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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  Love it... - 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Docsean1 - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this 1993 in excellent condition with only 115k. Truck was well maintained with all records. Despite all the poor reliabity ratings I found, I believe this truck will be a fun and reliable commuter. Proper maintenance and attention is all this truck requires. It has more personalilty than the explorer or import rivals. It looks great, especially in red, and has a sporting firm ride. For comparison, I also own a 2002 BMW M3 and a Lexus SC400, and I still love driving the Jeep. Repairs when needed are not very expensive.

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  great vehicle - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By trailblazer1997 - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle to drive. Minimal repairs. Good power, well thought out interior,looks great

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  Rubi-Rocks! - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By JBro - December 21 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE this vehicle! Ive been in Wranglers before, but NEVER one like this! This vehicle is DEFINATELY for the more adventurous driver. Would recommend it to ANYONE! I was in an accident, hit by another driver - her fault, and man did those tires survive a beating! The wheel fenders took the impact, saving me from being smashed in by my drivers side door. I believe the Rubi saved my life!

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  Really Bummed - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Very Unhappy - December 19 - 2:30 pm

  This car was amazing during the first months I drove it. Then it became riddled with all sorts of software and functional issues. In addition, the service department is only looking out for themselves, not the end user. Horrible customer service - I had to tell THEM that my car had a recall. I had the entire dashboard go black, my brakes failed, I couldnt accelerate, and lost my anti skid. The stories I got to support "fixes" were ridiculous, and every time I drove away, I knew Id be back within a few weeks. I would never recommend this car to anyone - it is a safety hazard, and all the faults are out of even EXTENDED warranty.

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  Best of the Bunch - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By KSnodgrass - December 18 - 3:50 pm

  This is our third Jeep from the Wrangler family. Love it so far. Best ride and functionality of the group (we still own the other two). They finally catered to those of us in the south and added functional A/C. The only downside is the vulnerability. Weve been broken into 3 times in 3 weeks. I guess thats the drawback of the soft-top.

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  excellent - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jeep101 - December 16 - 7:50 pm

  Trust me when I say this thing is fun to drive. Its off-road capability is just unbelievable. I just cant think of another SUV that has the kind of capability like the Jeep. The on-road ability is just incredible. The acceleration will rock you back into your seat. Its a beast!

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  Never Again - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Donna - December 16 - 2:23 pm

  Bought this car new 3/2005 12/2005-new mother board-under warranty 11/2006 esm assembly replacement, under warranty 7/2007, new key needed/failed $271.00 8/2007, multiple cylinder failure under warranty 6/2008 new battery $198.00 11/2008- replace electronic shift module $664.00 7/2009-replace turn signal assembly- $200.00 11/2009-failed emissions tcm $599.00 6/11/2010- replace a/c compressor & accummulator-$892.00 7/2010-engine failure light is on and going to dealer tom. Can you smell lemon? Knowing I will never, ever buy another Jeep or Chrysler product ever ever again. Pricelesssssssssss!

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  My 2nd Wrangler - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By molly - December 16 - 8:06 am

  I have been a Jeep fan since my first Cherokee in high school. This is my second Wrangler and it is definitely fun. I would however consider another vehicle if it is your main source of transportation! Convenience is not a word to describe these cars. You should also consider safety. Both of mine were broken into and you should never leave the doors locked because that will get your windows slashed! Other than convenience. you should also consider the effort to take the top off when you first buy one. Practice, Practice, Practice. Most of all have fun and remember its the only suv of its kind!

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  Fun To Drive - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Brian Usiak - December 16 - 4:30 am

  I bought my Jeep used and I fell in love with it right away. The body style is great and the interior is roomy enough for my 6ft 3in frame.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Jack D. - December 15 - 4:56 am

  I bought this Liberty Sport V-6 4a in June 05. I am a previous Wrangler owner. This Liberty rides well and is comforting on long drives of 400+ miles. The gas mileage is ok if you dont have a heavy foot, but if you need power it has it! The stock tires are limiting if you off road much. I purchased some BF Goodrich T/A tires and that solved the problem. The interior is great. I have hauled 600 lbs. of wood pellets in the back with no problems. People complain about the window controls but I like where the are located. All in all, it is a great 4WD. I kinda wish I had bought the CRD. It will probably be my next vehicle.I installed a K&N air filter and it made it better.