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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  versitle car - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By Rick - June 1 - 1:19 am

  I bought this Jeep new in 2010. It now has 76k on it. The tires lasted 60k miles. Mostly routine maintenance. I still enjoy driving this vehicle and take it on long trips in comfort. Because of the miles ,year and good resale value I will probably get a new one.. I think this car has the best bang for the buck in its class.

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  2002 Jeep GC - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By mevansva - June 1 - 12:40 am

  Roomy inside, good pickup when pulling out into traffic, very tight turning capability.

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  Jeep allows you to pay for what you value - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By Greg - May 31 - 2:45 pm

  The 2016 Patriot is a decent value. Dont rely solely on professional reviews, drive one yourself. What you get: 4WD, air conditioning, satellite radio,roof rack, auto dimming rear view mirror and Bluetooth for $17,000. For that price it comes with steel wheels, manual locks, windows, side view mirrors and a manual 5-spd transmission. I chose Jeep because it let me pay for features I value instead of having to pay for automatic conveniences that I dont need. The seats are comfortable, the heat and A/C work great, the transmission shifts just fine for a non-performance application and highway mileage tops 30 mpg. The sound system is more than adequate (for a middle aged man). Seriously , how much volume does one need for Fox Business? Jeep lowered its powertrain warranty to 3 years/36,000 miles. Resale value is soft for the manual trans models. Crash test scores arent impressive. I like driving the 5-spd manual and appreciate the hill assist feature. A decent vehicle for the money.

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  love the Commander - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Barb - May 31 - 7:53 am

  Recently came back from a long trip where we averaged between 20 and 22 mpg. City driving gas mileage comes in around 17 mpg. Certainly gets a lot of admiring glances. The teenage boys love it. Its great that this has that third row for unexpected riders, but there is no storage space when there are 7 people. Over all we love it!

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  Pleasanty Surprised - 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By John - May 30 - 6:46 am

  My wife and I test drove a couple suvs recently. 2009 Honda Pilot, and 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Had my mind set on the Honda until i drove the Jeep Grand Cherokee. I was very surprised on how well the Jeep drove. Very quiet, nice ride, smooth transmission, handled well, life-time power train warranty, and way better bang for your buck. Honda wanted $10k more for a little bigger vehicle;(2.9 inches longer). No contest, the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a way better buy. My wife and i are completely satisfied. For a midsize suv I would recommend the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee over any midsize suv.

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  What a Jeep in Diesel ! - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By ronhale01 - May 29 - 11:46 pm

  This is the best thing to happen to any small suv. After driving this 4 cylinder diesel for two years I still am surprised at the power it delivers. What a shame Jeep does not offer the diesel in the 08 line-up for Liberty.

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  Ahhh the JEEP! - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Bob Dog - May 29 - 2:56 am

  At 68,000 miles it has been- Totally reliable, actually getting better mileage than rated for, a pure joy to drive. This is a vehicle that is F-U- N! Wow, very, very pleased. Its exactly as advertised. Rugged, dependable, all road and all weather capable. The on & off road vehicle of choice. PLUS, wow compact size and tight turning radius makes parking/driving in the big much more relaxing.

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  Wrangler - 1993 Jeep Wrangler
  By rwdc - May 29 - 2:00 am

  I had the opportunity to get a low milage older model Wrangler. I have had no problems with it and would highly reccommend it to anyone without a family.

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  New Rotors every 12,000 miles - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By TalkingDrum - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Dont buy this car. Im on my fourth set of rotors in 4 years. They warp so badly after 10,000 miles that braking over 60mph on the highway is dangerous. My dealership pretends that the problem "happens occasionally" with other 2000 JGCs, but this is crap.

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  If I only had it to do over - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By CMEGOBY - May 29 - 1:53 am

  Unfortunately all I can say is this is the worst vehicle I have ever owned and I am currently at 25 and counting. This thing has far less room than I anticipated and is very uncomfortable on long trips. To top things off it has been at the dealer getting things fixed more than it has been in my driveway. If your looking for a fun, reliable, and comfortable SUV then I recommend looking elsewhere.