4 Star Reviews for Jeep

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.17/5 Average
9,359 Total Reviews
Make Overview:

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:

Showing 511 through 520 of 9,359.00
  • Great 4x4 - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
    By -

    I bought this new in 99 and now have 116,000 mi on it and have not had anything go wrong, love the 4x4 goes anywhere and through anything, 3 snow drifts, no problem!

  • Fun while it lasted - 1995 Jeep Cherokee
    By -

    I bought this car used right out of college with only 60,000 miles on it (have owned it three years). Was great fun to drive and I liked that it was a car with personality but unfortunatly it kept on breaking down. I sunk just as much money into repairs (door fell off, other door was falling off, leaked oil, cracked everything, yada yada). Finally it just broke down on me and I am forced to get a new car as this one just is not worth it. Was a good, fun cheap car while it lasted but I would not recommend buying it today to anyone.

  • You can tow an Xterra, for one thing - 2010 Jeep Liberty
    By -

    First things first - the Xterra is a certified piece of junk. In 2007 both me and a friend of mine bought off-road SUVs. He got an Xterra, I went for the Liberty. We have made two trips since then. I mean serious, serious off-road stuff. The Xterras never made it back on its own. The Liberty has been literally indestructible. Funny, but this spring it was stoled, while my friend sold the Xterra. Now I got a shiny new Liberty. They say the interior aint sexy. maybe, but what counts is its robust body, good mechanics. This one is the true SUV, true to its core.

  • Have Jeep, will travel - 2006 Jeep Commander
    By -

    I have the base model 06 Commander with the little V6. Its my first Jeep SUV and I use it primarily for business which involves regional daily travel carrying sales material. I maintain it regularly and all systems seem to run flawlessly. The Tip-Tronic tranny works fine, however I do have to shift it manually on hills to get the most out of the V6. Mileage isnt bad for such a heavy vehicle, and the thing turns on a dime and has tight handling. The interior ergonomics are great for business with lots of storage up front. My first real snow adventures sold me on this things capabilities. The backup sensors and turning radius allow me to slip this SUV into most parking spots easily.

  • Nice Ride - 2006 Jeep Commander
    By -

    My wife and I went looking for a midsize SUV. We looked at and test drove several makes and models. The Commander was, by far our favorite. I could feel the quality right away. The ride is very smooth and quiet. The sound system is more than adequate. We were used to driving a little 4-cyl. What a difference the V-8 makes when in traffic and on the highway. The gas mileage is terrible but we expected that going in. The third row seat is convenient for our 2 small children, but they wont stay small forever. Other than that, I see no reason not to keep buying Jeeps in the foreseeable future.

  • great suv - 2006 Jeep Commander
    By -

    I have the 4.7 v8 limited black with every option. Ive had it for 4 months and I still get a lot of looks. I do recommend the hemi if you like driving faster than most. I purchased the chrome side steps and it really fills the look of the vehicle out. This is a smooth riding vehicle and is fun to drive. you will get a lot of compliments owning this vehicle. The great thing about the Jeep Commander is there is no other body style like it.

  • Original Owner - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
    By -

    Have owned this car since new (purchased 12/02) and overall it has been a very solid SUV. The car is extremely comfortable, offers plenty of room, and has great performance and handling in snow. At 130k miles, I have had only relatively minor issues including replacing the power window motor on both front doors and an issue with the cooling fan. Aside from that, the truck continues to drive and perform extremely well. Gas mileage has been average for this class at around 18 mpg. Well built, solid car, with some relatively minor electrical problems.

  • Great Jeep - 2007 Jeep Commander
    By -

    We got the Limited with the 5.7 Hemi and all the bells and whistles. So far we have been very pleased. This truck will go anywhere and the third row seats, although cramped for adults, really serve our family of 5 well. The powertrain is awesome, although the fuel economy is definitely poor(as we knew before the purchase). The towing abilities are also well appreciated.

  • Just missing a Bag of chips - 2004 Jeep Liberty
    By -

    I hate the window controls, and the remote entry is a bit wierd. Other than that, I love the Jeep Liberty. Even if the gas mileage is way less than I was told at the dealership, it is still better than my last truck.

  • Best Jeep Yet - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
    By -

    Just traded in my 00 Grand Cherokee Laredo for the 04 Overland. Its hard to find another SUV that combines all the features and extras of the Overland for such a good price. The engine is strong although quite thristy...what do you expect from a V8? The seats are much improved from my old Laredo. The off-road performance is great. Already used the new quadra-drive system to pull my buddies explorer out of the mud!

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