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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  Good vehicle - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By erickson - November 18 - 7:03 am

  Vehicle is very reliable. It is a safe and trusted vehicle. Very durable and drives through snow and light off road very well. The vehicle does have very poor fuel ecomomy, which is why I proably will not buy another. The vehicle makes you feel very safe in any driving condition. Jeep just needs to make the vehicle more fuel efficient and the vehicle would rock overall!

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  Lemon - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By IDW - November 17 - 6:13 pm

  I bought the patriot in may of 08 my parents have one and I liked it. I had mine for about seven months then it stopped shifting from 4th gear to 6th gear. i took it to jeep. They put in a new transmission, wiring harness, and circuits, that still did not fix the problem. They had it for 2 months, and could not fix the problem. They were in the process of buying it back when they went bankrupt. Now i have no jeep and im still making payments. Until that point that point it worked great. I drove it to Seattle from Tucson, then from Tucson to Durango, Mexico. Awesome gas mileage. Fun to drive. If I trusted Chrysler I would buy another one in a heart beat.

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  Love Hate Relationship - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By fort worth flyer - November 17 - 4:26 pm

  The looks of this vehicle make you fall in love but the repair bills and time in the shop make you hate it. We bought our 2002 Limited in 2004 with 25,000 miles. Thank goodness for extended warranties. During the 2 years of ownership the vehicle was in the shop 8 times for something major. Climate control, engine cooling fan, window regulator(s), CD changer, hood struts, seat heater(s), you name it... it broke. The rear end was clunking and front end was making weird noises when we traded it AND THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED! If youre going to buy it, get a good warranty or have several $1000s in an account to pay for the repairs.

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  Back In A Jeep Again - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By backinajeepagain - November 16 - 11:26 am

  Drives smooth, quiet, tracks straight, handles great for SUV. Getting actual 18.5-21mpg. Roomy for my 63" frame. Hard & Soft tops are much better quality. Trans shifts smooth, quick, and hardly noticeable. Very fun to drive. 3500 miles in 5 weeks, doors off 4 times. Love the room of the 4 door. You wouldnt be afraid to drive this to a black tie event. Gets lots of looks and questions. The electronic throttle is diferent,. takes a little getting used to. Could use more power. Mopar needs to offer post style mirrors that go in top hinge when doors are off, got mine off the internet. Really enjoying the amenities cruise, a/c, elec wdws, pwr locks, 6 disc, sirius. I drive 30K+ per yr.

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  Great Weekend Vehicle! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Dennis McDermott - November 16 - 8:17 am

  Reliable 2nd or 3rd vehicle, perfect for hauling, hunting, fishing or just running errands

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  6 Years with a 1998 Wrangler Sport - 1998 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jeepmanchuck - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I took delivery of my special order Wrangler Sport in January 1998. The combination of a 6 cyl., auto., and 3.73 rear axle gets you 15-16 mpg. Adding the K&N induction system has improved gas mileage to 18 mpg. The factory sound system is limited. Adding the Jeep subwoofer system has helped. Interior and highway ride quality is good. However, off-road is where this vehicle rules! I recommend the factory limited-slip rear axle for off-road driving, and the full steel doors to lower int. noise levels. For a second vehicle that will see limited use, it dosent get any better - a convertible with great off-road capabilities from the factory.

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  2004 Jeep Liberty - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By ELIZCF18 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Driven Jeep YJs for 15 years and this is a nice change. Had to lift the front end 1.5 inches to make it level though. Much better looking and visability now.

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  Its a Jeep - 2010 Jeep Liberty
  By MC - November 15 - 5:23 am

  I just purchased The liberty about a week ago and i have mixed feelings about it. I was in The market for a small SUV and came across the liberty. I test drove the patriot but it lacked power. The Liberty is a smooth comfortable ride. The vehicle handles great on snow covered roads and that was one of the major reasons i purchased it. i have averaged about 20mpg mostly highway at this point but i expect that to go up once its broken in. Coming from a civic this is alot different and feels like you are driving a truck. the U-connect is a awesome feature that allows you to have bluetooth and ipod integration. Got a great deal on it but you have to shop around.

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  grows on you - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By Jay - November 10 - 5:40 pm

  This is my first Jeep. And I love it. Once you get past the poor gas mileage and lack of creature comforts you realize this is a workhorse SUV meant to take whatever you dish out every day. I do whatever I want with it. Fish, hunt, urban cruising, snow, rain, dirt, etc. I even commute in it. The engine light is annoying but I just consider it an old friend now who comes to visit from time to time. A easy and FREE trip to any auto parts store gets you a free computer reading that tells you to relax about the engine light. Very useful for moving refrigerators, dogs, military gear, bikes, kids, canoes, wood, etc. Easy to clean, easy to dirty. FUN, cheap and reliable.

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  Its Still a Jeep! - 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Samuel - November 10 - 5:06 am

  My family has been buying Jeeps for years now and has had generally pretty good luck with them. Our 2010 Grand Cherokee Laredo is no exception. Before believing the professional reviewers who claim the 3.7 liter V6 engine is underpowered, I suggest you drive one and decide for yourself. Mine has plenty of get up & go although the mileage could be better. My dealer was doubling the manufacturers rebate, meaning I saved over $10,000 off of MSRP before they looked at my trade-in.