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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  Great car - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By OC - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Just bought a Grand Cherokee about two months ago. I love the way that it drives like a car. I havent had a chance to test its capabilities yet, but I cant wait for the first offroad experience or snowfall. It is capable, yet agile, and the engine is quite peppy as well (4.0 L).

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  Best Overall Vehicle - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By mitakuulu - December 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Jeep and I already know what my third vehicle will be. Once you own a Jeep, you will never own anything else.

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  Theres hope yet for a jeep - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By leohansen - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Always had trouble with jeeps, my wife loved them, bought it for her. So far so good. no problems at all. excellent pickup(HO V8) but the draw back is awful gas milage. handles cross country great. The overland has a stiffer suspension and is 3 inches higher. Has more of a "trucky" ride but we like it.

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  Good Jeep - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By par2002 - December 13 - 10:00 am

  I love the look of Jeep grand Cherokee

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  I will continue to buy JEEP - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By always in a jeep - December 13 - 10:00 am

  I a woman principal driver absoutely love everything about this car. I dont believe it handles like a truck, it manuevers very well, the ride is awsome, i could drive it all day. Its not too big but big enough. My husband likes it for the the same reasons plus the features under the hood. this is our 2nd jeep the last one was a laredo. We tow a boat back and forth to california without hesitation. we travel to the mtns to ski and it gets us there and back in fine shape. so i strongly disagree on many of the reviews that protray it in a bad light. an awsmome car that looks sexy and rugged easy to park and on and on. it is not noisy either.

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  very good - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By mark adams - December 13 - 10:00 am

  this is my 4th jeep, I guess that tells it all. I enjoy the fun and security of this vehicle.

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  Jeeps Kick! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Michael - December 12 - 10:30 pm

  The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a wonderful all around vehicle with luxury and usefulness. You can seat 5 or more comfortably. It is great for road trips and also serves as vehicle to move items. The luxury of the Grand Cherokee Limited is by far a huge plus with heated seats, 10 CD disc changer, awesome sound system, and a memory chip to remember two different drivers seat, radio, and mirror settings. The Jeep is also a very safe feeling vehicle which was a number one priority when buying after I flipped a Toyota T-100 3 times on highway 280 in San Francisco. The Grand Cherokee brings together safety, usefulness, luxury, affordability, style, and dependability all under one roof.

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  Read this if you want the truth - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By arlo - December 11 - 10:00 am

  My Jeep is a year and a half old and I wish I never bought. I thought I was buying a well made American vehicle but I was wrong. I am now getting my tie rods replaced my front interior light leaks water my driver side window was stuck down and my antifreeze hose was leaking. I am very dissatisfied with my purchase. I will be contacting corporate.

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  i keep hearing "poorly built truck" - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jayjay - December 11 - 10:00 am

  So I was handed down this 2003 jeep grand Cherokee. This is my third car. The climate control stopped working. That means no AC in the summer, no heat in the winter, and no air to defog. I brought it to jeep, they wanted $2000 to replace a damaged part. Other mechanics wanted 1000. On top of that, the axle makes this annoying clunk noise whenever i apply brakes. Another $2000. The blinkers, brake lights, and many other electrical problems emerged that needed a lot more repairs. numerous mechanics have told me that this is just a poorly built truck. with 80,000 miles none of this should be happening. This truck has been a nightmare. I may take whatever resale value is left and run with it

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  "Transmission Over Temp" - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By Chris - December 11 - 10:00 am

  My Jeep has left me stranded 4 times, only to befuddle the mechanics, simply Google the message "Transmission Over Temp" and youll see the many, many people who have experienced this UNFIXABLE KNOWN PROBLEM that Jeep dealerships have no idea how to address. The most recent dealer to attempt to diagnose the problem stated that they will not look at it if it happens again. They actually told me to take it elsewhere. Do class action attorneys read these reviews?