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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  Sky Slider Problems - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By danielleboyd - January 6 - 3:46 pm

  I bought my 2008 jeep liberty suv in May 2011. The sky slider (moonroom) very loud. Now yesterday March 28, 2012 the sky slider broke on the pasenger side. Took it to the jeep dealer today March 29, 2012, and was told that the rod that goes throught the track on the pasenger side was broke and needs to be replaced. Also I was told that it would cost $4-$5000.00 dollars to me its not worth fixing. So I found this site and am shocked to see all the reviews in reguards to this same year and problem. Thank you to one of the post and gave me the number to call DMV to report problem so maybe they will recall this. To those of you with this same issue please call this number 1-888-327-4236.

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  Brings out the kid in you - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By Eric - January 6 - 10:10 am

  Dont buy a Jeep Wrangler expecting Corvette performance or Cadillac comfort. This vehicle offers minimum luxury and very little power. The great thing is the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Everything else about this vehicle is awesome! You feel like a kid again when you drop the top and hit the beach. The Wrangler is amazingly versatile also. YouÂ’ll ride comfortably in a business suit to work during the week, while enjoying open air driving in shorts during the weekend. If you love the off-road, then there are plenty of options for rims/tires and lift kits. So far, I have spent very little on maintenance. I highly recommend the Jeep Wrangler.

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  Great Car! - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Cliff R. - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had two jeeps and both of them were great...the first one was a brand new Jeep Grand Wagoneer...it lasted until 2001 when it stopped at 150,000 miles...then I feel in love with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee...its now at 60,000....

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  Best vehicle around - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ptv99jgc - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Jeep for a few years now. In the beginning it had a couple simple problems that were quickly fixd under warranty. Mechanics of vehicle seem are designed with the do-it- yourselfer in mind. I perform all maintenance myself and my Jeep has never let me down. Routine maintenance is the key. I am presently approaching 70K and it runs as good or better than new. Jeep is perfect if you need one vehicle to get you to the office every day, go camping and bring all your stuff with you. You can also tow your favorite toys with you. I could go on forever, but I will summarize, Best do it all vehicle you can get.

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  RUBICONROCKS! - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By TAMU92 - January 6 - 10:00 am

  VERY FUN! VERY CAPABLE! NO OTHER 4X4 COMES CLOSE.(PERIOD)

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  BEST CAR EVER - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Cady - January 6 - 10:00 am

  Very feminine car, but very sporty. The best new car for woman since the volkswagon beetle. Its so nice to drive, and very comfotable. All friends want one.

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  Real Quality, Real Value - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Donw - January 6 - 10:00 am

  Since I purchased my Overland, I have found this vechile to be everything I had wanted from a 4wd, V8, vechile. As a previous Cherokee owner that had already been sold on the value of the Jeep brand, the new Overland has impresssed me with its appearance, power, comfort and all around quality. Hats off to the Chrysler / Jeep team.

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  Great if you realize what youre buying - 1991 Jeep Wrangler
  By bigticket42 - January 5 - 11:26 am

  I had alway wanted a Jeep and I finally bought one. First of all I love mine, but you need to realize what you are buying. These are loud and ride very stiff from the factory. I have the 4 Cylinder and like it because I get 18 - 20 around town. The downfall with the 4 is that it is not fast. I think 75 mph is pushing it on a flat surface so it is not great for going out of town in (although my daughters will drive these when they get their first car) I recommend the soft top, although loud one person can take it down and back on in under 5 minutes. The hardtop is a pain to get off and on and is a multiple person job. If you have both the hardtop is ideal for winter. Mine has been reliable.

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  Great Buy!!! - 2016 Jeep Patriot
  By Nick - January 4 - 10:07 am

  The Jeep Patriot is a great purchase - a great combination of all factors we needed to take into account. Mileage is okay; room is quite spacious. The big key for us was to have a second vehicle that handles the snow pretty well. We had a Jeep Wrangler for years. We live in the hills in Kentucky and when it snows heavily the roads are not well kept so we need something that can handle deep snow, slippery conditions, and can handle peaks/valleys/curves in heavy snow. The Patriot FDII WIth Low Gear is just like owning a manual transmission in the snow in the hills. The low gear reduces speed (you can shift from D to L as you go down a hill) and never go higher than 3-4 mph without touching the brakes. And when going up hills in the snow, it doesnt even slip. And now we have a vehicle that can pull our trailer, get decent gas mileage and have a vehicle that is easy to drive in all conditions. Its been a great purchase! The expert reviews are not high on the Patriot (doesnt have a lot of fancy bells/whistles - technology) but the owner reviews are usually pretty positive. Very reliable/dependable and good purchase for its price.

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  A rare right hand drive Cherokee - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By hot_burrito_1 - January 4 - 1:10 am

  I found my Cherokee on the side of the road for sale. It is a factory right hand drive. Aside from replacing nearly all of the original parts (previous owners were not proactive in taking care of the vehicle), it is a very durable vehicle. I use this vehicle daily to carry mail and it is stronger than the government owned vehicles. It has twice the power. The only downside to the 4.0 is the poor gas mileage. Overall, this is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. The best I have ever owned was a 1984 Honda Accord.