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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  Jeep Liberty vs Jeep Cherokee - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Strayhan - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I had previously owned a Jeep Cherokee and the sales person talked me into the Liberty. I do not like it compared to the Cherokee and the gas mileage in the the Liberty is poor. I wish I had purchased the Cherokee like I desired.

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  Where transmissions go to die - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Brdavis - October 14 - 6:46 am

  First trans went at about 90,000, second at 135,000. Also, it is no longer a 4wd until i put another 1,000 into it bringing the grand total of mechanical repairs i needed to make on this vehicle close to 7,000 or slightly half of what i paid for the car in the first place. Wouldnt recommend another jeep, looking at other cars now none of which are a jeep because Im afraid Ill get burned again.

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  Transfer case - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By john mc donald - October 14 - 2:46 am

  Transfer case went bad at 98K miles. Dealer wanted $800 to replace transfer case. Had transfer case repaired by private dealer by replacing the "timing belt" inside the transfer case for $200. Only other problem is with the A/C...the A/C appears to be a known problem with easy repair. Otherwise, the vehicle is fun to drive; MPG is a little less than advertised. Very comfortable vehicle with great towing capacity.

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  Problems - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By beaurath - October 12 - 2:06 pm

  We have had to take our Commander back for the following reasons; 1. Check Engine light....a hose had a split in it with only 1000 miles on it. 2. We had a loud whistle coming from the dash area; it was a bad seal on the windshield. 500 miles on it. 3. We are now having a problem with the passenger window not going up and down correctly...stops half way up and goes back down unless you keep your finger on the switch. 4. We have a slight dimple in the door protruding out from the metal. Dealer says they can fix it but may not be able to match up paint..

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  Jeep Realities - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jed - October 11 - 6:06 pm

  We bought this Jeep fully intending to keep it for a long long time. Its a 2WD Cherokee LTD. By 6000 miles we began to experience problems with brake rotor warping and peddle pulsation. It got so bad I was concerned about losing control during braking. The bottom line -- dealer told us to pound salt. Gas mileage horrible for a 6 cylinder (16.9 mpg city). Would NEVER buy a jeep again (or any Chrysler product).

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  1st Impression 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By JD59 - October 11 - 4:10 am

  Just picked up a new 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited with leather, sunroof, remote start, tow pkg, & heated seats. All I can say is wow, this is a nice Jeep. I had a 2004 Wrangler Unlimited that I loved, but the lease was up, and it was time to trade again. I went with the Liberty Limited, since it had so many standard safety features, and slightly better gas mileage then the new Wranglers, plus the incentives were better for the Liberty.

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  Oh What Fun - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Southernfan - October 10 - 10:00 pm

  Use my 4WD 5.7 Cherokee local, interstate and in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Performs flawlessly on and off road. Like the size inside and out-for two adults plus cargo. Will pull anything up the highest passes. In deep snow, ice and off-road it is rock solid, safe and reliable. The Cherokee is what other SUVs want to be. In fact, it is in a category unto itself.

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  It is a Jeep - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By didiacat - October 8 - 11:03 pm

  The Compass is more than I expected. It is not a Ferrari nor was it intended to be. It is a good stable ride. Holds the road well and once it get up to speed it can stay with the big boys. Anyone who is looking for 0 to 60 in 10 sec wont find it here. What they will find is reasonable acceleration and wonderful fuel economy. The ride is pleasant and reasonably quiet. It is fun to drive and with autostick activated it is even more fun. I dont wince when I drive up to the pump and I leave with a smile on my face. I like it, my wife likes it and my grand kids love it.

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  Great SUV - 2016 Jeep Renegade
  By Chris - October 8 - 12:06 pm

  I looked at the Ford Escape and the Nissan Rogue. I test drove Hawk and the Limited. For longer over the road trips I chose the Limited. It has excellent comfort, handles well in rain and snow. 4 wheel drive shifts seamlessly. Eastern Carolina Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge staff were great to deal with out of the three dealers that I dealt with.

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  Bought My Second Liberty - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By RJLOHIO - October 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought a 2003 Liberty for my daughters use and loved it so much I bought a 2005 for my use. The updated style and appearance are really well done and it totally fun to drive.