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 Fan - 2010 Jeep Liberty
  By jeep51 - August 19 - 1:48 pm

  This is truly an SUV! Second Jeep Liberty in my home. First one a 2002 Liberty Sport still running great after 205k miles. Reliable, fun to drive and pretty. Original paint great, no rust. Is a quality SUV.

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  Versatile and fuel efficient (surprise!) - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By pinondesert - August 19 - 10:46 am

  I bought my Wrangler Unlimited Sahara a couple of weeks ago and have been thoroughly enjoying it. It is not a racer but that is not the point. Whether on the freeway or on muddy dirt roads covered with snow it feels stable and safe. There is plenty of room front and rear and the cargo space is huge. The hard top keeps things quiet and the infinity speaker system rocks. I have the 3.21 differential and have driven for fuel economy. So far mileage is running about 24.5 mpg in a mix of in-town, freeway and back road exploring at 6,000 to 8,000 altitude. Expect to shift a lot at freeway speeds in the mountains, everywhere else it keeps up with traffic. Its my first Jeep. I love it!

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  The Best - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By S. T. Spivey - August 18 - 2:56 pm

  This is my third Jeep and it is the best ever. The ride is smooth and handling is great. I travel at lot as the result of my job and I feel very safe in this SUV. Also the features added to this years model make it very appealing to women. Very comfortable on long tips.

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  First-time Jeep Owner - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By RCinCO - August 18 - 8:40 am

  I special-ordered a tricked-out 4WD Limited and it arrived in April, as promised. After 5 months and 5,000 miles, Im very pleased with the vehicle overall. Although its not a great highway car (yes, its underpowered and strains at speeds over 60mph and on highway hills), the Compass is great in the Colorado mountains and on back-country roads. Its very comfortable for this 6 230 lb male, turns on a dime, handles very well, and gets pretty good gas mileage (23mpg city/25.5mpg hwy). Almost everything is where it should be, and the fit-and-finish are terrific. Ive read comments about the cheap interior. I dont agree.

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  Jeep Owners Dream - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Geoffrey - August 18 - 5:13 am

  Wow. Its been 6 days and I am still in heaven. The Jeep Wrangler 4 door will go down in history as one of the best things to ever come from DC/Jeep. The 2007 Wrangler (4 door) rides high and comfortable. Entry and exit is something you may need to practice, but I have owned three Jeeps now and it keeps getting better. My one and only negative is that the upward (looking towards traffic lights) visibility is limited with the top on. My Jeep steers true and gets plenty of looks. The gas mileage is low, but again I have owned three Jeeps. The interior space/design is awesome. Plenty of room for 5 adults and a dog!

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  Awesome SUV - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By gaffrey - August 18 - 4:33 am

  I purchased this Jeep, never owning an SUV before. It runs great, has been incredibly reliable, and I havent had any issues with it. Im surprised at how great of a car it has been. The only thing, as with all suvs, is the gas mileage. Its good for an SUV, but its not a Honda Civic. Overall it has been a great vehicle.

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  Great CARS Deal (-8000) - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By Rick - August 17 - 2:10 pm

  My (Not) Clunker was a 1989 Jeep Cherokee Laredo that I hated to part with. A Dealer found a 4X4 Patriot Sport D with CVT1 two weeks into the program and I was able to get $8000 of the price. A no brainer. They had 55 before, but were all gone. It is not trail rated and my first 1000 miles has seen 5% on dirt roads in the hills. Does the ESP eat up gas mileage? Since it is a Sport D I had to install skid plates, hitch package, roof rack for kayaks/bikes. Planing next year for lift kit, 17" wheels and AT tires, front bumper with winch. It is a Jeep and will be treated as one. It has been a Jeep so far, but more off road tests yet to come. I expect good performance from this Patriot.

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  I mostly love my Patriot! - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By S - August 16 - 2:54 pm

  I really like this car. First off I will say I traded in a 4 door Wrangler Sahara with WAY more options and I am still satisfied. I have a 50 mile commute (one way) to work and the Patriot really is just a great value. I get decent gas mileage for the size of the car, the front seats are comfy, the AC/heat works great. It is a noisy rough ride, but it is also a budget car. The biggest complaint I have would be the sound quality from the base stereo, absolutely horrible ad the plasticy feeling of the interior panels. I popped some aftermarket speakers in and it is like a different car. The best thing about this car is the storage and how easy it is to drive, especially around the city. The seating position is great and it is very very easy to know the dimensions of this car, it is one of the only small suvs that still has a hood in sight when sitting in the drivers seat. I think the critics reviews of this car are very harsh but when you start to compare it to other cars in its price range, it really is the best you can buy.

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  Shameful for the price - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By MCB - August 15 - 10:00 am

  I paid too much money for this vehicle to be worried about everything breaking. Ive had to have an automatic window break and the fuel pump replaced. Now my side view mirror is broken and costs $500 to replace. Whats next??!! Im very irritated that Daimler/Chrysler knows that there are mechanical/design flaws such as with the fuel pump (Bulletin #1400201), and yet they expect the customers to pay for their shoddy workmanship. I really expected a quality,top-of-the- line car when I purchased my Jeep. My Toyota 4-Runner NEVER, EVER gave me any trouble. I will NEVER buy another Jeep!

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  A very good mid size SUV - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Huskerfan - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Im generally very happy with this vehicle. We have had it for 3 years and over 50000 miles without any problems other than replacing the brake rotors. Our laredo is loaded with options and is fun and comfortable to drive. The stereo is great. My favorite feature is the quadradrive. This system is awesome how it sends power to the wheels with traction. I have tried and not been able to get it stuck in mud, snow and sand. I thought the V6 had enough power until we started towing a boat now wish I had a V8. Its a tough, go anywhere vehicle that doesnt look like a station wagon or minivan with four wheel drive. (Explorer,trailblazer, M class, MDX)