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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  Everything is great except the engine - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By aftershock973 - December 13 - 9:56 am

  Ive had my Liberty Sport now for about 3 months. I was first drawn to its rugged good looks and 4x4 reputation. I have to say it the interior is extremely comfortable and the seats are very supportive. Acceleration from a stop is very good, but highway passing... forget it. The V6 feels so sluggish that you have to jam your foot on the gas pedal to get the transmission to downshift into 3rd gear. Everything on this Jeep is great, but they should have revamped the engine and transmission instead of using the version from the old Liberty.

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  Fuel - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Mark - December 12 - 8:36 pm

  I bought this vehicle for several reasons. Warranty, fuel economy, USA made, off road abbility, price. Im happy with everything so far except for fuel. the dealer blames it on winter and blended fuel. He said when we switch to summer blend it will get better. On the highway Im at 19.5 MPG all around about 18 I have 1000 miles on it is 3.5 weeks old. I owned a Chevy 4 door truck if the fuel does not improve I will be sorry. Everyone else says they are getting 25 MPG.( perhaps they are optimistic) I live in Wisconsin.

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  jeeps are fun but noisy - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By fatman - December 12 - 2:00 am

  the jeep is fun to drive, stock models can go almost anywhere and there are many aftermarket items that allow you to make your Jeep look and perform just the way you want it to.

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  Great SUV, recommended - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Shockey5 - December 12 - 2:00 am

  I love this vehicle. Very fun to drive.

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  For the love of God, buy something else! - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Schultzsp - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Where to start?! I have had nothing but problems in 2 years of ownership. Loud dashboard rattles and vibration, only to be told "thats what the radio volume is for." Speaking of the radio, Ive had 2 of them stop working completely. My stearing column had to be replaced because of loud "crack" that it made on left hand turns, and now the new column is doing the same thing. This time, rather than replace the column, the dealer claims it is "normal." My heated seat stopped working, my seatbelts no longer retract, and Ive had the brakes replaced due to a recall. Im trading it in for a 4Runner this week, and NEVER buying Jeep again.

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  Renegade Rocks - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By G Wilkins - December 12 - 2:00 am

  All I can really say is BUY IT. If you want a jeep and want good value for your money, This is the one.

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  Bad to the Bone - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By Rick - December 10 - 10:10 pm

  Reminds me of the driving properties of my 1970 Triumph TR-250. This is an exciting car to drive, with more driver leg room then my previous Ford F-350 had. Manual four wheel drive shifts effortlessly. Able to achieve 22MPG with a new motor which I expect to improve after break in period.

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  Another Very Capable Jeep - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Scorphitman - December 10 - 2:33 pm

  I purchased this Limited as a lease return. The vehicle has been a very reliable SUV. I had previously owned a classic Cherokee Limited. The Liberty makes the old Cherokee look like a hay wagon. A very comfortable ride and roomy interior. I am 63" and 250 lbs and dont feel pinched in the drivers seat. Ive put 40k+ miles on it in 2 years and it has never left me stranded on the roadside. Very good off-road performance on some nasty rocky trails in the Sierra. Pretty good in the snow. Driven it in 50 knot winds with rain and the part-time 4WD works just great. Instruments are straight forward without the "gimmicks" of the Japanese SUVs. Room enough in the back for my 100 lb. Golden Retriever.

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  Fun car - 2006 Jeep Wrangler
  By panamapete - December 10 - 2:03 am

  My first Wrangler. I have driven a lot of cars and trucks, but this vehicle is the most fun to drive of them all. I put my 2008 Infiniti FX in storage.

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  Horrible design - who thunk this one up? - 2011 Jeep Liberty
  By tcars1 - December 9 - 12:08 pm

  First I am 510" male and weight about 185 pounds, pretty average. We have this SUV as a rental for 1 week, it had 4980 miles on it and now has about 5200 miles. It is a 2011 and I am still stuck with it for 3 more days. Never again. Sit back as I tell you every reason not to buy this car. Opening the door and you are greeted with 1980s push button door handles. Uncomfortable to use, ugly, large and seem to be completely made of plastic. Sitting in the car and you are instantly ingested in plastic. Everything is plastic. There is no upper dashboard and the windshield is about 2 feet from your face. There is almost no were to put anything in the car. We found the seats hard to adjust and