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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  Great Jeep - 2016 Jeep Compass
  By Bono - December 15 - 3:54 pm

  We love this Jeep. Great options, great price, great ride.

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  Nothing beats it! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By colorado1974 - December 15 - 11:20 am

  An absolutely fabulous vehicle! Love everything about it.

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  Jeep Rubicon dont be left behind! - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Scfairlane - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Its the best one built yet!

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  Great vehicle! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Jwater04 - December 14 - 7:43 pm

  I bought this Jeep two months ago. Within a week I noticed the transmission slipping, rear-end popping and the wheel bearings making noise. As the second owner, I transferred the warranty and the dealership replaced the transmission and fixed the rest of it with 45,000 miles. I thought I made a mistake but now that its fixed, its doing great and I love it. It really is as capable as my wrangler I traded and I can actually use it during the week. Not just let it sit at home as just a weekend toy. Mine is an automatic and I usually let it shift about 2500rpms which takes off pretty good and doesnt get left in the dust completely. I also do alot of city driving and this gets me about 18-20mpg

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  Fun! Fun! Fun! - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By Pete - December 14 - 2:54 am

  This is the most FUN vehicle to drive.....I SPECIAL ORDERED Mine with the Freedom drive 2 "off road " package, CVT automatic trans, and Air Conditioning! .......Otherwise NO Electric.......Windows, seats, door locks, Navigation......Just The Basics that come with the Jeep....., Like,,,,, am/fm, cd, sirrius radio, intermittent wipers, Manually adjustable drivers seat (up,down,forward,back,tilt,recline) bluetooth ,rear wiper, cruise control, usb, Folding rear seats,Full size spare tire (a REAL TIRE) ......STEEL Underbody skid plates (not plastic like everyone else), Tow hooks FRONT and REAR, Roof Rack, And a real 4X4!....for Under $18K......PLUS 24 MPG! What a Joy to drive! It Handles Great, very nimble, Wet traction is Very good, Cargo space is REAL NICE for a Compact SUV, OFF ROAD or in mud, snow , sand it has been fantastic! I have 4 other vehicles, 2 of which are AWD ( competitor)..... Much more expensive , loaded with the electronic wizardry, and DOWN RIGHT BORING TO DRIVE! The Patriot Is The Most FUN ......If it only had MORE POWER.....it has 172 Horses.........Im a guy.....what did you expect!

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  My Lil Jeep - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By Mike Q - December 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this Patriot, because I needed more room. I had a std cab Ford Ranger, and my two boys and myself were filling it up. Im a Assistant Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop and we camp and hike a lot. This will work perfect for our outings. I wished that I would have gotten a 4wd but I think this will work perfectly either way.

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  Life saver - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By libertyisgr8 - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Owned 10 or more previous vehs. (3rd brand new). Over 116k miles later wouldnt trade it for the world. The handling and stability saved our lives - kept us from even having the accident (another driver made left from oncoming lane 50-75 feet in front of us while traveling approx. 55 mph) I Love the tight steering. Original brakes went 84k and still had plenty left. Will be passing on to children.

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  Theres Only One Jeep - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mazzuchelli - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Needed a "dog" truck to more practically manage my pack. The Sahara is much easier for the dogs to enter with the back seat "tumbled" and its a lot easier to keep clean than a regular SUV. This is my second Wrangler Sahara so I knew what to expect. This 10 seems much quieter than the 98 and the engine seems smoother. Miss the manual transmission but wanted a deal so had to work with dealer inventory. All-in- all this truck is a terrific, practical package Ill keep for the long haul. Thanks to the great people of Toledo for building this unique vehicle.

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  2011 Grand Cherokee hits the mark - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeff C. - December 13 - 10:00 am

  I replaced a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder that had never given me any trouble so going back to a vehicle with a domestic badge was a tough decision. However, I must say that my 2011 GC limited 4x4 (v6 motor) is smoother, quieter and more responsive than my Pathfinder ever was. Exterior and Interior fit and finish is excellent. The GC handles very much like a sports sedan with great stability in corners compared to the truck like SUVs of old. I have taken several long trips in the GC since my purchase logging 4000 miles and the GC has been great. The V6 has plenty of power to cruise the interstate with little to no engine noise. Im very happy with GC.

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  Red hot 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Nano - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Great suv, I love it! Handles like a dream, especially on these mountain roads. Plenty of power and nice interior with easy to use controls. Rides like my Lexus RX300 did, maybe even better. I had a Jeep Cherokee 15 years ago and this aint nothing like the old one as far as ride and comfortably. This is a home run! Look out Toyota!