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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  Lucky # 3 - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By R3DM@N - November 3 - 8:33 pm

  This is my third go-round w/ the Wrangler. I have owned a 95 YJ (College), an 03 TJ(first married), and have now settled into the 4dr JK (w/children). The new 4 doors are functional with the new additions to my family and I do not have to sacrifice driving a cool vehicle. This is not a speed machine by any means, yet is fully functional for on road usage and the offroad capabilities speak for itself. The gas milage is fair given the ride height and lack of aerodynamics. If you own one of these you are in the club. If you want an Escalade experience when driving then keep shopping.

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  Sour Lemony Snickets - 2016 Jeep Cherokee
  By Bree Floozy - November 3 - 8:06 pm

  2016 Defective brakes off the lot. Replaced all major components. Dealer was unable to get it right. Took them 12 days. Brakes on these cars are unresponsive and too firm, making it difficult to react quickly in an emergency situation. I dont get why they are designed like this. saftey tech blind spot, rear assist are great. Acceleration is very good, appearance and interior build style/quality very good. Navigation is quite basic for $600! Post-purchase all I hear about are reliability issues. So maybe I shouldve researched this car a lot more before buying. I doubt Ill let this car ever get out of warranty.

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  Love it - highly recommended - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By swampmom - November 3 - 5:56 pm

  We needed a new vehicle that would accommodate our two growing children and something that had decent mileage for my 134 mile daily round trip work commute. Honda Fit and other like vehicles didnt offer free safety features such as side impact airbags and A/C were considered OPTIONAL. We were floored when we found the Jeep Patriot (base model.) It offered more room, the standard features that we needed, really good gas mileage, and a fun, TONKA toy kind of ride. On this last tank of gas we averaged 26.8 MPG! Being in the NOLA area, I also wanted something big enough to sleep in if we had to evacuate:) You get a heck of a lot of bang for your buck with a Jeep Patriot!

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  Buy one before they are history - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By XJforever - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Owned for one year. Bought with 19,000 miles - just crossed 30,000. Absolutely the best vehicle I have ever owned. Solid as a rock, great off-road and in the snow. Only issues are the lack of a left foot rest (during long drives this can be a problem) and gas mileage in stop and go traffic. But it is the last of the best that Jeep has ever made. Ending production of the XJ will lose loyal customers as Daimler-Chrysler migrates toward independent front suspensions across the board. I fully expect that this vehicle will last me for over 200,000 miles. Many XJ owners will attest to the ease with which this happens if you just change the oil and do the maintenance.

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  Overland best of the not-so-great - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By lcgrifon - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Hey, until Mercedes really takes over, this is the best of the Jeep bunch. I am very encouraged that DCM will get there but I dont know how soon. In the meantime we in the US get downgraded Mercedes for less than what I would have expected. For those of you coming off lease, you have a great opportunity in the next year or two for "lease loyalty" good treatment for technology that may be new in a Jeep name but very well healed overall

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  Best SUV to own - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Joseph - November 3 - 9:16 am

  The Jeep Liberty is a wonderful SUV to dirve. Have not had to do anything but routine maintenance. Have had no trouble with the vehicle at all. I ready to buy another so my lucky son will have his mountain goat to get him to the slopes.

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  Bad tranny - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Mike B - November 2 - 8:23 pm

  I maintained my Liberty as per manufacturer specs (ALL services were performed), yet at 101,000 miles the transmission went out. It failed to shift back into first gear, and would stick between 2nd - 3rd. This is the automatic transmission. $2850 to get it rebuilt. transmission shop says "Chryslers are known for weak transmissions, especially in their vans". Never had a problem like this with Hondas/Toyotas (I keep them to 200,000 miles). I think this will be my last American car.

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  Like no Jeep Ive ever had - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Elliot - October 31 - 5:23 pm

  I bought the loaded Grand Cherokee Limited with the 5.7L Hemi. First of all, I have owned 2 other Grand Cherokees, a Wrangler Sahara and a regular Cherokee. While I liked all my Jeeps, this new one is by far the best. It is a rocket ship ... so fast in fact, there arent too many cars out there that I cant leave in the dust. Because I do tend to have a heavy foot, my gas mileage suffers somewhat. I guess lately, because the novelty of the Hemi power is still with me, Ive been getting around 12 or 13 mpg. Thats ok for now, but if the gas hits 3 bucks, I may have to resort to my "old lady" driving patterns to save a few bucks. Comfort is unreal. I love this car and would highly recommend it!

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  1 big disappointment, sky slider roof - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By PT - October 31 - 10:40 am

  When I first seen my liberty on the lot, I had to have it. I loved the looks. Even though it was totally loaded, it didnt need to be. I just wanted the style, so I got it. One of the many features was the sky slider roof. I wasnt interested in the roof style, but it came with the car. What they didnt bother telling me at the dealership is that when you travel at a faster speed limit, like 70-75 on the turnpike or I-95 the roof leaks air so loud you cant hear the radio or hear yourself or anyone talking! Sometimes its not as loud but is still irritating. Not looking forward to a long driving trip with my new Jeep!

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  Tops in my book - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By bjpoock - October 30 - 2:00 am

  The Jeep Cherokee is easily one of the best vehicles ever built.