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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  Cute Piece of Junk - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By sporty_a - March 1 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle is very cute and fun to drive. However, Ive had my vehicle for over a year and have had the heater break twice, the cd player replaced, the hinges on my tailgate window replaced, the transmission is beginning to fail (32k on the car) and 8 trips to the dealership still cannot pinpoint a grinding noise in my right front wheel. Oh, and the remote keyless entry comes with some random code where sometimes you press once to unlock and sometimes it takes 5 pushes of the button.. or 6 or 7..depending on its mood I guess.

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  2004 Jeep Rubicon - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By hoosk - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Although I think Jeep is a great product, but the Jeep Rubicon cant be a Jeep its to perfect. Feels like a dream driving it. Beefy tires, factory lift, Dana axels, locking difs. and more! Of corse its a Jeep and that means modifications! But it is one of the most excellent investments I have made in quite sometime. GO JEEP! ALSO if you live in the New Mexico area please be wise and do not buy your Jeep (or anything) from Casa Chrysler/Jeep located in Albuquerque. This company is un-trustworthy.

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  2004 Wrangler Rubicon (Manual) - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By pezell - March 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Jeep. Did I ever hit a home run! This baby will go anywhere that I have enough guts to try. Im doing my first Jeep Jamboree soon, and am really looking forward to learning more about the Rubicons capabilities. My wife loves it. She wont admit it, but I think she enjoys driving it more than her Corvette. There is no other vehicle on earth in this price range that can safely climb steep hills and slog through treacherous mud pits all with the greatest of ease.

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  Dont believe ConsumerReports.org rating - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By TheresOnlyONE - March 1 - 2:00 am

  I was very hesitant to purchase the Grand Cherokee Limited due to the low ratings it received from ConsumerReports.org, but after test driving the car and going over the specifications personally, I have no doubt that this is a great SUV. The quality is great, and the value is even greater. I do have to admit that I am a slave to great marketing, but everything a Jeep represents it can do, I now have the option of doing so.

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  Good car needs work - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By akash - March 1 - 2:00 am

  The GC is a great car to have around for the snow. I use to haul around my kayak and snowboard. The dealer is the worst place to go. They dont believe anything is wrong with the car when I bring it in. The air bag light went on and they couldnt figure out what was wrong with and told me the problem didnt exist. I took it to another dealer and they fixes it. They need a training on customer service. I used to have an Acura and they had great service. Next car I want to get is the MDX.

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  This ones a winner - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep Owner - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Just got a 2004, graphite Overland with GPS. Traded in my 2001 Limited This is a sweet ride. Much better seats than in the Limited. Side support and heating function much better.

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  OVERLAND IS THE BEST - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By GOLFER - March 1 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS THE 6TH RED JEEP I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST 12 YEARS AND IT IS BY FAR THE BEST. THEY ARE ALL WONDERFUL BUT THE "OVERLAND" IS ABSOLUTELY A CLASSIC. I LOVE THE SUN ROOF, THE 10 CD EXCHANGER, AND THE COMFORT. I AM IN HEAVEN WHEN I DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT IS SO EASY TO DRIVE, EVEN ON SNOWY ROADS. I HAVE NO FEAR WHEN I AM DRIVING MY OVERLAND.

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  Its a Jeep Thing! - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By Brbnkseaj - February 28 - 4:43 pm

  Other than having the check engine light come on the day I drove it off the lot, my Jeep has never had to be repaired for anything that wasnt self-inflicted. I am amazed at how much abuse it can take when I go off-roading. It is very fun to drive, and easy to customize. There are downsides, though. You really need to buy aftermarket security products if you have a soft top. My original soft top made a LOT of noise on the highway and when it was windy, and it wore out after five years. But I replaced it with a sailcloth top, which was easy to install and pretty quiet when driving under 60mph. It is also tricky to drive on the highway, especially in the rain. Good tires are a must.

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  Never Again! - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Dee - February 28 - 10:00 am

  I will never buy another Jeep. We bought it used with only 15,000 miles on it. We have put at least $4,000 into fixing the A/C over the last 3 years. The switches have never worked consistently. One of the switches went out, at the same time the A/C went out, so all the windows were stuck OPEN for 2 weeks until the part came in. There have been other problems. It seems like we have a repair at least once every 3-4 months. Ill be glad when this piece of junk is OUT of my garage.

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  NOT A SMART PURCHASE - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Brianj - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive now owned my 96 Limited Grand for about 3 full years.... thats plenty for me. Im in the process of selling the piece right now. The reasons for the sale are endless but basically, the transmission is continually "failing" by shifting hard or not at all, even after repeated "Transmission Flushes". The brakes have gone out twice, both axles have cracked from simple highway commuting, the CV Boots have cracked repetitively, the interior "integrity" is marginal at best with cracking plastic pieces, sticky/jammed buttons, chinsey fake wood paneling thats falling apart.... AAAHHHHH!!!!!! If its not one thing, its another with this Jeep...