13 - 2:00 am

  This car is INCREDIBLE! My biggest motto in life is "You get what you pay for," and that remains true with the Grand Cherokee. Its AWESOME in the snow and the ride is incredibly comfortable. I have never felt this confident on the road. The seats hug you from the very start and as soon as you get on the road you can tell that this is no regular car. Plus the 0% interest deals? What more do you need. Just drive the Grand and see for yourself. Ive rode in a pathfinder and 4runner and those cars are a waste of money. Another guy put it right, Jeep could easily raise the tag by another $10,000 and it would still feel worth it.

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  BUY ONE! - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jeepster - October 12 - 9:46 am

  I bought this vehicle September of 1995, and since then it has been a pleasure to drive. It has great handling, and NO blind spots! It also is extremely powerful with the V8 engine. The heated seats are great with my back, and the sunroof is just a pleasure. The trip computer is very informative, and has kept my Jeep moving. After 11 years of ownership, I have put 111,000 miles on this Jeep, and havent had a single problem; it has not seen the inside of the Jeep dealership since the day i bought it (other than routine maintenance). I bought a Mercedes ML 2 years ago, but kept the Jeep, I ended up trading the ML back because it was no comparison, and now I drive the Jeep! Amazing vehicle!