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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  It had me from hello - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Bearcat Poon - April 24 - 10:00 am

  I had a 97 wrangler that had to be traded in for a more family friendly car. When I saw the new Liberty I really wanted to trade my piece of crap Mazda 626 (even with the negative equity)in for it. Much to my suprise my wife liked the look of it. We decided to take one for a test drive and 2 weeks later bought the Liberty. The ride is very smooth compared to the Wrangler I had as well as the 4-runner my wife drove. Handling is quite impressive. The gas mileage stinks, but the 4-Runner was just as bad.

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  MARCH TO THE SUMMIT - 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Michael Mangone - April 24 - 3:42 am

  So I looked at about every SUV out there and anything that came close to the Summit in terms of the quality and quantity of features was significantly higher in price and also imported. The only other candidate I really liked was the Explorer and it really could have gone either way. The color combination of the Summit as well as the overall reputation of the Jeep brand was really what pushed it over the top. This one was the premium white with the sienna brown interior. I only wish that this vehicle came with the V8 option at less than extortionate pricing. The V6 pulls and runs really well but there is nothing like the grunt of the Hemi. That being said it wasnt worth another $5,500.00 being added to an already fairly significant sticker price. So far I absolutely love the vehicle and dont yet have one thousand miles on it. There is a long way to go.

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  Great Vehicle - Glad I bought it - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Vince - April 24 - 1:13 am

  Let somebody else pay for the depreciation. When my $40K plus Chevy Avalanche was totalled by an 18 yr old slamming into my wife, I knew I wanted another 4x4. A new Avalanche was simply too expensive. After trading my interim used car, I found the 2006 Commander (certified Pre-Owned)at a local dealer. Getting it was a very smart decision. Very comfortable, gas mileage for the 3.7 liter is exactly as stated. Power is good. Design is great. I dont tow anything, and filling the SUV with 6 people proved no problem. Having the base model (doesnt mean stripped) gives me a clean pallet to customize without the huge new car or dealer premiums. I love this thing.

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  A great friend - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By Joe - April 22 - 2:10 pm

  I am retiring my 99 Jeep Cherokee Classic. I love this vehicle!! It still looks great after two wrecks and a 150,000 miles. I plan on having a little work done on it and then putting it in storage until my son turns 18 (18 years from now). It will be a hell of a gift for him - this is truly a classic vehicle and, in a way, I wish Jeep would bring the XJ style back but in another way I love the fact that I have one and they are not as easy to get anymore.

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  1-year Patriot review - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By MI guy - April 22 - 2:20 am

  Just passed a year since I bought a 2008 Jeep Patriot with 2.4-l, 5-speed manual. I have put 9700 miles on it, probably 70% city driving and 30% towing my fishing boat, a 16-foot boat weighing about 900 lbs. During this time, my grand average MPG has been 28.3. I have only driven out of the city twice without the boat in tow, and both times my MPG has been over 30. My worst tank of gas was in December during near-record snowfall when I was running a lot of third gear, and got 25.9 MPG. There have been no automotive problems with the vehicle. It has good heat and good A/C. The underside of the car looks very good after one winter.

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  Have 3 Jeeps - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Joe Davis - April 21 - 3:40 pm

  Much better than the Cherokee. Fun to drive with lots of power. Smooth highway riding.

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  Oregon Trail - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Doug - April 21 - 1:50 pm

  We just got back from a 6,000 mile trip following the Oregon Trail, including the original "Old Barlow Road" around Mt. Hood. Our Jeep had never before really been put to the test, but it performed flawlessly on this trip on everything from Interstate HWs to boulder-strewn primitive roads. I wish it got better mileage, but it was reassuring to have the power of the 5.7 liter when passing or traversing some of the primitive roads we followed along the Oregon Trail. We put on 6,000 miles from Missouri to Oregon passing through 10 states, keeping to 2 lane and dirt roads as much as possible. Our worst day was 15.2 mpg. Our best was 18.2 mpg.

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  "Nice Jeep!" - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Ramses - April 20 - 8:43 pm

  I knew this Jeep was on the way for a couple of years from reading the magazines. I was finally able to get the one I wanted on Dec. 15th, 2006. Great vehicle! Always wanted a Wrangler but they where only 2 doors and the ride was harsh. This one is perfect, except for gas mileage. Ive got the red rock pearl with soft top (Sunrider). It rode great in the snow and now I have sunburn from having the top down. Do a search on the net for aftermarket stuff and youll be blown away by everything that is available! If your riding around New York City and see a 4 door red rock X with the top down and a red faced man in it say hey!

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  A Jeep Thing - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By p - April 20 - 8:26 pm

  This is my 3rd Jeep: an 85 Cherokee (used),96 Grand Cherokee (new), and now this one, an 05 Grand Cherokee. I test drove several 03 and 04 GCs (used) and the new model is far better in many ways. I also owned an 04 TrailBlazer, which I promptly traded after 9 months. It was very floaty (like an old Buick). I wish I had not sold my 96 Grand Cherokee for the TB. So far, I am very happy the new GC (19,500 miles). The ride is almost car-like, but still firm. The 3.7 liter is very capable and responsive. I would only consider one of the V8s if gas was cheap or I had to tow heavy loads. I average about 18-20+ mpg, which is not bad for an SUV with AWD. The list of standard features was also pretty good.

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  roll-backs - 2008 Jeep Compass
  By southmax - April 20 - 12:50 pm

  I thought i loved the jeep compass, until i came to an incline, the truck goes backward instead of forward. Has anyone else had this problem with the 08 COMPASS? Other than the roll back, it seems to be a great little car. I reported the problem to Chryslers headquarter, they had the car picked up about 20 minutes after i called.I am waiting to hear from them.