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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  Electrical and Service Issues - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jim - September 12 - 8:33 am

  I actually bought the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7 Hemi V8 4WD. I loved it, but about 10 days after I bought it it started to have electrical problems that caused the engine to die while in motion. The dealership where I bought it were clueless about what good service is so I took it to another jeep dealership and they have been wonderful. But, the vehicle has been there for a week now. The part needed, the engine computer, has to come from Detroit and may be on back order. So it may be some time before I see my Jeep and my rental car is becoming very expensive. So I would not recommend the new Jeep until they iron out some of its mechanical problems.

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  Solid Transportation - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jamye - September 11 - 3:43 pm

  We have enjoyed our Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. We bought it about 6 years ago with 98,000 miles and now have 170,000 miles with no major issue. It is starting to leak some oil, but hey its almost 14 years old.

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  Grand Cherokee 4.7L V-8 - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Luther Peay - September 11 - 6:46 am

  The only thing bad I have to say about the vehicle is its poor fuel economy, and I dont have a lead foot.

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  Its A Jeep! - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By drive it - September 11 - 2:16 am

  If you know Jeeps, theres not much to explain. The car comes super loaded, more so than most new cars now. With the V8, gas mileage isnt too great, about 16 mpg, but what do you expect. The only problem Ive ever had on mine (now at 98,000 miles) is the heated seats which seem to have a tenancy to go out every couple years even if you keep getting them fixed. But most cars dont even have them in the first place so its not a big deal to just not have them. To me, its one of the best looking SUVs ever made with comfort to match. Even at 10 years old, its everything you need in an SUV. Recommended to anyone not worried about gas mileage.

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  great little jeep - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By sierragrl - September 8 - 8:53 am

  This is my 4th jeep cherokee, and I guess my last one since they quit making them. I love it. It powers up hills, flies past the slow moving vehicles on passing opportunities. When I had a toyota there was no passing allowed, it didnt have enough umhph. But cherokees, no problem. Its great off-road, its small dimensions are perfect for tight hairpin turns on narrow, steep dirt roads. And all my jeeps have been extremely reliable. nothing has gone wrong on them and I drove each one till 130,000 miles.

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  solar yellow rubicon - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By RR5MAN - September 4 - 7:16 pm

  This is the jeep of all jeeps - a brute.

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  BMW goes Jeep - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By e336 - September 4 - 1:17 pm

  Ive been driving a long list of German cars over the past 20 years - in fact this is my first American car. My last vehicle was a BMW X6. After two weeks with my GC Summit, I have to admit that its fun to drive, has excellent performance, great fuel economy for a 5K plus pound vehicle, and is quiet. There are some differences in interior fit and finish quality. Some of the plastic on the center console looks cheap and is in stark contrast to the generally great quality of the dash/instrument panel and seating. Overall, however, for a car with a list prices of nearly $25K less than an X6, its a great value.

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  Stisfied - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
  By steverin - August 31 - 3:33 pm

  I simply wanted a 4wd that would be able to safely traverse logging roads, ice/snow and has lots of after-market support. I found all of this in the cherokee.

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  Jeep Wrangler Columbia Edition - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By firegoogs - August 29 - 10:00 am

  I got my Jeep in January of 2004. It warmed up quickly and stayed warm despite sub-zero temperatures outside. I have not noticed any excessive noise associated with the soft top. It is louder than a hard top vehicle but it isnt annoying. Driving with the top down is a wonderful feeling. I love my Jeep!

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  Lifters at 1500 miles - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mike D - August 26 - 10:53 pm

  I have owned Jeeps all my life. I had to give up my beefed up Wrangler in 95. And have had family friendly vehicles ever since. This year as my kids got older I decided to go back to the basics. I wanted an 06 Wrangler with zero miles that I could build from scratch. It has been one month to the day and I am in a rental car all week because my Jeep is in the shop with bad lifters. I also have a dead spot as soon as I shift into third gear. I forgot how owning a Jeep meant fixing aJeep... I just did not plan on it in the first 30 days. I LOVE the Jeep. But I am bitterly disappointed with my purchase. I hope things go uphill from here