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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  The Beast - 1998 Jeep Wrangler
  By Jeeper 2003 - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I Love My Jeep. It gets all the looks on the road. The styling is like no other and this vehicle is the king when it comes to the off-road. On road the ride is not to bad, you have to remember it is a jeep though not a cadi. Taking the doors off and letting the top down make driving a pleasure instead of a hassle.

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  We Have Been Very Pleased - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Houston Steve - January 11 - 10:00 am

  We have had no major repairs or problems with this vehicle and found it had plenty of storage and elbow room. The factory CD-Changer and speakers did quit working, which I learned is a common problem.

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  Simply Great - 2002 Jeep Wrangler
  By david tufano - January 11 - 10:00 am

  Think this truck is awesome, sad to see it go.

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  Grand Cherokee - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Mikeland - January 11 - 10:00 am

  This is my sixth Grand Cherokee. Excellent ride and looks. The 4.0 is the best 6 cylinder ever made.

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  NV1500 Transmission - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By SpitNine - January 11 - 10:00 am

  Its a Jeep thing all right. Mostly OK except for rough shifting, grinding and clanking NV1500 transmission. This gearbox is a crude throwback to the 1950s. The dealer says it is functioning normally. Any fun to drive experience is negated by the crappy transmission.

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  Off-Roader - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Rocky Mtn HMR RSCU - January 11 - 9:33 am

  The commander is an excellent vehicle. Right away I was able to test it on snowy roads and it performed well. I have taken it off-road on a trail that I would never have gone in any other vehicle that I have owned. The problems that I have are with hthe braking system and the engine fan. Certain quality issues are problematic as well, arm rests are bubbling and the chrome trim is letting loose. Vehicle performs well when pressed and is comfortable to drive, very comfortable and a fun vehicle to own.

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  My problems - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Shauna - January 11 - 6:16 am

  I have had my jeep for awhile. About a year after I purchased my jeep I started having problems with it. It does stall when driving on the highway and other roads. The dash lights all go off and the meters (speedometer etc) all shut off. My radio shuts off and heat or air. They said it maybe a problem with the wiring. Also my air/heat doesnt shut off. It actually goes on high if its in the off button. I had my starter fixed a few weeks ago, cracked trani hose fixed also. There is a crack in my power steering hose that needs fixed. I only have 88,000 miles, there should not be this many problems. I have also had problems with the automatic windows not rolling up or down. That was fixed.

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  120,000 Miles, No Problems! - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jeep lover - January 11 - 2:56 am

  I bought this Jeep new, and after 120,000 miles, I have done nothing other than the ordinary tuneups and brakes. Have the big V8 and still get 19-20 highway. Use it everywhere and mild offroad. Seems bullet-proof!

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  So glad I didnt buy this - 2017 Jeep Patriot
  By Gary - January 7 - 7:48 pm

  To be direct about this, I looked at the sticker price. I rented one for a week and now can honestly say, even with a low sticker price, it is very much over priced. It reminds me of the one time I drove a Yugo, which was 5 minutes I will never forget.

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  Fun and Functional - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By urbanwest - January 6 - 3:53 pm

  My Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with the 330hp hemi engine is an absolute blast. Although its difficult to pass a gas station without stopping to top up. If you can ignore the horrendous gas mileage its great fun to drive. What caught my eye initially was the new aggressive styling. After an inordinate period of time researching and test driving, the Jeep won hands down. The drive is smooth and comfortable and the acceleration is a rush. It offers far more bang for the buck than BMW or Infinity with all the creature comforts and then some. Perfect for us 60+ guys.