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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  Buy a Jeep!!! - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By mcm - December 5 - 10:00 am

  Love this SUV! The 4x4 is fun, has plenty of power and looks great after a wash/wax. The gas mileage isnt so great but is a minor detail compared to the fun of driving this car. If youre looking for the original SUV (i.e. stiff suspension, rugged, reliable) then this one is for you!

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  Ultimate Jeep: The 5.9 - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep King 5.9 - December 5 - 10:00 am

  I searched for over a year for a 5.9 and it was well worth the wait. For the length I have owned it the only thing which went wrong was that I had to replace the ball-bearings. My dad loves my seats more than his Navigator and it is a head turner. A friend said it drove better than his moms lexus. I wouldnt trade it for anything.

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  Brake problem with this Jeep - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Paul Hoffman - December 5 - 10:00 am

  This jeep has been in the shop at least 6 times in 2.5 years. Brakes are the big issue. We have had the front rotors surfaced 3 times in 30K miles. We know two other friends who have Grand Cherokees both with brake problems similar to ours. Chrysler will not warranty after 12K miles. They say it is a wear issue and they are not responsible. My wife drove a Ford Tempo for over 100K miles without touching the brakes. We will not buy another jeep/chrysler/MB due to the poor customer service. The customer service reps have actually told us to go buy other brands because they do not want our business. Also had the power windows repaired/replaced twice.

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  Joyous Jeep! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By DrTaylor01 - December 5 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my Grand Cherokee for the Jeep Liberty and absolutely love the difference. I find the Liberty much more fun to drive and appreciate the increased traction of the 4X4. The Liberty is zippy and has appropriate towing capabilities. I love the Liberty!

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  Keep Trying Chrysler/ Jeep - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jeepjnk - December 5 - 10:00 am

  For a $30k+ vehicle, the Grand Cherokee is more trouble than it is worth. 4 recalls, 2 rear diffs. later and only 10k miles. I should have bought an MDX!

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  The Good, Bad and Hard to Deal With - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Paul - December 4 - 11:16 am

  During our first month of ownership we drove our Commander across the country. We drove from Washington, DC to Yellowstone Park. The Commander gave us a great ride with poor gas milage even on the highway and the gas tank is too small for the Jeep. You cant get 300 miles out of the small tank. We averaged over 8 hours a day driving time and didnt feel the fatiuge that we have with other cars on this typa of trip. Over all we like the Commander and that is why we purchsed a second one.

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  Very impressed, more upscale than I expected - 2018 Jeep Compass
  By meD - December 4 - 7:29 am

  Very stylish interior, with quality materials and feel. Great exterior looks, and very smooth ride. Decent interior space. Feels like it could use V6 power, but if your not a speed freak, the 180hp I4 will do the job. Overall, very impressed. A car I could see purchasing (after lease).

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  Jeep Patriot - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By Papillon - December 3 - 11:30 am

  This Jeep handles like a much heavier SUV. Quality is so so and the engine noise when accelerating is maddening. We have owned the Patriot for over a month and have a little over 1,000 miles on it. The gas mileage is dissapointing. 21.3 all around and with a small 13 gallon tank it seem like we are always at the gas station. Will swap it out next year for a foreign model. I guess I should have listened to my gut feeling on this one.

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  Renegade Rating - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Buster Bailey - December 2 - 10:00 am

  The Liberty Renegade is extremely rugged. It has a sporty feel with quick handling and response. The styling is cool and turns a lot of heads. The interior is roomy and very comfortable. The instrumentation is well placed and functional.

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  Wish they still made them - 1997 Jeep Cherokee
  By bored - December 1 - 9:20 pm

  I love the look of this model. Very rugged and simple. Nowadays, SUVs have been designed for soccer moms and this thing actually looks like it was designed for a little more than picking up some milk. I bought my Cherokee used last year as a second vehicle for winter use and have invested some money into the suspension. It has 140,000 km on it and the engine/transmission and 4WD all run like a charm. The only problem I have is the computer acting up during the cold months of winter, but has no problems in summer. Gas mileage is not the best and rides a little rough overall. I know it wasnt meant to be a smooth riding gas sipper, but it is a little harsher than youd expect.