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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  new Commander - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By jrchevy - September 9 - 4:26 pm

  Just purchased this vehicle a week ago. Best car for my money so far. Roomy enough for my family with 2 car seats for the kids.

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  Mine - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By ken - September 9 - 9:16 am

  The extra room in the unlimited is great! I love the vehicle.

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  Replaced too many parts in the 1.5 years - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By RENELOU - September 8 - 10:00 am

  So far I have replaced Water pump, 2 window motors, brakes and air conditioner compressor. Mechanic says these are all known bad parts!! Jeep should reacall some of these if they are know to have bad parts. WOULD NEVER BUY A JEEP AGAIN!!!

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  Commander is a Great Jeep - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By jshuss - September 7 - 6:06 am

  I have had my Commander for a few months now and have put it through rush hour and trips across the mountains in Colorado and i have been pleased and comfortable the whole time. It has enough power to push me up the mountains on onto the freeway. Yes, it does not throw into my seat when I press on the gas, but I did not expect that from a two and a half ton giant. A little squat in my seat makes me happy, nonetheless. The ride is smooth and quiet and things seem put together well. I have been in older Chrysler products and this one is truly a HUGE improvement. Overall, I am happy with my Commander, bring on more snow!

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  Take your chances - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Dan - September 6 - 10:20 pm

  You are really taking your chances by buying a 2001 Grand. The build quality is terrible. Problems I have had: steering pump and steering column needed to be replaced. Window regulator broken. Electronics nightmare! Gas tank leak. Exterior Jeep logos oxidize along with paint. Do yourself a favor and get an extended warranty. I really think I might have been unlucky by buying this particular Jeep. Ive owned two in the past and have never had problems.

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  Loud and bumpy ride - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By ksboehm - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall, its a fun SUV to drive, but the quality of the ride leaves a lot to be desired. Interior is very basic- no perks. There is a lot of wind noise once you exceed about 40-50 mph and engine is also loud. Overall, I found it to be uncomfortable to drive for more than just short trips around town. The ride is very bumpy, so if youre looking for a somewhat smooth ride, this is definitely not the vehicle for you.

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  Very good - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Ards - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I think that this car is built to drive in tough weather and also for enjoment. This suv is the savest suv i know i used to have a dodge durango and it was keep slipping and now i got the jeep cherokee and it never slips in the rain. Thank you for making sucha wonderfull car.

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  Great SUV - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Woody626 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Grande Cherokee after my 96, which I put 110,000 miles on. This is the most comfortable, driver friendly, quiet and still performs. I have had zero problems with it, except it seems to attract a lot of attention when spotted. It is black with the Chrome 17 inch rims and is truly gorgeous.

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  Windows Regulators - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By jimenez - September 4 - 11:40 pm

  I purchased this vehicle for my mother June of 2006. Since having purchased this vehicle my husband has replaced the window regulators on 3 of the 4 windows 3 times already. Recently the driver side window regulator went out, and he went to the dealership to purchase another one and was told that he would not only have to purchase the regulator but a new window due to a new design that Chrysler came up to prevent this from happening. It went from being $75.00 to now $300.00 to replace this part. This is ridiculous, you either buy groceries or fix the window. And the gas mileage isnt great either for a 3.7 Liter small vehicle. Not to mention the noise that it makes when driving on the HWY.

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  Jeep Libby Diesel - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Geoff Clayton - September 4 - 1:03 pm

  EGR problems; DC replaced under warranty. Tires of poor traction quality.