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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  Keep the Jeep - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Barbara Broyles - November 8 - 4:10 am

  Holds value, 86,000 no problems at all.

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  Lots of fun - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By brehardt - November 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned a Jeep Wrangler for almost 3 years now. I have not had one problem with this vehicle and it has not had to go into the shop for anything other than routine maintenance. I feel that I can go just about anywhere with this vehicle. Can handle most any terrain. No worries about getting stuck. I would recommend a Wrangler to anyone. Things you have to know before purchasing: low gas mileage, noisy interior on the road, a bit of a rough ride. All these are to be expected though.

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  liberty 4WD sport - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By jaimej - November 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought my jeep a week ago and really like it! Its fun to drive...feels more like a car than an SUV. The ride is smooth and it handles well.

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  Toy Jeep - 1992 Jeep Wrangler
  By ski-nh - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Jeep is driven year round as second vehicle. Off road occasionally. Purchased with 75000 miles and has run perfectly since with normal maintenance.

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  Wish they still made this - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By OldJeep - November 5 - 9:33 am

  While the ride is more "truck" than car it has served me well over the 178K miles I have driven it. Gas mileage is poor, about 20 at best on the hwy and around 15 in the winter around town. For the winter it cant be beat, powering through snow, slush and the assorted gunk. The strong torque to the rear wheels in 2WD causes some spinning out when accelerating from a stop on wet or slick surfaces. But slip into Full Time or Part Time 4WD and traction is excellent. It is expensive to own, Ive replaced the transmission, numerous struts, links and what all but the engine will not die.

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  Love it! With caveats! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Magothy - November 4 - 4:53 am

  This is my 3rd 4WD Jeep Grand Cherokee (4wd, 3.7l, 6cyl). It is quieter, smoother, has a tighter turning radius. Electric 4WD did away with some ridiculous (to a female) maneuvers to change the drive function. In spite of problems that kept it off the road several times, Chrysler responded with our persistence to keep (fingers crossed) it from becoming a lemon - I DO LOVE IT!

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  Definately Rethinking... - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By emtinit734 - November 3 - 11:33 pm

  I am seriously rethinking purchasing this car. Within 50 of pulling out of the parking lot the check engine light came on. I made arrangements to turn it in the next day and before I could even get to the dealership I found two other flaws. The front passenger window was out of track (working but doesnt go up evenly leaving a crack at the top) and the drivers side rear outside door handle had separated from the door by about a quarter inch. Turns out it was the check engine light was for the catalytic converter. While the warranty covers the converter it does not include the door handle or the window. This is a used car that was a leaser with only two owners and 38000 miles when I bought it

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  2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By bobfabsik - November 3 - 9:01 pm

  I purchased the vehicle new. It is a Laredo Rocky Mountain edition with the 4.7L V-8. Shortly after I purchased it, the "Service 4 wheel drive" message appeared. It took the dealer several weeks to resolve the problem. The same error message still occasionally occurs, but the vehicle operates fine. Gas mileage is 10-12 city and 14-18 highway. For the last 3 years, the car has been in Mexico. The roads are very rough an dusty. The car is holding up exceptionally well. A recent problem is a noise near the rear axle. Otherwise, all is well at 66K miles.

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  a timeless classic - 2013 Jeep Wrangler
  By britqueen - November 2 - 4:59 pm

  Ive owned this car for a year without any problems and its been a fun to drive. I wish it had keyless start and the upgraded infotainment system they put in the new Jeep Grand Cherokees. Otherwise, I love the off road capabilities and the after market modifications that can be done. I plan to own this vehicle for many, many years and so far no major problems at all!

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  Jeep Compas Needs Help - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By By John - November 2 - 2:03 pm

  I bought my Jeep Compass new in October 2006. A month later we had a major ice storm and the AWD and anti- lock brakes worked great! I was disappointed from the start about the highway mileage I was getting, the highest ever was 27 MPG. I visit my parents who live in another state regularly. This is the first vehicle I have had in the last 17 years that could not make the trip on a tank of gas. I have had both tie-rod ends replaced under warranty and the front brakes which I had to pay for. Items that you normally dont have problems with under 30,000 miles. The CD player lacks a compression mode to even the volume out. The dash board is very clunky looking. The YES seat fabric does not work.