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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  Love It !!!! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Cindi in Texas - December 19 - 2:00 am

  I knew I wanted my Liberty before they hit the show room.I have not been disappointed.Very capable off road and just all around fun to drive.

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  Loved it up to the moment it got totaled - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Ron Carter - December 18 - 8:33 pm

  Love my Jeep. Bought 2 in a row and love the first one as well. Never a problem, you cant kill that 4.0 motor. Wish they would bring it back. Easy to drive on the long haul or around town. Towed my boat and camper across many states and loved every minute of it. The back seat legroom area was getting a little small for my 5-10 boys. Other than that, we love the ole jeep. It got totaled , I mean really totaled but, if it werent for the Jeep, I may not have walked away from the accident.

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  Love it! - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By WVJEEPGRL - December 18 - 5:56 pm

  Bought the TSI 4 dr with over 200000 miles on it. Everyone loves it. I have alot of cars in my lifetime from a firebird with t-tops to a chevette but nothing comes close to my Jeep!

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  My trusted Jeep - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Will - December 18 - 5:40 pm

  I love my Jeep. Yeah Ive had some normal problems with a car that now has 155,000 miles on it like replace radiator, starter, window motor, and a couple of other things, but thats normal. Parts are really cheap for it and the car is easy to work on. The inline 6 cylinder is virtually bullet proof.

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  AWESOME SUV - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By JEEPSTER - December 17 - 12:06 pm

  These jeeps are great for everything and any road condition. Not too big and not to small. Just the right amount of storage and room. My Jeep drives great, and its fun. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I wish they still made them.

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  Fun vehicle, but frustrated sometimes - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By jeep18 - December 16 - 6:10 pm

  Im a big fan of the Jeep brand, especially Liberty and Wrangler. This is my first Jeep and Im considering buying a Wrangler in the future. What I like about this car is its exterior design, sleek, bold, and different. Its a SUV 4WD but it doesnt look heavy or clumsy. The overall performance is good, but start to have some mysterious rattling sound recently. However, its power window system is a disaster. The regulator for the same window has broken five times and now the door is falling apart.

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  One of the Best - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By kitou - December 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck in 1999 with 45000 miles on it, the only problems I had not counting regular maintenance were a defective crankshaft positioning sensor, a/c gave up at 80000 miles, temp unit not calibrated and a bit of rust but for the most part, thids vehicule as been very reliable, never let me down, did the jeep jamboree this year and went on a level 5 course and believe me i was impressed !!!. stock truck just 30" tires.... I would recommend this jeep to anyone except for the fuel comsumption.... but hey!!, cannot have it all. Jeep Fan.

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  Be aware of your gas tank - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By tetrafri - December 16 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I were rear ended and our 1998 Grand Cherokee exploded on impact. The gas tank ruptured and the car was engulfed in flames within seconds. We both jumped out and were lucky enough not to have our children with us. The damage to the back of the vehicle was minimal. Please be careful if you drive this vehicle. The gas tank is right under the rear fender. We were lucky to escape and have the most frightening pictures to prove this. Daimler Chrysler "respectfully declined" to participate in the costs we incurred and claimed no product liability.If you get hit from behind, get out of the car till you know its safe. Lynn Friedman

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  awesome vehicle - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By manollo3 - December 16 - 10:00 am

  After many years I finally bought me the 4.0L, straight 6 cylinder about 2 month ago as a first car. After having sports cars and sedans all the time it was time to have some fun as long as there is no family. Guess I will keep this vehicle as long as possible as it is so much fun and no comparison to our SUVs. Even on long distances (Dallas- Miami) it is a lot of fun and the seat are very supportive.

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  My first Jeep... - 2002 Jeep Wrangler
  By Gemini751 - December 16 - 10:00 am

  Prior to my Jeep I had a Geo Tracker... a bit cheaper with alot of options... but after many years of wanting a Jeep, finally a year ago, I was able to purchase a 2000 Jeep Sport, and its been awesome. I love its solid feel, and how it drives like a truck. Its a Jeep, its not going to have alot of pickup, but as mentioned in many of these reviews the gas mileage could be better. Overall... Im extremely happy with my Jeep... and can see myself driving one for a long time!