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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  BUYER BEWARE - nothing but issues! - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By lschulz - November 1 - 1:54 am

  Bought fresh off the lot in 2002 for over 50 grand. Nothing but problems from the get go, and the dealership hoses you! Jeep has awful customer service. Though a nice looking vehicle on the outside, ive had the heat fixed twice now, A/C is on its third break. I swear, heat works in the summer and ac works in the winter. It started making an awful whirring sound and I noticed it was leaking fluids all over the driveway, took it to the dealer and they wanted over 6 THOUSAND DOLLARS to fix everything!! Turns out it was leaking coolant, power steering pump was cracked, and the gas caps seem to be famous for giving out on these. Now transmission is going..

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  Tranny feels crummy - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By robc - October 31 - 4:06 pm

  Overall I love my Jeep, I have never liked the feel of the transmission (4 speed auto). Shifts hard. Tows nice, cargo space somewhat limited though. My wife has a 2002 Escape, and my Liberty is quieter, feels more solid, has better build quality and rides a lot smoother.

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  Still going strong - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Connick - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Going on 4 years old my 99 white ltd is still very reliable. The only issue I had was the replacement of the front wheel bearings. Other than that Its been pretty good. Never had any problems engine-wise.

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  Love It! - 1999 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jeepman - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Its a Jeep thing and you do have to understand. My only major issue was the awful stock tires they put on this Jeep. Other than a bad wire harness, no major complaints. Goes anywhere in any weather.

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  For off road the best!!! - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By firewind33 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  For on road fun to drive, for off road I have not found a better 4x4!!!

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  Jeep troubles - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By jeep problems - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I havent even had my 2003 Jeep Liberty for a year and Ive had it back to the dealer multiple times because of issues with the transmission. Its hard shifting when it slow to a certain speed. No one seems to be able to figure it out.

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  Buy One Before They Go Up In Price! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By JKS - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 540i BMW for this wonderful Jeep Liberty Limited Edition! The leather interior is outstanding and reliability super! Buy one now before Jeep realizes what a super vehicle they have produced!

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  Highly recommend - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By give me liberty - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed my Jeep Liberty from the very start. I bought it in June 0f 2001. I had literally one of the very first on the street. It got a lot of looks and many great comments. I have just turned 30K. I have had a few very minor concerns, nothing even worth mentioning.

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  Great 4WD - Interior Needs Attention - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By DM - October 31 - 9:46 am

  Just purchased. In first 1,000 miles back seat sun roof covers create annoying - loud rattle that will require the dealer to remove interior roof cover and repair shade roller - or remove all together. For price tag on Limited, it would be nice if interior materials were a lot less "Durango" plastic and more high end SUV. Although mileage really stinks - it does the job as 4WD (no one should be taken back by 15 miles to the gallon, it is a bug truck after all). Overall I am pleased with this as a replacement to my Grand Cherokee Ltd - It is no replacement for the 740i.

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  I love it! - 2010 Jeep Liberty
  By Jessie - October 31 - 1:06 am

  We just took delivery of the car yesterday, so I cant address the reliability issues people state, but I know people that have the car and have had no problems. My husbands lease was up on his 07 Grand Cherokee, which was our third Jeep, all with no problems. I convinced him to get the Liberty for me, and Im thrilled with it! Im a nurse and I have to get to work, regardless of the weather, and the Jeeps have never let us down. They go through everything! And Im sure this one will too. The car pros and Consumer Reports all give these cars a bad rap, but since having a Jeep in the family since 1997 and never having a problem, I dont know where they get their information from.