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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  Lovin it - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By Mom of 2 kids & dogs - September 24 - 9:46 pm

  I love this Jeep. I have owned various 3 row vehicles. I owned an MPV and then an Excursion. This fits the bill in lots of ways and I find the external design to be very fun.

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  Jeeps are really nice - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By robb - September 24 - 3:06 pm

  Land Rover, mbenz, Subaru outback are my other vehicles. I love this my first Jeep. I cant even believe the quality and engineering of the suspension and drive train. The ride is tight but comfortable. I would trade anything I have owned or driven for this vehicle. Jeep dont not get the credit it deserves.

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  2011 Jeep Liberty struggles - 2011 Jeep Liberty
  By kayakjohn - September 24 - 10:00 am

  I am the owner of a new Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4. This is my 5th Jeep. Coming from a 06 Jeep Liberty I am very pleased with the interior and roominess. The rear seats fold perfectly flat, so I can easily get my two mountain bikes inside. The roof rack is strong enough to carry my two kayaks on top. I also had to have a vechile that could be flat towed behind an RV. The command Trac II with a netural position allows this to be done. The poor side of this vechile is the engine and transmission. It has a feeling of a miss at highway speeds that the dealer can find no cure for and I am waiting for an answer from Jeep. Added to this is the poor fuel mileage. Getting about 16 mpg overall.

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  Its a lemon without Tequilla - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By Disappointed in CO - September 24 - 4:40 am

  I thought I was making a decent investment it had 309 mi and was brand new. Its a jeep right? At 13,000 mi I had a worn set of tires that cost me $800 to replace. The warranty didnt cover the alignment problem I had. By 20,000 mi I had broken seat moldings on both sides of the vehicle. I also had an Airbag light blinking. The dealership fixed and within 2 weeks it came on again. My seat moldings are not covered by warranty due to "Natural wear and tear" on the jeep. Another set of tires at 24,000 mi. I am at 38,000 mi my warranty is over 2,000 mi and my transmission is going out. The dealership that sold me the car said it is a $6000 problem and my tires are worn again.

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  Fun Weekends, horrible daily driver. - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Keith - September 23 - 4:06 pm

  Its nice to go off roading, but it gets old quick, and I bought a second vehicle because it is simply impossible to live with on a daily basis. The MANUAL tranny had a factory defect and needed replaced ... all while the dealer took 3 weeks and provided no rental car, so I spent my Christmas and New Years with a $426 payment and no car! The vehicle had a fender bender too, and never ran right since, despite being fixed 3 times more. My driveshaft parts are very rusty, even though I live in one of the driest deserts on earth! The constant vibration on the freeway is the true reason I am trading this vehicle in, despite the loss Ill take. If you really want one, save $$$, buy used!

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  Piece of JUNK - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By jdouglas218 - September 23 - 9:06 am

  I have been a loyal chrysler customer, that WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE! This is my third, including a new 300 off the show room floor, and have never been more angry with a purchase! The seats stain if water touches them, and the windows are a joke! The regulator is made of plastic and breaks every other day! I am so disappointed with chrysler and never plan on buying anything else from them once I get rid of this piece of crap!!! If you havent purchased one spare yourself the hassle, you will spend more time having the windows fixed then you will get to drive the car!

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  New Car - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By Jason - September 21 - 9:36 pm

  Great new SUV. The 3.7 is a perfect choice and the 4.7 doesnt seem to perform any better. A lot of options with the Rocky Mountain package.

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  First Jeep - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By sailor - September 21 - 11:03 am

  Gotta love the Hemi! Hard to stay off the gas. Nav system amazingly accurate and useful, but not intuitive to use. Fully equipped Limited has so many bells and whistles, quality time with manuals is required to set/operate. Also own 99 BMW540i 6-speed and 87 Porsche 944S 5-speed and will usually choose the Grand Cherokee for most drives; really defines "sport/utility" and something of a "stealth" vehicle in the black crystal pearl color. Could almost be called "poor mans" Porsche Cayenne, but is a much more attractive SUV!

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  No Question! Underpowered! But fun! - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By idtpes - September 20 - 8:43 pm

  It really is a fun vehicle. Wife and kids love it. I put aftermarket muffler, cold air intake, throttle body spacer and I get 18.5 city, 25 highway, slight HP increase. Needs seat pockets, storage compartments lacks. Hit a deer, minor bumper damage, rest of vehicle was undamaged, cant say same about deer. Aftermarket supercharger is now available adding 125 HP...very expensive though. Chrysler, make the 4.7 L or a HEMI option avail! The hard top/soft top combo is very nice feature. passenger rear windows are engineered very well, the Velcro isnt very stable, at highway speeds they separate from the frame. mygig option is dynamite feature. Uconnect is disabled though.

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  Fun, secure ride - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Mary - September 20 - 5:30 pm

  Ive only owned it one week. For the last two years Ive been looking at the Jeep Liberty. Im not quite used to being up so high (previous car was a Grand Prix). Its fun to drive and I feel very secure. Having horses, its very practical for me. I think Ive made the right choice.