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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  Unlimited Rubicon - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By unlim rubicon w/6 sp - June 19 - 3:26 am

  Ive only owned this vehicle for a couple of weeks but it is more than what I anticipated. Given the expected ride and noise levels of prior models the unlimited version is much quieter and rides much more smoothly. If you are in the market for a Jeep I would encourage you to go for the Unlimited Rubicon vs ANY of the others. The price differential is minimal given whta you get.

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  So far so good - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Ralston - June 19 - 2:00 am

  We bought our Jeep new and have had it for 7 years and 90,000 miles. It is a pleasure to drive, particularly in the snow or for towing a boat. We like the way it handles and the power of the V- 8. We have been diligent in doing the regular maintenance and so far we have had few problems. We have had to replace the rear main seal ($325) and valve covers to fix minor oil leaks ($100). We had a sensor or two go out (covered under warranty) and recently replaced the watter pump ($400) Other than that it has been a great car so far.

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  rubicon..gotta have one - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By DRCLAYLEE - June 19 - 2:00 am

  this has been a fun ride........ would highly recommend a rubicon to everyone this is the ultimate jeep

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  hmmmm-towed twice,here we go again - 2009 Jeep Wrangler
  By 10purrs - June 18 - 7:40 pm

  This beauty (orange sunburst) is my 3rd Wrangler and the only one Ive had trouble with. Towed twice with <500 miles and have an appointment for a check engine light at 2700 miles. Anyone had trouble with sensors/wiring?

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  Like no other. Period. - 1998 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mike - June 18 - 12:13 pm

  My Jeep is a rugged, strong vehicle that is nearly bullet-proof. Mine has nearly 95,000 miles and the only problem Ive had was when my clutch died, but that clutch took 45000 miles of hard driving. It is extremely easy to fix up or add upgrades, even if your not experienced. Wranglers have extreme capabilities out of the box, and with a few upgrades, theres few places you cant go, and even though the top speed is around 80, that doesnt mean its lacking any power. Also, there is nothing else like driving around in the summer with the top down, and whenever you pass another Wrangler, there is the all-knowing "Jeep Wave" that tells you that there is someone else who understands your love.

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  great vehicle - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By uglytuna - June 18 - 9:53 am

  We bought this new in 2002. In six years, the only two items that have failed are the A/C compressor ($1100) and a battery. Not bad considering we do quite a bit of off-roading, and tow a 1000 pound pop-up camper. The Liberty is easy to drive, easy to park, looks good, and is great off- road. The mileage is only about 18 around town, but if you want 3 more miles per gallon you should consider one of those cute little "SUVs" that are built on a Toyota Corolla chassis. Ive seen those get stuck in a gravel driveway. The Liberty is the real thing off road, but does just as well in a Wal-mart parking lot (more dangerous than the Kalahari, by far).

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  "Dont make a pretty woman your wife" - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Mona - June 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle never should have been allowed on the market. The dealers have been trained to tell consumers that "everything is normal for that vehicle". It has become known for differential and brake rotor problems, just to mention a few. I must say, it is the most comfortable riding SUV I have driven.....but that is NOT ENOUGH>

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  Good Affordable SUV - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By judge09 - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I have had this cherokee sport for 3 years and have been very happy. The power is great, the ride is fine, its a solid truck. The only problem I have had is both front power windows crapped out. $400 they work fine. Overall great jeep.

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  Great Jeep - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By judge09 - June 17 - 2:00 am

  This was the absolute best college vehichle ever. I had a blast driving it with the top down and doors off and it handled great in a foot of snow. I never had any problems and it takes abuse. I found this jeep not very practical for long trips cause you cant talk period. My roommate actually wore ear plugs (wuss). But a canvas top on a box you have to expect noise. Not unbearable either. An AWSOME jeep. I am going to buy an older one as a play car. The wrangler just wasnt a good everyday to work driver. If I bought the I-6 engine I would probably be keeping the jeep.

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  Jeep - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By april - June 17 - 2:00 am

  My husband and I have enjoyed this Jeep, but were glad the lease is up. We tried to sell this vehicle and got *no* hits (probably because it was devalued by the dealerships with all the 0% APR). No real probs, but it did stall in the middle of a hip-high river once, while an old chevy and even a Suzuki Samuri made it through no prob. We had to be towed over 12 miles. Through the desert. Pushing down on the gas to pass, a half-second wait for power??